It was perfect weather today so I spent a lot of much needed time outside and I was such a happy pig. Did my mom tell you how important outside time is for pigs?
Natural Rooting Instincts
Outside time is key to help me get out my natural instincts such as rooting. When I have ample time outside to root the dirt, get out my energy, and take in the sun, I am a much happier pig and less destructive in the house. Outside time provides an outlet for my boredom! You wouldn't want to be cooped up in a house all day and neither do pigs. We are outside animals so even though we do very well in the house, we need our time outside. Sometimes my mom thinks I would prefer to be outside than inside and she is right, unless its freezing cold. When I am outside I am rooting the ground, eating the dirt and soil, and burning off energy. Then when I come back inside I am a well-behaved piggy because I am not super bored. When I don't get my time outside I am a bored pig and that leads me to get into mischief and become destructive.
Vitamins, Minerals and Food
Outside time is not just so I can root the ground but it is also essential for me to get my natural vitamins and minerals. We absorb vitamins, just like humans, through the sun. Also when I root the soil I get natural iron that I most definitely need. Pigs naturally have low iron so eating the soil and obtaining natural iron can help with any deficiencies your pig may have when it comes to iron. Lastly, when I am outside rooting around I am eating soil, worms, acorns, and whatever else I find. This can help keep me less reliant on only being fed by my mom and helps me forage for my own food. That does not mean my mom doesn't feed me but it's natural for pigs to eat things outside so it's another way for me to get out my natural instincts. This will help me curb my hunger and not be so annoying when it comes to food in the house.
Aggression Problems
It's proven, pigs that get more outside time show less aggression issues than pigs who are stuck inside all the time. When we are outside we are burning energy, which releases happy endorphins making us happier pigs. We have an outlet outside and that is to "be a pig." This makes us more well rounded and happier which can result in less aggression issues you may have in the future.
We NEED to Go Outside
Going outside is a NEED of ours and not just something we want to do. So let us get outside time even if it's short it is better than nothing. We are not an animal that can stay inside all day everyday. Make sure we have some sort of shelter we can go into to get out of the sun or other weather conditions and please make sure we always have water!
Check out this awesome post by Mini Pig Info on outdoor fences and houses for us mini pigs! Click Here.
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