Keeping a couple of pigs is one of the most rewarding steps a smallholder can take. They clear ground, turn bedding into muck, and provide meat with a flavour no supermarket joint can match. But pigs do not thrive on neglect or guesswork. They need sturdy boundaries, a dry place to lie, a wallow to cool off in, shade on hot days and a routine that feels safe and predictable. Get those right and you will have contented, clean pigs — and far fewer escape attempts.

Planning the Plot: Space, Drainage and Shelter

Before you buy a pig, walk your land and think about water. Pigs poach wet ground quickly, so choose the highest, best-drained patch you can spare. A gentle slope helps rainfall run away, while a flat, boggy corner will soon become a stinking mess.

• Allow at least 10 square metres per pig in an outdoor run, and more if they will stay there for months.
• Site an ark or field shelter on a dry base, facing away from the prevailing wind. A concrete apron in front stops the entrance turning into a mud bath.
• Provide deep straw bedding. Pigs are clean animals by nature and will dung in one corner if the lying area stays dry.
• Plan to rotate. Move electric netting every few weeks so the ground recovers and worms are less likely to build up.

If you keep pigs on the same patch year after year, you will breed disease and parasites. Rotation is not a luxury; it is part of good husbandry.

Fencing and Boundaries

A pig can shift a loose post with its shoulder and root under a gap in minutes. Fencing must be sturdy, visible and checked often. Stock netting with a buried bottom wire is a good permanent boundary. Add a strand of electric wire at nose height — around 15cm and 45cm from the ground — to teach respect. Pigs learn quickly, but only if the fence is working properly.

• Use strainer posts at corners and every 3 metres along the run.
• Keep gates hung level and latched securely. A gap under a gate is an invitation.
• Test the electric fence with a proper tester every few days. A short from grass or a weak battery will undo weeks of training.
• Never rely on a single strand of wire or a temporary hurdle for a determined pig.

Before any pig arrives, make sure you have the correct holding number, herd mark and movement paperwork. Pigs are subject to strict movement rules in the UK, and your local authority or animal health office can explain what applies to your holding.

Wallows, Shade and Cleanliness

Pigs cannot sweat efficiently, so a wallow is not a treat — it is essential. A shallow trough, a sunken paddling pool or a clay-lined hollow will do. Keep the water topped up and dump it weekly to prevent it turning foul. In hot weather, check the wallow twice a day.

Shade matters just as much. Trees are ideal, but a shade cloth, a simple lean-to or the shadow of an ark will work. On still, humid days, pigs will pant and lie flat; move them gently to a cooler spot and offer extra water.

• Clean drinking water must be available at all times. A pig can drink 10 litres or more a day in warm weather.
• Remove wet bedding daily and add fresh straw. A dry pig is a healthy pig.
• Keep feed troughs off the ground or on a clean board. Do not let uneaten food rot in the mud.
• Scrub water troughs weekly, especially in summer when algae grows quickly.

Daily Feeding Routines

Pigs are creatures of habit. Feed at the same times each day — usually morning and late afternoon — and use the same call. They will quickly learn to come to you rather than charge the fence. A measured scoop is better than guesswork. A growing weaner might need 0.5–1kg of compound feed a day, while a larger porker may take 2–2.5kg. Always follow the feed manufacturer's guidelines and adjust according to condition.

• Feed in a clean trough or scatter feed in fresh straw so pigs can root for it.
• Never feed catering waste or kitchen scraps; it is illegal and risks disease.
• Watch condition weekly. Ribs should be felt but not seen. If pigs look thin or too fat, change the ration gradually.
• Move slowly and calmly. Use a pig board to guide them, never a stick or shouting.

A steady routine reduces stress, which in turn reduces illness and escapes. Pigs that trust their keeper are far easier to move, load and handle.

Weekly, Seasonal and Legal Rhythms

Once the daily jobs are second nature, build in a weekly check. Walk the fence line, test the electric, clean the water trough, top up the wallow and inspect feet and skin for cuts or lice. Weigh or condition-score your pigs monthly, and keep a simple notebook of feed, health and movement dates.

In winter, deepen the straw and check for draughts. In summer, prioritise shade and wallow water. If you plan to move pigs off the holding, remember the standstill rules and the need for a movement licence. Keep records for at least three years. These rules exist to protect pig health across the country, and they are straightforward once they become part of your routine.

Good housing and calm routines are the heart of small-scale pig keeping. Build strong fences, provide a wallow and shade, feed at the same times, and keep everything clean and dry. Your pigs will repay you with steady growth, quiet temperaments and a deep, satisfying connection to the land.