Raising Pigs and Chickens Together

Raising pigs and chickens together is beneficial for both animals and the land. If you want an efficient system for rotational grazing, it’s a great option to maximize your land’s potential.

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If you’re searching for information on raising pigs and chickens together, chances are you’re going to find a lot of negative comments. Historically, pigs have been known to eat anything which would include an unsuspecting chicken.

Housing them together in the same pasture is a disaster waiting to happen it seems.

Turns out, pigs and chickens can be successfully raised together without any issues. Not only can they be raised together, but it’s beneficial for both animals and the land

Why raising pastured pigs and chickens together is beneficial

Parasite control– Pigs and chickens aren’t generally susceptible to the same parasites. Chickens will eat the larvae from the pig manure, while pigs help to incorporate the chicken manure into the ground with their rooting. This helps to keep the pasture fertilized, and healthy for both species.

Predator control– Pigs can help to deter small predators that would love to have a chicken snack. Fox, raccoons, weasels, and coyotes don’t tend to mess with a full-grown pig. Housing them together in the same pen will help to protect the chickens from these types of predator attacks.

It’s been my experience that hawks will still attack a chicken with pigs present. You want to take precautions when free-ranging your flock.

It saves space-If you have a small farm, space is at a premium. Housing your chickens and pigs together will save space and infrastructure.

Land maintenance-Pigs till the ground while rooting and exposing worms for the chickens to eat. Chickens scratch moving dirt and seeds around. With proper rotational grazing, this is very beneficial to the ground and helps prevent weed overgrowth.

Now that I’ve convinced you to keep your pigs and chickens together, there are a few things you need to know before you combine everyone.

Space Requirements for Pigs and Chickens

This is the biggest factor you need to think through. Animals in small, confined spaces tend to have more anxious behaviors than ones that have plenty of room. A confined pig will definitely cause you trouble.

Be sure your pigs and chickens have enough space to move around freely. Pasturing the animals together is ideal.

The more space each animal has, the better. I do not recommend raising pigs a chickens together in confinement.

Behavior of the animals.

Generally, you don’t have to worry about an aggressive chicken with a pig, but you should be concerned with an aggressive pig. It’s best to monitor your pig’s behavior around the chickens.

If you put the pigs with the chickens while they are young, that is the best scenario. That way they are use to having chickens around.

This is our method on the farm. The piglets go out into the pasture with the chickens at an early age. They grow up with the chickens around, and we don’t have any issues.

If a pig ever kills a chicken, remove the rest of the flock immediately. They will tend to be aggressive toward others in the flock once they get a taste for one. Again, space is important. A pig will be more likely to catch a chicken in a small confined space.

Another scenario we’ve come across in the past is a chicken being killed by a hawk. If the carcus is left where a pig can reach it, the pig is likely to eat the dead chicken. If this happens observe the pigs behavior closely to make sure it doesn’t attack a live chicken.

Food and Water

Pigs are notorious for spilling water, and making a mess of food. This can be a real issue for the chickens. Separating the chicken food and water is ideal in order to keep everyone healthy. Place the chicken food high above the pigs if possible.

On our farm, we installed 2 x 6 boards over the entrance to the chicken coop. This allowed my chickens to come and go freely in the pasture, while preventing the pigs from getting into their food area.

Housing for Pigs and Chickens

While the chickens and pigs can happily share the same grazing and yard space, they’ll need separate areas to sleep and roost.

Pigs will sleep on the ground, so having chickens roosting above them means they’ll be covered in chicken manure.

Pigs also love yummy eggs. If you allow your pigs access to the nesting boxes, they will happily eat the eggs before you can collect them.

I solved this problem with an automatic chicken coop door. It’s too small for the pigs to fit in, and allows the chickens access to their nesting boxes and roosts.

The Breed of pigs and chickens you choose will also effect their ability to live together

We raise American Guinea Hogs, and soon to be Idaho Pasture Pigs on our farm. These are very docile breeds known for their good behavior. They’re less likely to harm one of our young children, and our other animals as well.

More on the personalities of pig breeds in the best pig breeds for the farm article.

Leghorns and other flighty breeds are good for raising with pigs. They can escape a pig’s attention very easily.

Fencing for pigs and chickens

Pigs will respond well to electric fencing. Chickens are hard to contain with that set up.

Using a hog wire perimeter will help to contain everyone. However, a chicken that wants to escape can easily fly over the fence.

If you are planning to use mobile electric fencing, there is a difference in the hog fencing and the poultry netting. Poultry netting may not be as “hot” since it drags the ground more. This won’t contain your hogs.

It’s best to keep the hogs contained over worrying about a couple of chickens flying over the fence. Chickens will most likely return to the coop at dark.

Can I raise pigs and chickens together?

In short, yes you can absolutely safely raise the two animals together. It will just take some careful planning and considerations for space, nourishment, housing and personalities.

Raising Pigs and Chickens Together