What are TeaCup Pigs? Price?

Cute-as-a-button Miniature Pigs that never grow up! They are the latest pet craze today. When these pigs are born they are just as small as a teacup, hence the name.

The Birth of Mini-Pigs

After a series of false pregnancies, farmer Chris Murray's Pennywell Miniature pigs have given birth to eight tiny piglets at his Pennywell Farm in Devon, England. The smallest pig is named Tetley, because he's not much bigger than a cup of tea. The breed was developed by Jane Croft, a British breeder.

At birth, the piglets weigh about 9 oz. and are the size of a teacup. They are full growth at the age of 2, they grow any where from 12 to 16 inches high and weigh around 65 pounds. They grow to the size of a small spaniel. They have a projected lifespan of 15-20 years. They are said to make great pets. They are clean and highly intelligent. They also just love to be loved.

Pigs are known to be highly intelligent and they beat dogs in animal IQ tests. They have also enjoyed surges in popularity as pets before. In the United States, potbellied pigs were all the rage a generation ago. However, their popularity declined as their owners realized that they grew too large for their owners to care for them properly. Croft States:

Pigs are also clean because, you can litter-train them like a cat. You can take them for walks,on a leash, like a dog. They are said to be good for people who are allergic to dogs or cats, because they have hair instead of fur. However, they are very social animals and require a lot of attention.

The piglets cost up to $1,100 each, and Croft sells them only in pairs and only to people she feels are qualified to keep them. In Great Britain, owners must be licensed to keep livestock because pigs are considered to be farm animals.She has very strict criteria for there potential owners:

1. Will not sell to anyone who leaves them alone in the house.
2. Owners must be home all the time
3. Owners must have a garden
4. They must have company at all times
5. They are only sold in pairs

There is a very long waiting list in the UK. Moreover, it took Croft 9 years to breed these little cuties, and as far as I know, Pennywell Farm in the UK are the only ones breeding the true teacup pigs. However, here is the information that I have obtained thus far:

Pennywell Farm & Wildlife Centre
Buckfastleigh
Devon
TQ11 OLT
United Kingdom

http://www.pennywellfarm.co.uk/

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