Feed the animals, and let them deposit top soil, then rotate them as necessary. Keep track of your sow's estimated farrowing day and put her in a safe area about a week before she is due to give birth. Your breeder will help you in raising your new piglet and should be able to answer all your questions about your kunekune. For now, feel free to continue reading. They are a small heritage breed that are perfect for a small homestead. The kids have plenty of space to run and go wild, Felix and Fiona the pigs were a big hit with our 18 month old and Ziva the dog was very bouncy and played with our 4 yr old really well. We had a wonderful time - from the treasure hunt. A real escape with plenty of extras and a community feel. Catering was superb and the accommodation was incredible. Disclosure. Some things to consider before raising Kunekune pigs and other pigs and any livestock for meat are: Kunekune pigs need about a quarter acre of pasture per adult pig. Rotating pastures will keep the pigs from overgrazing the fields. Thanks guys! This fat gives great flavor to sausages, bacon, and other kinds of meat. Waterer: Water is very important when it comes to pigs. Thats about the size of a a very round Jack Russell terrier. (The Polynesian work 'kunekune' simply means 'plump'.) Town close by in. Hope we will be back soon x, Amazing. Thank you once again for such a fantastic time. unless you live in a very cold area. Do I eat my pigs? on the ability to have our wedding ceremony outdoors and the yurt/campsite which allowed our guests to stay onsite. Nothing was a bother and children felt free. They are about 100 to 150 plus lbs perfect size for processing. Katrinas pancakes are to die for. They need less protein than other pig breeds so more of their diet can consist mostly of vegetables, grains and grass. See you again. Michelle and all the Thomases and Bonds xxx, Amazing .such a lovely family .looked after us all they couldn't do enough for us. This is the time when you will need to supplement with a bit of grain. We stayed in a comfortable and cosy yurt, which our children thought was amazing, as did we. There are plenty of other reasons to raise these . As far as pigs go, Kunekune are easy on fences. Barnutopia is a stunning venue for a wedding or even just for a break away in the beautiful peaceful countryside with the stunning views; we would 100% recommend this little gem to everybody, the photos do not do it justice. However, in the meantime, you will enjoy their interesting, friendly personalities. Kunekune pigs can thrive without imports in a well-designed pasture/orchard system. The barn and yurt field are spacious and really flexible to do what you want with. So much to do and a beautiful area. Make sure to think ahead and install fencing that is also suitable for piglets. Productive Years For A Pig: Sows can continue to breed up until roughly 4-6 years of age, while boars may be done by 3-4 years of age due to weight. Pigs only sweat from their snouts, so it can be difficult for them to regulate their body temperature. We also liked the freedom to bring in our own touches to everything, including decorations, caterers and alcohol. Keep up the amazing work , What an amazing venue, had our wedding renewal here last weekend 22nd June, such a spectacular place, Katrina and Steve, were so helpful and professional making the whole weekend go with ease amazing! Breeders might try to label them as mini pigs . Once in the spring and once in the fall (like most other livestock). However, they do not need to breed until they are 10 months old. Quote from the children we loved it, we had an amazing time Saturday night the younger one would not come down to the arc and when I found her she . Kunes can weigh from 60-200kg (120-400lb) so there is a vast range in sizes, but even the biggest Kune is much much smaller than a commercial breed . Weaning should take place between 8 and 10 weeks of age. We've had a brilliant weekend! Owner so helpful and really goes the extra mile to make your stay great. From what Ive seen, the best way to prevent any losses is to take an active role in removing the piglets into their own safe area (where they can still see mom) and allowing them to feed off mom about every hour or so. A heat lamp will be helpful if it is chilly or cold outside. This would be things like a triangle shelter so piglets can sleep in the corners. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases., Raising PIGS for BEGINNERS! to get them used to life as a pet and increase the chances that you'll have a cuddly companion. These pigs provide high quality meat in smaller quantities and are easier on the fields because they root less than other breeds. When they drink it down, once a week or so, I take out the rocks, rinse the rocks and the trough and re-fill. We would definitely look into returning in the future (if you will have us back )! My husband Paul and I chose Barnutopia as our wedding venue, taking place last weekend. Katrina, Steve and their family are so warm and friendly, and willing to go above and beyond to make their guests stay special. Having never stayed in a yurt before, we weren't entirely sure what to expect, but the stay was amazing! Would highly recommend! They are social animals. fantastic and so comfortable and it was really lovely to wake up.to the sound of the lambs in the next field. Thank you! 6 Safety Tips for Handling an Aggressive Pig Effectively, 8 Common Causes of Pig Infertility and How to Address Them, Is It Okay to Feed Bread to Pigs? And the bottom