Baby Pig. Now What?

[ryer]

Eddie,
I live down here in your neck of the woods and I too have a wild hog as a pet. He is 1 year old and we named him Maxwell. He was born on the island in the front yard in a litter of 10. We have about 30 wild hogs that have tamed down enough that they eat in the front yard but Maxwell is by far the tamest. I am not sure how much he weighs but a I took these pictures today and at 1 year old, since I weigh 275, I guess him to be about 150? I know it is sort of canabalistic but his favorite food is hot dogs also cheese from a can and milk covered dog food. After he finishes his meal, he always escorts me out to feed the rest of the hogs. He roams on the neighbors properties and I always worry he's going to get trapped or shot. I think he is a full blooded wild boar.
Ryer

 

[EddieWalker]

Ryer,

Thanks for sharing your story and pics. Maxwell is an awesome looking hog!!!! Definatly an impressive wild boar!!!

Does he follow you around when you go for walks? What about when people come over? Oscar runs up to every car and waits at the door for them to get out. Then he sniffs their shoes and tries to pull their shoe laces. It's so much fun for me to wach this happen and see what people do when confronted with a pig that's running loose and not afraid of them.

Thanks for sharing,
Eddie

 

[ryer]

Eddie,
I always enjoy reading your threads so I thought I would contribute to one. Maxwell usually only shows up at sunrise and sunset for his breakfast and supper. So, so far, no one has been visiting when he is here. My friends all say I am crazy... that there is no domestic in him and since he is not castrated and he always is getting into fights with the other hogs in my yard, that he will one day turn on me and cut me. I am not sure, since this is my first wild boar . I do notice that if I walk up behind him and surprise him, he can scare the crap out of you. He got cut a couple of weeks ago (scar across his nose), by a gigantic nasty looking hog that has recently shown up. This hog is very aggressive and stands his ground with me but so far it is a standoff and we keep our distance. He is huge. I enclosed a photo of him and if he hurts Maxwell again, I guess I will have to run him off. I guess this new hog to be double the size of Maxwell.
Ryer

 

[EE_Bota]

Eddie,
I always enjoy reading your threads so I thought I would contribute to one. Maxwell usually only shows up at sunrise and sunset for his breakfast and supper. So, so far, no one has been visiting when he is here. My friends all say I am crazy... that there is no domestic in him and since he is not castrated and he always is getting into fights with the other hogs in my yard, that he will one day turn on me and cut me. I am not sure, since this is my first wild boar . I do notice that if I walk up behind him and surprise him, he can scare the crap out of you. He got cut a couple of weeks ago (scar across his nose), by a gigantic nasty looking hog that has recently shown up. This hog is very aggressive and stands his ground with me but so far it is a standoff and we keep our distance. He is huge. I enclosed a photo of him and if he hurts Maxwell again, I guess I will have to run him off. I guess this new hog to be double the size of Maxwell.
Ryer

Please look at the picture of this hog. Look at the raised place on his snout, where his tusks hide.

Next time you see Maxwell up close, look to see if you can see tusks. If not, see if the tips of what is there are flat. I would be curious to know.

The large hog with tusks will defeat Maxwell every time . A hog with tusks, is a heavily armed pig, and will win battles against an unarmed pig.

Be sure that you remember my warning, that a hog with tusks has the perfect height to sever your femoral artery should you run from him during an attack. Also, please remember that hogs are opportunistic carnivores.

I love hogs and pigs, and raised them for many years. I am not afraid of them, only have a healthy respect for them. I am right sure you all already knew everything I have said, but it is just very difficult to sit here quietly and assume that, given the potential for mishap.

A small cow with horns can dominate polled cattle. A hog with tusks can dominate those without. Somehow, the animals always know how well they are armed relative to others. That pig knows he has tusks, and he knows what they are used for.

 

[CurlyDave]

... He is huge. I enclosed a photo of him and if he hurts Maxwell again, I guess I will have to run him off. I guess this new hog to be double the size of Maxwell.
Ryer

I would be thinking about shooting him next time I saw him.

In my younger days I used to kill feral hogs with a knife. But even then, I had to good sense to stand back and shoot one that big or that showed too much aggression. I don't care how big and how fit you are -- you are no match for a 300 lb. boar. That animal has massive neck and shoulder muscles and he keeps them in shape by rooting for hours every day.

He has the strength to gore you with a tusk despite your best efforts.

 

[ryer]

EE Bota,
Maxwell does have tusks. They are just starting to potrude...I guess because of this age? He is one year old. This othe hog, I would think is much older. What would you guess his age to be? I appreciate your concern but trust me...I well respect his ability to do damage. I never get closer than about 20 yards from him, I never turn my back on him and if I had to, I would put him down in an instant. I raised and bred exotic venomous reptiles for 20 years without incident. So believe me, I respect the power of dangerous wildlife. Maybe I should let my mother-in-law come visit so the big hog will run away but then again so would Maxwell?
Ryer

 

[ShenandoahJoe]

Has Oscar made a prediction who will win the Superbowl this Sunday?

A pig would never root for Packers.

 

[Obed]

I would be thinking about shooting him next time I saw him.

In my younger days I used to kill feral hogs with a knife. But even then, I had to good sense to stand back and shoot one that big or that showed too much aggression. I don't care how big and how fit you are -- you are no match for a 300 lb. boar. That animal has massive neck and shoulder muscles and he keeps them in shape by rooting for hours every day.

He has the strength to gore you with a tusk despite your best efforts.

We had a full grown steer slaughtered and fed the waste parts to the pigs. I watched a 200 lb sow bite the thigh bone; the bone broke in two separate pieces like it was a toothpick. The endeavor did not appear to require any effort at all by the sow. Pigs are impressive animals.

Obed

 

[wedge40]

Based on the comments it would seem there are lots of folks from People
Eating Tasty Animals

Ya.. This always reminds me of the joke about the 3 legged pig named George.

Wedge

 

[firefighter9208]

Eddie and Ryer,

Since your pigs are so tame, her is a way to see how much they weigh. Get a seamstress tape (cloth) and measure around the pig right behind his front legs. Like you would measure your chest, then multiply by 10.1709 and subtract 205.7492

Ex:
46" x 10.1709 = 467.86 -205.7492 = 262# should be accurate within 10# + or -

Found that info online the other day. Here is a link to the article: http://www.thepigsite.com/articles/1106/use-heart-girth-to-estimate-the-weight-of-finishing-pigs

Chris