Micro Pigs

Micro Pigs are a new venture for us at Overthestile and our breeding stock originates from the three established UK Micro Pig breeders thereby ensuring you are purchasing from a reputable source. We are members of the British Micro Pig Club.

It is a commitment and a responsibility to own a Micro Pig.

General Information:

• A Micro Pig grows no larger than 16” in height from trotter to shoulder and the average piglet weighs just 250g (8oz) at birth.
  
  
• A Micro Pig is not a Tea cup pig – there is no such thing!! There have been recent pictures in the press of week old piglets in tea cups and of course they look cute and tiny but they will grow!! No animal stays the same size as when it was born.
  
  
• Micro Pigs take about 3 years to reach their full height and grow to about a fifth of the size of a commercial pig (approximately the size of a Labrador) and are likely to be with you for upto 15 years.
  
  
• Micro pigs are very sociable but left unsupervised can become destructive.
  
  
• Micro Pigs can create a very quick bond with dogs or cats and with a little time and effort, can be a very rewarding experience.
  
  
• Micro Pigs have hair, not fur and therefore make a great pet for fur allergy sufferers.
  
  
• Micro Pigs are fantastic fun and highly intelligent – they adore human contact and make wonderful pets.
  
  
• Micro Pigs are very clean and can be house trained and are particularly happy sitting on your lap having a belly rub!

Requirements:

At Overthestile you need to provide us with the following details:-

• Evidence of your CPH number. Anyone who purchases a micro pig from us must have CPH (County Parish Holding) number - this is FREE and easily obtainable from the Rural Payments Agency or Tel: 0845 603 7777 – it takes a couple of weeks to come through. A CPH number entitles you to keep livestock at your address – without which, we are unable to sell you a Micro Pig. Once you have received your holding number you can contact us to arrange payment of a deposit. Please e-mail Jane@overthestile.com
  
  
• When you have your CPH number, Overthestile (known as the ‘departing address’) is responsible for providing you with an animal movement document known as an AML2. Overthestile will complete sections A and C of this form, keeping the yellow copy for their records. The person responsible for transporting the pigs from the departing address to your premises will need to complete section B with their details and retain the blue copy.
  
  Once these sections of the document have been completed your pigs will be free to move - provided the transporter complies with the conditions of Defra’s general licence for moving Micro Pigs (a copy of these conditions is available from Defra’s website). Once your Micro Pigs have arrived at your premises you will need to complete section D of theAML2 form with your details. Within three days of arrival, you must send the white copy of the AML2 to your Local Authority, retaining the pink copy of the form for your records for at least six months.
  
  We are happy to transport the Micro Pigs for you and a delivery charge is calculated on mileage from us.
  
  
• You must provide proof of your address and your postcode.
  
  
• You must have some outside space for your Micro Pig(s) even if you intend to keep them inside as a house pet and we are able to verify this by accessing Google Earth via your postcode.
  
  
• Please read the Defra publication “Advice for owners of Pet Pigs and “Micro” Pigs” www.defra.gov.uk

Cost:

Our pigs are £700 each and a £200 non refundable deposit is required to ensure you are added to our waiting list. They come with a birth certificate, details of their inoculations, fact sheet, 25kg sack of sow cubes and access to our Helpline Tel: 07917 445598 should you have any concerns or questions regarding health, diet and behaviour.

At Overthestile, we prefer to sell our piglets in pairs, where possible, at approx 8 – 12 weeks old when they are fully weaned and ready to leave their mother. We are happy to sell individual pigs to owners who are at home all day or have livestock experience.

Practicalities:

• Ensure you have good fencing in your garden/field. Pigs are great foragers and the last thing you want is your pig escaping. They should have access to the outside at all times as they like to eat grass and root around in dirt – as well as sunbathe in the summer months! Of course you can let them wander in and out the house during the day (as long as they are supervised) but their natural habitat is outdoors.
  
  
• Ensure you have a well-built, dry and draft free ark/house with ventilation. The house will need to be cleaned on a regular basis. Pigs are naturally clean animals so will not generally mess in their house but instead tend to use one area (generally a corner) making cleaning quite straightforward.
  
  
• For their bedding, straw is most suitable as they love to make huge nests under which they hide in the winter months.
  
  
• It is advisable to provide your pig with somewhere they can wallow in the summer. As pigs can’t sweat this will cool them down and therefore reduce the risk of them getting heatstroke in high temperatures.
  
  
• Pigs require lots of water – a very heavy bowl or antique Mexican hat planter is ideal – these can be found at reclamation / salvage yards or on eBay.
  
  
• Feed them good quality Sow Cubes or Meal (which you mix with warm water) or a specialist Pot Bellied Pig Food. These are available from agricultural feed merchants such as “Marriages” who supply throughout the UK.
  
  
• Supplement their pellets with fruit (pigs have a sweet tooth and enjoy apples and pears) and vegetables (but on no account kitchen waste – it is illegal). Depending on whether your pig will have access to grazing will determine how much you need to feed them. If grazing is not an option, they will require 1 big handful of sow cubes twice a day - this can be reduced to 1 handful a day if they have access to grazing.
  
  
• Worm your pigs at least every 4-6 months – we use Verm X a small dry pellet which can be added to their food or we would recommend a powder wormer – Flubenol which again is added to their food.
  
  
• Check your garden / field for toxic plants.
  
  
• Check your local Vet is experienced with pigs.
  
  
• It is possible to take your Micro Pig for a walk and is a good way to keep the animal fit and healthy. However, because the activity has the potential to spread notifiable diseases, Micro pig owners in England and Wales are legally obliged to obtain a pig walking licence from their local Animal Health office before taking their animal out. Micro Pig owners in Scotland are not allowed to walk their pigs.

You can contact us on Mobile: 07917 445598 – we are always here to help.

We are not open to the public. Appointment only please.