strand is eye level when the pig is sniffing or rooting the ground. However, the Kunekune has long hair. If pigs are expecting food all the time, they will demand it whenever they want. Scavenger hunt was so much fun. 4 months - 6 months ~ 3/4 cup twice a day. Clean, friendly and accommodating, we would certainly recommend! Do not try to fatten your Kunekune pigs like you would other breeds of pigs. We will definitely be back! 8 months - 1 year ~ 1 1/2 cup twice a day. AVOID meat or anything that would be considered junk food. Deworming is generally done twice a year. It's also important to maintain their hooves regularly. A Kunekune gilt may begin cycling around six months old. Just like other pig breeds kunekune pigs should have a balanced diet, and we have to make sure to never overfeed them. Other good additions to their diet are any vegetarian matter or kitchen scraps (make sure to cook potatoes). If you're contemplating getting Kunekune pigs yourself. These pigs have a short cute-as-can-be snout, which is why they don't prefer rooting. Kunekune pigs require a lot of care, but none of it is considered particularly hard. Kunekune pigs are very easygoing and friendly animals that are easy to train and handle. These types of breeds are prone to get fat easily, so do be . Katrina and Steve know how to make people happy! Tetanus is a bacteria that lives in soil. Without that verification there is no certainty your pig is 100% Kunekune. In the winter when the grass loses its goodness 1 lb. Tetanus. Farrowing Preparation: How to Be Ready for Your Newborn Piglets, Pig Manure Compost: The Benefits, Risks, and How to Compost Pig Manure. Wow wow wow, I cannot recommend this enough, just got back after a two night stay, and cannot wait to return! , Have just got back from an amazing hen weekend at Barnutopia. The campfires at the end of the night were perfect. But this doesnt mean that they will be willing to breed yet. Unlike pet pot-bellied pigs, do well just eating grass. and the owners Katrina and Steve really made us and our 50 guests more than welcome. Given that theyve only been doing weddings for a couple of years, Barnutopia have everything you could want from a venue decorations, lights, games and an assortment of miscellaneous props! Foraging keeps the pigs happy and intellectually stimulated. I can think of a few animalsin addition to kunekune, but nothing better. My daughter and I had a fantastic time First time glamping and we had the best time from start to finish was sad to, leave food was great and we was so well looked after and made to feel welcome massive thank you to the Barnutopia team hopefully be back again next year. A minimum shelter size for 2 pigs would be roughly 4 feet by 6 feet. Like with pot-bellied pigs, owning a kunekune pig as a pet is legal in many areas, though some places classify them as a form of livestock and therefore require certain types of enclosures and permits. Fab freshly made afternoon tea with amazing cakes! Had the best time and we will be back again! The meat has a sweet flavor due to the grass based diet of the Kunekune. Breakfast was lovely. The venue itself is stunning, even better than it looks on the photos. Will definitely be coming back! The wedding day went seamlessly and our guests were blown away by the venue. An amazing weekend with every little detail catered for by Katrina and Steve. Some final tips are simply keeping the momma pig calm and staying out of her way. Nothing was too much trouble. xx, An all round perfect venue, ran by a beautiful family. Whats Too Cold: Under 20F and you will want to ensure that your pigs have adequate shelter. Kunekune sows come in heat every 18 to 22 days until bred. It is in a beautiful setting with stunning views and lots to do in the surrounding area. In Maori, the word Kunekune means fat and round. These pigs are similar in shape and size to potbellied pigs. Though I find them to be quite unsightly and prefer them without wattles. Barnutopia. So much to see and do we will back soon x, Just returned home after a fantastic weekend at Barnutopia, absolutely loved it! I booked it for my 30th party which we had in the, party barn. Made to feel welcome as soon as you arrive. As long as you are able to provide your pig with all that it needs, it would be considered ethical to own one. I use Allen & Page Pot Bellied pig feed for my two. Thankyou all for an awesome day. Very nice people, Had an amazing couple of days, thank you for having us, we will definitely be back , Had a lovely weekend at Barnutopia!! The only small issue was the heat inside the yurt during the day (there was a heatwave on, so it was to be expected), but I know Katrina has got plans to address this soon. We loved glamping! We booked the whole site and made full advantage of the. Katrina was really patient and. The views of rolling green hills from the farm are spectacular and when the sun comes out there is nowhere quite like Barnutopia. with you. What a fabulous way to spend New Year, and in a cosy converted stable with room for 5 and a dog! Discuss your pig's diet with your veterinarian and avoid feeding them extra treats, like table scraps. Something to note is that they are considered a lard breed pig. After a while it was the small-breed pigs personalities that sealed it . absolutely loved it! An adult kunekune will eat 2 to 3 pounds of pellets a day (equal parts of the pot-bellied pig food and grass pellets) if it doesn't have a lot of grass (you can add hot water to the pellets to create a mash). (NYE) The need for