#1 Misconception: "Micro Pigs, Tea-cup Pigs, Pixie-pigs, Fairy-pigs, even Mini Pigs are tiny, about 9lbs fully grown."
I've seen lots of 5 year+ old full grown tea-cup, micro and true mini pigs and none have been near that small unless they are not full grown. That is young piglet size. I'm not saying somewhat smaller 30-50 lb 2-3 year+ don't exist. 5 years old is adult and they grow till then. AMPA says mini pigs range in Adult size from 60 to 300 lbs. That's a big range! They can occasionally be slightly smaller or even larger. Many of us call the ones from 60 - 99 lbs small or sometimes by other names. We call the full grown adults weighing 100 - 199 lbs medium size, and the ones over 200 lbs as adults large mini pigs. Nobody's seen a 9 or 10 pound full grown adult (or even close) and especially the actual smaller ones are not shown to reproduce reliably tiny (slightly smaller than 60 lb adults) either. Watch for "story tellers, ultimate final authorities and definition-setters" who can't deliver a clue to reality. We know other breeders who've searched for this "holy grail" of tiny adult pigs, and they all found dead ends, "ghosts & legends" with an occasion slightly smaller one not quite reproducing that smallness. One of them really did have the tiniest pigs and still wasn't sure they did because of the legends and story tellers. We chose them for part of our smaller pig stock. We tried to get all smalls but a couple turned out mediums.
Truth: Micro, mini and teacup pigs are not definitive terms of definitions of tiny pigs far smaller than farm Pigs. Don't fall for story tellers of whoppers with no real proof. Mini Pig ages become more apparent the longer you are involved with mini pigs. (Some claim their tiny pigs are much older than they really are.)
Mini pigs do come in varying realistic sizes. Vets have told us they've seen starved Mini Pigs (mor eoften obese mini pigs though), because their owner was told that feeding them only 1/4 cup of mini pig pellets a day would keep them tiny. Maybe a pig can be starved into becoming a little bit smaller, but here at Pig Haven we feed our pigs limitless Teff Grass Hay, some alfalfa hay, Pellets too and other mostly veggie and fruit treats, and supplements, plus herbs. We like healthy Pigs, not overly obese pigs either (woops, we do have one of those right now - a 52 lb nursing mamma pig). Genetics are Genetics. Size does pass down to some extent but not infallible. I've seen plenty of those pictures of "the tiny pig who grew to be huge," and some of those in real life. But those start out larger than mini pigs and closer to the size of smaller farm piglets, more than obvious to us. A healthy 50 lb adult is very small, a true micro or what some will call teacup pig, more typically 60 - 99 lbs as full grown 5 year adult. Some breeders may try to hijack, distort and redefine terms: (pixie pigs is the real term for real tiny teacup and micro pigs..., but count on 60 - 99 lbs and a whole lot more money than necessary, just to hope for that outcome). We'd rather have a happy healthy micro pig weigh 5 or 10 lbs more, end up a half inch or an inch taller and be healthy and happy, not starved but healthier.
#2. Misconception: "Pigs will stop eating when they are full."
We have seen obese pigs, not just healthy little chubs. It's not common to find a pig that will stop eating when they are full. It is very helpful to measure their pellets, but let them eat Teff Grass Hay and or graze on grass all they want, which most pigs love. Breeders vary what they feed their pigs. Some only feed grass hay, and they tend to have healthy Mini Pigs. They seem to quit eating when they are full of grass hay a bit easier, but some will graze and root a good portion of the day. We put one young obese rescue pig on a mainly grass hay diet for a couple months to slowly drop to healthy weight which does not stress their joints and organs. She ended up so much happier, playful and friendly.
#3. Misconception: "Mini Pigs will tear your house apart."
Truth: Some do. Before we first got Kitty, I was terrified by the videos of Pigs ripping off the wallpaper, eating furniture and sheet rock, tearing up the carpets, linoleum, open door and drawers and getting into everything, not to mention some plowing up the whole lawn. They can if you don't spend time with and train them using non-abusive good parenting techniques or good dog-training techniques. Redirect them to good or acceptable behavior. They do need a rooting area - fence that in and let them dig up and eat roots there. They want attention like a child or a puppy and will be a brat if they don't get attention and training (good videos on youtube). They want something to chew, like a puppy or a teething baby. What I have discovered is, any animal bored can do the same thing.
Pigs, dogs or cats can tear your house apart. Some may be less likely, and for that matter most any pet who is left alone do what pets can do. Pigs need training too. Pigs need to have time rooting. They want to root. Soem indoor pigs have rooting mats to hunt pellets in. Rooting is in their nature. Do Not dissallow it. They love to eat treats out of the palm of your hand which gives them part of that rooting snout contact they need. They will also behave like any animal left alone and bored. Pigs love to be stimulated with a learning challenge, lots of talk and petting. They are very intelligent.
#4 Misconception: "Pigs are Mean!"
Kids and dogs can be mean, and more so if some genetics are not countered with positive reinforcement and training. Pigs too. Good videos on youtbue for this with mini pigs. Animals can be mean, or they can be gentle and kind. Treat them with respect and kindness, you will receive that back from them. Pigs are loving. They want to be nurtured and kind back to you. Pigs can be very affectionate but tend to be more so based on mutual respect and love. Un-neutered or un-spayed pigs tend to be more problematic in some ways, including urinating and aggressiveness. They love to be rubbed and caressed while talked to/with (they talk back), they can get scared when they are held by strangers if not gently trained to love new people too. An expectant knowing trainer can often get faster results, because he or she knows the tendencies of pigs. Even though our Pigs have been held from the moment they were born, it will take them a few days to readjust to their new environment and owners. Be patient and gentle, positive and firm. We will be making some coaching videos soon with examples to help here. We have seen some good ones on youtube. Even wild little unheld mini pigs tend to calm and trust after some proper training and warm-up time opnce away from their mom, dad and siblings. Some recommend MTP (Move The Pig) to show who is boss to cut down on aggressiveness if it becomes a problem, but, a better video on youtube on that is "Concerns with Move the Pig" which deals with using good parenting techniques with piggy. I don't want to be the challenged king of their pecking order, let them keep pecking order to themselves and see me as a provider, not to be challenged.
#5 Misconception: "Pigs will eat anything!"
Almost, but... not sure about that one. Like Goats, they will chew and eat many things, but have their own preferences too. Our pigs tend to love mangoes, but Chip-Daddy isn't too interested. Mamma Delle turns her nose up at celery and carrots while the others want her portion. They both get very excited over vegetable scraps and some other fruits which are pretty universal. Mini pigs ussually love apples, grapes, watermelon and yogurt. Most will learn when younger that veggies are great. You don't need to limit the fruit too much. Some pigs will love things that aren't good for them, especially in high quantities. Pigs cannot tolerate much, for example. They can eat the meat but not the pit nor the skin of avocado. Whole avocados are a no no and can hurt them.