Pigs | Brockswood Animal Sanctuary

Pigs
(Sus scrofa domesticus)

Pigs are widely misunderstood as sloppy, unintelligent, dirty, and lazy animals; "Sweat like a pig", "Lazy pig", "Greedy pig", and "Eat like a pig" are just some of the negative phrases we have come to accept as commonplace in our everyday language, but they couldn't be more wrong!

When you take the time to get to know a pig you will quickly learn that they are amazingly intelligent, social, sensitive, and (yes!) very clean animals, equally deserving of our love and attention as any other creature. Every pig deserves a good life where they can perform natural behaviours like rooting and foraging for food, wallowing in cool mud baths, cuddling with other pigs, and roaming outside of the confines of factory farm cages many sadly call home.

We have only a small number of pigs at Brockswood, but all are equally special!

Meet the Sheep

Hermione

Hermione came to us with Harry a handsome Kunekune and although they had the odd tiff (usually because Harry was being greedy!), they were good friends; often seen snuggled up together at bedtime. Sadly at the beginning of 2023 we lost our beloved Harry and Hermione is now adapting to life without her friend, supported with lots of love and extra cuddles from us.

Hermione is friendly but can be a little nervous at times, although she does like to odd bum scratch!

Despite her little legs, she is quite agile and can both climb and run very fast. We have to rotate our pig paddocks, as they make them quite muddy and this gives the grass a chance to grow back - she usually outruns us when we race her to the new one!

Porthos, Athos & Aramis

In May 2022, we were asked if we could take in three tiny Saddleback piglets. They were only days old and had sadly lost their mother. These piglets were just three of a large litter that several sanctuaries had thankfully stepped in to help, but the three remained. Together with the team at Wild Acre Rescue, we got little Athos, Porthos, and Aramis, our three Tusketeers to safety here at Brockswood.

Piglets rely so heavily on their mothers, especially in their first weeks of life, with them regularly suckling and snuggling up to her for warmth as at this young age they are unable to maintain their own body temperature. Pigs are wonderful mothers and develop strong bonds and love for their young, teaching them everything they need to know as they grow up.

Sadly, as they had this natural upbringing taken away from them, we have been doing our best to fill in the gaps! This began with the very many bottle-feeds that these hungry, growing babies needed each day, as well as the heat, and all the love and affection that they have been missing from their mother. Now that they are beginning to grow (fast) they have been safely exploring the world around them with us, investigating the many sights, sounds, and smells around them as they engage in a pig’s biggest pastime in their paddock, rooting! Despite having such tiny noses, they have been doing this since the first day here in their straw and blankets and it is wonderful to see them enjoying this properly now through the plants and soil, looking for tasty morsels.

Fact Friday: "Sweat Like a Pig"

Have you ever heard someone use the phrase “Sweat like a pig”? Well, as with most phrases associated with pigs, this is misleading!

Harry's Operation

Our vets at Meadows Farm do a fantastic job with our animals. They’re not always used to seeing the problems that some of our older...

Forever in Our Hearts

Although these beautiful pigs are no longer with us and are missed so very much, they live on always in our hearts and minds. As long as we continue to speak their names and tell their stories, they are still with us and will never be forgotten!