vaccines could be dependent on your area. We roasted marshmallows in the fire pits, had game of rounders with everyone and even had an outdoor cinema! A very welcoming and friendly place, stunning landscape all around, great walks and beautiful Waterfall really close. Because they root less, Kunekunes are not as hard on fields and fences as other breeds. We were so well. . If you want to keep their area dry, then hog nipples are very popular. All of our kunekunes are pedigree, from various bloodlines. Some guests tell us they come only to meet our piggies. They graze on grass and, providing you have enough of it, dont really need anything else in the summer. I would definitely recommend this place. Shelter and Space Requirements: Nothing fancy is needed . This was our 3rd time here (NYE) and it's just a superb, chilled out place to completely switch off and enjoy the, simple things. Thank you soooo much x, Amazing place and home from home with katrina and amazing hospitality, Amazing yet again. This will prevent their breeding too young. Had the whole site for the weekend. Highly highly recommended x, An unbeatable venue for the simple, low-key wedding that we wanted. . where on earth they get their energy from?! If a high-quality pasture is not available, whether it be due to drought or just not enough grass to feed a hungry adult pig, pot-bellied pig pellets and grass pellets can be used to supplement their diet. Kunekune pigs are little. Great hospitality, lovely home made food, Katrina and Steve can't do enough for you but are not at all, overbearing. Babe (photo 2 & 3) is almost 10 years old. Because of the shorter upturned snout, they root around in the soil less, causing less damage to pastures. The party barn is fab and whilst we made a lot of noise there were never any complaints (we did check!) When fed a diet that is mainly grain, they will get overly fat. A stressed-out momma and cause unnecessary complications. deep sense of contentment. 24 field fencing would be adequate for all stages of kunekune life. Kunes eat standard 15-17% protein pig pellets. [Edit: my two are escape artists and once disappeared on a jaunt. I mean, a place called Barnutopiashould have pigs (and goats, and chickens, and ducks, and maybe the odd yak or two). 2 months - 4 months ~ 1/2 cup twice a day. people and are so keen on letting you enjoy your stay. Kunekune pigs are pregnant on average for about 116 days. We can not wait for our 2023 wedding season to get, Cabin Connie Ben January 10, 2021 livestock, pigs ethical omnivore, grassfed grazing pigs. Honestly an absolute amazing venue, was there for a wedding and the location is amazing, views, accommodation, food. I would definitely recommend these guys. The yurt itself was very clean and contained everything we needed, including some plug sockets for charging phones etc. Will definitely be going back again and raving about our experience to our friends and family. Campfires each night, watched tv in the barn, perfect facilities. Breakfast was delicious especially the famous pancakes. Double that amount for winter feeding with access to plenty of hay. Ive heard of pigs being fine down to -20F. Absolutely lovely weekend, great place to stay, beautiful views and a fantastic friendly host - Katrina and her family. Barnutopia is family and dog friendly and located in such a beautiful setting. Our daughter really enjoyed feeding the pigs and playing hide and seek on the beautiful grounds that are on offer. Will definitely be returning! The barn looked amazing and the sun even came out for us . Good luck with all your future plans Mrs B xxx, My sister booked and arranged my hen party at barnutopia and it was a dream from start to finish. Sat in the peaceful, countryside just chilling and enjoyying the sun. It looks like a seizure, the pig shakes and stumbles. 51. KuneKune pigs are very hardy little pigs and fair quite well in most climates. That being said, mental exercise and stimulation are just as importantif not moreto the animal. Horse fencing is a bit more robust yet still affordable. I cannot wait to plan our next trip!!! (Theyre also kinda ugly on a cute pig face). They make for excellent pets and because their size is smaller than other breeds, are great . We have made beautiful memories with our friends and family and would recommend anyone getting married to book this place! We are all sorry we came home today. The food was great and the hosts even better! A pair of castrated boars (males) is a good option. Can't wait to come back in the summer!! They only get to be about 2ft tall (but 200-250lbs) and are quite docile. Do not feed your pig a bite of food when you are preparing meals, do not feed out of the kitchen, do not give the pig a bite when you are eating, do not feed the pig off your plate. Especially if youre after registered stock. She delivered piglets without a problem. Keep Kunekune gilts (young females) away from intact boars from the time they are weaned. If your pigs will not have access to the outdoors, you should provide 50 to 80 square feet per pig in the barn. Pigs use aggression to establishes the dominance-subordinate relationship. Book now you won't regret it xx. Feeding a whole wedding party at next to no notice! Next you need to work on your armor and biomass. Plenty of amazingly good cooked food by Katrina. What more can I say. Would highly recommend and we will be coming back for summer. There is one condition called congenital tremors which occurs in pigs and is genetic in origin. This makes them one of the better breeds to have around if you have kids. Kunekune sows come in heat every 18 to 22 days until bred. If you're thinking about raising Kunekune pigs on your small farm, you've made a great decision. 