Skinny Piggies

Tiamolly123

Tiamolly123

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lm considering getting a skinny piggy. Can anyone tell me does the hair on the nose grow as soon as they are born. Do they all have that fur on the nose.
Do I have to be careful of stroking them because it could irritate they skin. Also anything I need to know about keeping them happy & healthy. Do rescues have them, if not where would I get one from.
 
OK, so there are 3 types of 'skinny' pigs. Werewolf Skinny pigs are born naked but then develop a fine layer of coarse hair over them which. The General 'skinny pig' (the ones I have) are born naked then develop hair on their nose and feet. Baldwin Skinny pigs are born with fur and loose it, becoming bald.

I find my skinnies are more sensitive to touch (as you would be without fur) but they soon get used to it. They eat more to burn calories and keep warm which means they poop more. Obviously they need extra help keeping warm and shouldn't be kept outdoors. They can go out in the run in warm weather but will need to be completely shaded to protect their skin from the sun.

Skinnies I find are so much louder than hairy pigs, I don't know why they just are, and certainly little characters. Apart from that I don't find them any different to a hair pig. I never put things on their skin unless their is a problem with their skin. A lot of people oil them once a week, but it isn't necessary at all.
 
P.s, a lot of rescues do not rehome skinny pigs out when they get them are they are so over bred. I contact several before decided to locate a breeder. I would always go rescue first, always, but if you are after a specific thing you may not find them in rescues.
 
Isn't it true that skinnies don't live as long on average? I think I remember reading that somewhere...
 
My skinnies are rescues but they were from rescues that knew me already and I had built up a relationship with. Apart from Ophelia who came from a friend as she could no longer keep her when she moved as all her pigs needed to go in a shed. I am not really that happy that they are bred at all as they do have a lot of health issues. Would not be without mine for the world though. Love them to bits. I only put Humilac spray on them every so often, depending on how dry they have got.
 
Age wise, my Katie was over 5 when she died but the others we lost were much younger. Tabitha we think is about 3.5 to 4, Ophelia is about 3 and Ronnie is about 18 months maybe a bit older.
 
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