How to Get Pigs in Stardew Valley: A Comprehensive Guide
Raising animals is a core part of the Stardew Valley experience, offering a variety of benefits from providing valuable resources to adding charm to your farm. Among the many animals you can raise, pigs stand out for their unique ability to find truffles, a highly profitable item. If you’re looking to maximize your income and diversify your farm, understanding how to get pigs in Stardew Valley is essential. This guide will walk you through the process, from building the necessary structures to caring for your porcine companions.
Prerequisites for Owning Pigs
Before you can even think about acquiring pigs, you need to meet a few crucial prerequisites. These steps involve upgrading your farm and ensuring you have the necessary space and resources.
Upgrading Your Coop
The first step is to upgrade your coop to the Deluxe Coop. This upgrade is essential because it allows you to purchase pigs from Marnie’s Ranch. To upgrade your coop, you’ll need to visit Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop, located north of Pelican Town. The Deluxe Coop requires a significant investment of resources and gold:
- Cost: 25,000g
- Materials: 300 Wood, 150 Stone
Once you have the required resources, Robin will begin construction, which typically takes three days. Make sure you have enough space on your farm for the upgraded coop. The Deluxe Coop not only allows you to house pigs but also comes with an auto-feeder, which automatically dispenses food to your animals, saving you time and effort.
Ensuring Adequate Space
Pigs need space to roam and forage for truffles. A cramped environment will not only make them unhappy but also limit their ability to find valuable items. Ensure you have a reasonably sized fenced-in area adjacent to your coop. This area should be free of obstructions like trees, rocks, and weeds, allowing your pigs to move around freely.
A well-maintained pasture provides a conducive environment for pigs to thrive and produce more truffles. Consider planting grass starters in the area, as pigs enjoy eating grass, which contributes to their happiness and productivity.
Purchasing Your First Pig
With your Deluxe Coop ready and adequate space prepared, you can now purchase your first pig. Head over to Marnie’s Ranch, located southwest of your farm. Marnie sells various farm animals, including chickens, cows, sheep, and, most importantly, pigs.
Visiting Marnie’s Ranch
Marnie’s Ranch is open from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, but she is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays (unless it’s a special event or holiday). Make sure to visit during her operating hours to purchase your pig. When you speak to Marnie, select the option to buy an animal, and you’ll see the pig available for purchase.
The Cost of a Pig
Pigs are one of the more expensive animals in Stardew Valley, reflecting their potential for generating high profits through truffle foraging. A single pig costs 16,000g. This initial investment might seem steep, but the long-term returns can be substantial, especially if you process the truffles into truffle oil. [See also: Stardew Valley Truffle Oil Guide]
Naming Your Pig
After purchasing your pig, you’ll be prompted to give it a name. Choose a name you like, as this will be how you refer to your pig throughout the game. Once named, the pig will be transported to your Deluxe Coop, ready to start its life on your farm.
Caring for Your Pigs
Owning pigs comes with certain responsibilities. Providing proper care ensures they are happy, healthy, and productive. Here are the key aspects of pig care:
Feeding Your Pigs
Pigs need to be fed daily to maintain their happiness. The Deluxe Coop comes with an auto-feeder that dispenses food automatically, provided you have hay in your silo. Hay can be obtained by cutting grass with a scythe or purchasing it from Marnie’s Ranch. One piece of hay is required per pig per day. Ensure your silo is always stocked with hay, especially during winter when grass doesn’t grow.
Maintaining Happiness
A happy pig is a productive pig. Happiness affects the frequency and quality of truffles they find. To keep your pigs happy, make sure they are fed regularly, allowed to roam outside, and have access to grass. You can also increase their happiness by petting them each day. A simple right-click on the pig will perform the petting action.
Foraging for Truffles
The primary reason for raising pigs is their ability to find truffles. Pigs will forage for truffles outside as long as they are allowed to roam and the weather is not rainy or during winter. Truffles are valuable items that can be sold directly or processed into truffle oil for an even higher profit. The more space your pigs have to roam, the more truffles they are likely to find. It takes approximately 10 days for a pig to mature to adulthood and begin foraging. [See also: Stardew Valley Animal Care Tips]
Maximizing Truffle Production
To get the most out of your pigs, you need to optimize their truffle production. Here are some tips to help you maximize your truffle yield:
Increasing Foraging Area
The larger the area your pigs have to forage, the more truffles they will find. Expand the fenced-in area around your coop to give them more space to roam. Clear any obstructions that might hinder their movement, such as rocks, trees, and weeds. Consider planting more grass starters to provide them with a steady supply of food.
The Gatherer and Botanist Professions
Choosing the right professions can significantly impact your truffle yield. The Gatherer profession, which is available at Foraging level 5, gives you a 20% chance to get double foraged items. This means that there’s a chance your pigs will find two truffles instead of one. At Foraging level 10, the Botanist profession ensures that all foraged items are of the highest quality (Iridium quality), which further increases their value.
Truffle Oil Production
While selling truffles directly can be profitable, processing them into truffle oil is even more lucrative. Truffle oil is made using an Oil Maker, which can be crafted after reaching Farming level 8. Each truffle produces one bottle of truffle oil, which sells for a significantly higher price than the raw truffle. Investing in multiple Oil Makers can greatly increase your income from pig farming. [See also: Stardew Valley Farming Guide]
Dealing with Winter
Winter presents unique challenges for pig farming. Pigs will not forage for truffles during winter, as the ground is covered in snow. However, you can still care for them and prepare for the next foraging season.
Stockpiling Hay
During winter, pigs need to be fed hay from your silo. Make sure you have stockpiled enough hay during the other seasons to last through the winter. If you run out of hay, you can purchase it from Marnie’s Ranch, but this can be costly in the long run. Aim to have a full silo before winter arrives.
Maintaining Happiness Indoors
Pigs can become unhappy if they are confined indoors for too long. While they cannot forage during winter, you can still maintain their happiness by petting them daily and ensuring they are fed. Consider installing a heater in your coop to keep them warm and comfortable during the cold winter months.
Conclusion
Raising pigs in Stardew Valley can be a highly profitable venture, providing a steady stream of income through truffle production. By upgrading your coop, providing adequate space, caring for your pigs, and optimizing their foraging conditions, you can maximize your truffle yield and build a thriving farm. Remember to stockpile hay for the winter and consider processing your truffles into truffle oil for even greater profits. With proper care and attention, your pigs will become a valuable asset to your Stardew Valley farm. Learning how to get pigs in Stardew Valley is just the first step; mastering their care and maximizing their potential is where the real rewards lie. Start your pig farming journey today and watch your profits soar!