19 women finally freed of lockdown must have been a challenge but we were catered for beautifully. Enquire about glamping or venue hire . Grandson enjoyed playing with the kittens, and giving the horses some hay, (under supervision). But we will be back! Characteristics, Housing, Diet, and Other Information. Go, you won't be disappointed! Kunekune pigs are incredibly intelligent and will pick up any attempts at training very quickly. On Saturday, David and the kids and I drove to a Kune Kune pig breeder farm south of Richmond ( Virginia Kune Kunes) and picked up the two newest additions to our little crazy family, a little black and white girl piglet who now goes by Tinkerbell, and a little orange boy piglet who now goes by Mr . Pigs are quite resistant to tetanus, but if they do get the disease, they do not respond well to treatment, and most die. If you want a good meat pig that is a true grazing pig, consider Idaho Pasture pigs. Katrina and Steve are lovely hosts and cant do enough for you. Since their main diet is grass, they thrive when they can come and go in a secure fenced-in area (often with a live wire) and sleep on sawdust or another kind of bedding in a well-ventilated shelter. Food is delicious, Mr & Mrs B are wonderful hosts, the. If making money off of your pigs is important, you may want to choose another breed. Keep track of your sows estimated farrowing day and put her in a safe area about a week before she is due to give birth. It was more than we ever imagined. A good shelter will be draft free and dry. The photo below is a good representation of this. She is trained as a Fear Free Certified Professional to prevent and alleviate fear, anxiety, and stress in pets. It has a large head and elongated snout with a round disc-like nose. They are primarily found in New Zealand, and the funny part is they don't originate there. These pigs are highly intelligent and incredibly social. . What an amazing hidden getaway. helpful. Even with the 2 dogs running round, nothing was too much and we always felt welcome. Kunekune pigs will do the majority of their growth in their first 18 months and then continue growing until they are around 3 years old. If you don't have enough space to accommodate a 200-pound pig, then you shouldn't get a kunekune. If you live in an area with warm temperatures, you may be able to get two litters of piglets from each sow. Our proven sow has not become pregnant again. Thank you , We recently held our festival themed wedding at Barnutopia. It costs around 75+ for a castrated boar. I'll be coming back for sure! I already had a very nice stone built pigsty and a fair bit of land right next to it, I couldntthink of anything better than kunekune to fill it. But thats just my opinion. A unique feature of the Kunekune are the pire pire (tassels) hanging from their lower jaw (about 4 . Breeders combined Kunekunes, Durocs and Berkshire pigs to create a new pig breed called Idaho Pasture pigs. We were looking for a unique venue and were especially keen. Kunekune meat is worth waiting for if you have the ability to wait. The pancakes were delicious and the boys had a real adventure. Other pigs to consider raising for meat are: Your information will *never* be shared or sold to a 3rd party. Kunekune pigs will live anywhere from 15 to 20 years when kept as pets. Awesome break away such a loverly setting ,the views are to die for .the family that run this place are genuine nice. Kunekune have lovely temperaments. Welcome to the family, Tinkerbell and Mr. Smee! We stayed for New Year and enjoyed good food, great company, marshmallows and stories around the fire pit, country walks to waterfalls, feeding pigs, fun treasure hunts and an awesome firework display. Print. We stayed in yurt Axana with 4 adults and 3 children, there was so much. You and Steve went above and, beyond and everything just totally and utterly exceeded our expectations. We would definitely recommend it! The setting is beautiful and the site is enclosed and safe meaning the (many) children were free to enjoy themselves, leaving the grown ups to catch up. Fantastic time, thank you again for allowing us to make such fond memories at Barnutopia. This goes together with high levels of exhaustion. The party barn was just perfect as was the accommodation, setting, delicious breakfasts, facilities and service. Dismiss, Tasty Gluten Free Sugar Cookies (sugar free too! Kunekune pigs come in many sizes and can be rather large, occasionally reaching up to 200 pounds. kune kune with attitude . Kunekune sows seldom need assistance. Everything was fantastic, the location is beautiful, accommodation so, cosy and the venue itself is incredible. Just returned from a fabulous weekend in Nanny Iris at Barnutopia! The top strand is about eye level with the pig. Just like some goats do. It consists of a flap of skin on either side of their neck. It wasn't cold, we loved listening to the rain in our cosy den! They have to be wormed every 6 months by giving an injection you can do yourself. , A fantastic retreat with lots of glamour, rolling hills and friendly pigs . The food was delicious and plentiful! It was brilliant. Kunekune pigs are friendly and colorful, weighing around 100 to 250lbs. Massive thank you to Katrina, Steve, and family for making us so welcome. One thing to keep in mind is that Kunekune pigs are slow growing.