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possibly getting a mini potbelly pig

22 9:18:16

Question
The current owner states that her 6 month old female pig does not like living indoors.  She always wants to be outdoors.  We have a huge fenced in area where other animals are kept.  If I do get her, she would be staying out there...can pigs be with other animals - 3 goats, mini pony, and mini donkey????

Answer
Pigs are usually social creatures and get along well with most other animals. The problems are normally due to miscommunication between the pig and other animals, or to accidents because the pig is not able to protect himself from the other animal.

In general, a pig will be quite happy living in a fenced barnyard with other animals, as long as the pig is fed in a separate secure area, and kept there until all feeding is over. Pigs instinctively try to steal food, and that causes horses to kick and goats to butt, both of which could seriously injure the pig.

Pygmy goats are generally small enough for most pigs to defend themselves. Larger goats could be dangerous, depending on the goat's personality. Mini horses are an energetic handful (one friend had to sell her mini stallion because he kept biting the pigs tails), but I've been told the mini donkeys are much more mellow and get along well with pigs.

But a lot depends upon the personality of the individual animals and their caretakers. If your animals are generally social and feeding the pig separately is not an issue, then introducing the pig should be no problem.