A Kunekune pig's weekly routine is built around grass: managed grazing through the week, one hands-on session for skin, wattles, ears, and hooves, and a regular condition check. Kunekunes are small, hairy pigs from New Zealand with short, upturned snouts and, often, a pair of tassels called wattles hanging under the chin. They are placid and people-oriented, which makes weekly handling pleasant, but their efficiency on grass makes weight the thing the routine must watch.
Grazing management across a Kunekune's week
Rotate the Kunekune between grazing areas so pasture rests and the pig always has short, leafy grass rather than a worn patch. Because the breed's short snout discourages deep rooting, a Kunekune grazes more like a sheep than a typical pig, yet supplementary feed should stay modest and measured; a handful of pig ration or vegetables is plenty alongside good grazing for a pet pig. Check water daily, since pigs foul troughs quickly, and confirm shade is available, as even hairy Kunekunes overheat in strong sun. Watch grazing behavior: a pig that stops grazing and lies apart is flagging something worth a closer look.
The weekly skin, coat, and wattle check
Brush through the Kunekune's long, coarse coat once a week, parting the hair to inspect the skin for flaking, redness, or parasites that the hair conceals. Check the wattles gently for cuts or swelling, since they catch on fencing and low branches. Look inside the ears and wipe away dirt, and examine skin folds around the face and legs where moisture collects. Kunekunes enjoy handling, so make this session unhurried social time as well as inspection; a pig accustomed to weekly hands-on care is far easier to help if it ever needs treatment.
Hooves, ground, and shelter rounds
Inspect each hoof weekly for overgrowth and cracks, remembering that a pig grazing soft pasture wears its feet down less than one on hard ground. Trim small amounts if you have been shown how, or schedule a professional, rather than letting the toes lengthen and change the pig's stance. Walk the paddock on the same day: repair fencing at pig height, check the shelter bedding is dry, and confirm the wallow or shaded damp area is available in warm weather. Clear away fallen fruit in season, because a Kunekune will gorge on windfalls and upset its digestion doing it.
Weight watching for a grass-fed pig
Feel along the Kunekune's back and hips weekly to judge condition, since the long coat disguises both gain and loss. You want a smooth covering without deep fat rolls around the neck and shoulders, which restrict movement and breathing in this breed. If condition creeps up, shorten grazing on the richest pasture or trim supplementary feed before cutting both at once. Weigh or measure the pig when you can, and write the result down; slow gain is invisible week to week but obvious across a month of honest records.
When a Kunekune needs veterinary help
Contact a vet promptly if a Kunekune goes off its food, develops persistent diarrhea, limps, or shows skin that becomes hot, crusty, or weepy despite basic care. Labored breathing, especially in a heavy pig in warm weather, needs urgent advice because overheating escalates fast. A swollen, damaged wattle that bleeds or will not settle should also be seen. Those decisions are easier with a written weekly history behind them. Logging grazing moves and health checks in KinsLe Care Teams, with jobs assigned to named helpers and stamped when finished, keeps a Kunekune's gentle routine consistent whoever is on duty.