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Cascade Meadows Farm
Cascade's
American Guinea Hogs
American Guinea Hogs
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How big do Guinea Hogs get?   
    Adult Guinea Hogs are about knee high to a typical adult man. Some Guinea
    Hog lines are smaller and slower growing - adults topping out at 200 pounds.  
    Some Guinea Hog lines are a little bigger and faster growing, Adults topping
    out at 300-400 pounds.   A single litter can have some size variation, so you
    can select toward the size that suits you.   

2. Are they friendly?  
    Yes, they are very friendly.  A lot like dogs.  We select toward very friendly
    American Guinea Hog genetics on our farm.

3. What do Guinea Hogs Eat?
    They like to graze grass and clover (like sheep), but they also like to eat
    kitchens scraps of all kinds.  In winter, they will eat hay plus kitchen scraps,  
    Guinea hogs can gain fat easily, so watch their weight.  Only feed a little grain
    if they are getting skinny.

4. What about Water?
     Guinea Hogs need constant access to fresh drinking water.  We like to
     give them a flat pan about 6 inches tall.  In warm weather, pigs also like to
     have access to a wallow.  A wallow can be a child's wading pool or a low spot
     in the pasture that is kept damp.   Guinea Hogs will dig their own wallow in
     those low wet spots.   You can also let a hose drip in those low wet spots.

5. What sort shelter do Guinea Hogs need?
    They need a dry place to sleep at night with some straw and something above
    to shed rain,and a wind break.  They will put themselves to bed each night.

6. Do they need shots or de-wormer or any sort of vet work?
    Our American Guinea Hogs are naturally resistant to parasites and diseases
    and we never vaccinate, nor use de-wormers, nor perform any vet work of
    any kind.  

7. Is it easy to keep a breeding boar to impregnate a female?
    American Guinea Hog boars are very easy to keep and they will keep the
    females pregnant.

8. Do you need to do anything special with mothers when they are pregnant or
getting ready to have piglets?
    You can keep mother and the boar together up until it's close to farrowing
    time (time to have piglets).  If the pigs have lots of space, the mother will
    usually separate herself to have the piglets.   But if the pigs are more
    contained, then it's best to isolate the mother from other pigs.  Pigs like to
    sleep in "Pig Piles" to keep warm in winter.  If the mother is confined with
    other pigs while she has her piglets, the new piglets will be in danger of
    getting squished.  

9. Do the piglets need any special care?
    No, the mothers do all the work.  Just make certain the mother is fed well (not
    too fat, not too skinny), and make certain the mother has access to clean
    water at all times.   One common problem with all larger animals that have
    litters of small offspring, is that the much larger mothers can accidentally
    squish some babies.   Some mothers are more careful than other mothers.  
    There are a few tricks you can use to limit squishings, or you can just let
    nature take it's course.

10. Do the baby boy American Guinea Hogs need to be castrated?
    The males of many breeds of pigs produce hormones that produce scents for
    sexual attraction.  These hormones can affect the smell of meat in some
    breeds.   These smells are called boar taint.  At lower levels, very few humans
    can smell the "taint".   American Guinea Hogs are VERY low in taint genetics
    so the meat of uncastrated males can be very nice.   We've raised hundreds
    with no castration.

11. Do you need to wean baby pigs at some particular age?  
    They can be weaned at around 8 weeks of age, or you can leave them with
    mom and she will usually wean them at around 13 weeks.  

12. At what age do you butcher them for meat?
    American Guinea Hogs are homestead hogs that put on flavorful fat at early
    ages and can be butchered at any age starting at 10-12 weeks.   Smaller ones
    can be roasted whole in the oven like a chicken or turkey for a roast suckling
    pig feast.  Nine months of age is a good age for more meat, but still very
    tender and nice.   We've butchered old 10 year old breeding boars that still
    had great meat.

13. Is it easy to butcher them yourself?
    Yes, Very easy to do yourself and we give lessons.

14.  When does Cascade's Meadows Farm have guinea hogs available?
    We have a good sized herd and almost always have American Guinea Hogs
    available.  
We are long-time experts at all of this, and we love helping
absolute beginners.   Just contact us and we will help you.