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How to Get Pigs in Stardew Valley: A Comprehensive Guide

Raising animals is a core component of the farming experience in Stardew Valley. Among the various livestock options, pigs stand out for their unique ability to unearth valuable truffles. If you’re looking to maximize your profits 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 infrastructure to caring for your porcine companions.

Building the Barn

Before you can even think about acquiring pigs, you’ll need a Deluxe Barn. This is the upgraded version of the standard Barn, and it’s crucial for housing pigs. Here’s how to get there:

Initial Barn: First, you need to construct a basic Barn. Visit Robin at the Carpenter’s Shop, located north of Pelican Town.
Materials and Cost: The initial Barn requires 350 wood, 150 stone, and costs 6,000g.
Upgrade to Big Barn: Once you have the Barn, upgrade it to a Big Barn. This requires 450 wood, 200 stone, and 12,000g.
Deluxe Barn: Finally, upgrade the Big Barn to a Deluxe Barn. This upgrade requires 550 wood, 300 stone, and 25,000g. The Deluxe Barn is the only barn that allows you to house pigs.

Upgrading your barn is a significant investment, but it’s a necessary step to get pigs in Stardew Valley and reap the rewards of truffle hunting.

Acquiring Your First Pig

With your Deluxe Barn ready, it’s time to purchase your first pig. Here’s what you need to know:

Where to Buy: Head back to the Carpenter’s Shop. Robin sells animals, including pigs.
Cost: Each pig costs 16,000g.
Barn Capacity: A fully upgraded Deluxe Barn can house up to 12 animals, so plan accordingly.
Naming Your Pig: Once you purchase a pig, you’ll be prompted to give it a name. Choose wisely!

The initial cost of the pig is high, but the long-term profitability makes it a worthwhile investment. Understanding how to get pigs in Stardew Valley also means understanding the economics of raising them.

Caring for Your Pigs

Now that you have your pigs, proper care is essential to keep them happy and productive. Happy pigs find more truffles. Here’s what you need to do:

Feeding: Pigs need to be fed daily. You can either let them graze on grass outside or provide them with hay inside the barn.
Hay: Hay can be harvested from grass using a scythe and stored in a silo. You can also purchase hay from Marnie’s Ranch.
Automatic Feeder: The Deluxe Barn comes with an automatic feeder, which simplifies the feeding process. Simply fill the hay hopper, and the pigs will be fed automatically.
Petting: Pet your pigs daily to increase their happiness. Higher happiness leads to more frequent and higher-quality truffle finds.
Letting Them Outside: Allow your pigs to roam outside during the day (except in winter). They will automatically search for truffles if they have access to grassy areas.

Proper care is crucial for maximizing truffle production. Knowing how to get pigs in Stardew Valley is only half the battle; keeping them healthy and happy is equally important.

Truffle Hunting and Profitability

The primary reason to raise pigs in Stardew Valley is for their truffle-hunting abilities. Here’s how it works:

Truffle Location: Pigs find truffles by wandering around outside and digging them up. They can find multiple truffles per day, depending on their happiness and the available space.
Collection: Truffles appear as small, brown items on the ground. Simply walk over them to collect them.
Value: Truffles are valuable items, selling for 625g each. With the Gatherer profession (from the Foraging skill tree), you can sometimes find double truffles.
Truffle Oil: Truffles can be processed into Truffle Oil using an Oil Maker. Truffle Oil sells for 1,065g, making it an even more profitable product.
Forager Profession: Choosing the Forager profession increases your chances of finding higher quality truffles.

Truffle hunting can be a very lucrative endeavor. The initial investment in the pigs and the barn upgrades pays off over time, especially if you focus on maximizing truffle production. The key is understanding how to get pigs in Stardew Valley and then optimizing their environment for truffle hunting.

Winter Considerations

Pigs cannot go outside and hunt for truffles during winter. Therefore, you’ll need to rely on the hay you’ve stored to feed them. Here are some winter-specific tips:

Stockpile Hay: Make sure you have a sufficient amount of hay stored before winter arrives. Calculate how much hay you need based on the number of pigs you have.
Keep Them Warm: Ensure the heater inside the barn is powered on to keep your pigs happy during the cold winter months.
Wait for Spring: Once spring arrives, your pigs can resume their truffle-hunting activities.

Winter requires careful planning to ensure your pigs remain healthy and productive. Understanding how to get pigs in Stardew Valley also means understanding how to care for them during the off-season.

Increasing Pig Happiness

A happy pig is a productive pig. Here are some ways to boost your pigs’ happiness levels:

Petting: Petting your pigs every day is a simple but effective way to increase their happiness.
Plenty of Space: Make sure your pigs have enough space to roam around outside. Overcrowding can lead to unhappiness.
Avoid Neglect: Don’t forget to feed your pigs and keep their living conditions clean. Neglected pigs will become unhappy and less productive.
Heater in Winter: As mentioned earlier, a heater in the barn during winter is essential for keeping your pigs comfortable.

Maximizing pig happiness is crucial for maximizing truffle production. Knowing how to get pigs in Stardew Valley is just the first step; maintaining their well-being is equally important.

Advanced Tips and Strategies

Here are some advanced tips and strategies for maximizing your pig-related profits:

Gatherer Profession: As mentioned earlier, the Gatherer profession doubles your chances of finding truffles. This is a highly recommended choice for pig farmers.
Tiller Profession: The Tiller profession increases the sell price of artisan goods, including Truffle Oil.
Oil Maker Optimization: Place your Oil Makers near your barn for easy access. This will streamline the truffle-to-oil process.
Fences: Use fences to contain your pigs and prevent them from wandering too far away from the barn.
Dog and Cat: Keep your dog or cat nearby to boost your overall farm happiness.

These advanced strategies can significantly boost your truffle-related income. Understanding how to get pigs in Stardew Valley and implementing these tips will set you up for success.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Sometimes, things don’t go as planned. Here are some common issues and how to resolve them:

Pigs Not Finding Truffles: Make sure your pigs have access to grassy areas outside the barn. Also, ensure they are happy and well-fed.
Hay Shortage: Plan ahead and stockpile enough hay before winter. If you run out, purchase more from Marnie’s Ranch.
Low Happiness: Address any factors that may be causing your pigs unhappiness, such as neglect or overcrowding.
Barn Too Small: Upgrade your barn to a Deluxe Barn to accommodate more pigs.

Addressing these issues promptly will keep your pig operation running smoothly. A key part of how to get pigs in Stardew Valley is knowing how to troubleshoot common problems.

Conclusion

Raising pigs in Stardew Valley can be a highly profitable and rewarding endeavor. By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can successfully acquire, care for, and profit from your porcine companions. From building the Deluxe Barn to optimizing truffle production, understanding how to get pigs in Stardew Valley is essential for any aspiring farmer looking to diversify their income streams. Remember to prioritize their happiness, manage your resources wisely, and enjoy the fruits (or truffles) of your labor. Happy farming!

[See also: Stardew Valley Farming Guide]
[See also: How to Make Money in Stardew Valley]
[See also: Stardew Valley Animal Care Tips]