Advice on adding another piggy/piggies?

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Wheeky

Wheeky

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I currently have two boars (2yrs old) in a 3x4. They have been together since birth and have a tiff every now and then, but generally they get on and live together just fine.

I would like to add another piggy or two. Is it possible to do this? Is my cage big enough? Would it be better to add a lone boar, or another bonded pair? How likely is it that they would take to each other?

Thanks. :)
 
You cannot have three boars live together and could not add a female as it would make the boys fight. I think it is best to leave it how it is.
 
A trio is brilliant if you hit exactly the right character combination (at least two laid back boars), but it is hell if you don't! At worst, you can end up with three single boars; but generally, you have about a 2:1 chance of ending up with an outsider (bullying) problem and/or a potential fall out.

If you have got two boars who are getting along, don't rock the boat, rather get a new separate couple.
http://www.susieandpigs.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/trios.htm

PS: I know that the temptation is always there, but a trio is the trickiest bonding to get to work and you really need to have a plan B ready in case things don't work out! mallethead You space is fine for two boars, but it would be a tight for three.
 
I might look into getting a seperate pair instead, then. :)

I don't have room for another C&C, but I still have the boys' old cage somewhere. It's this one, if I remember correctly:
http://www.therange.co.uk/invt/305511/

Would this size cage be big enough for a pair of pigs even when they were fully grown? I know it was plenty big enough when my boys were babies, but I don't know how adult pigs would fare.
 
It might be a bit small for two active boys, but it would be OK, I think. You could always try to add a mezzanine. I would rather not go for girls, though, with a pair of boys in your room.

Perhaps you can think about rehoming an already bonded, solid pair from a rescue?
 
Wiebke said:
It might be a bit small for two active boys, but it would be OK, I think. You could always try to add a mezzanine. I would rather not go for girls, though, with a pair of boys in your room.

Perhaps you can think about rehoming an already bonded, solid pair from a rescue?
Click to expand...

I was thinking of getting another pair of boys, yes. :)
Will have a look for some rescues near me.
 
Poppy'sMum said:
You could look at Milhaven Rescue in Keighley, they have some gorgeous already bonded boys there :)
Click to expand...

Seriously gorgeous... If I could I would but I've just adopted 10 piggies (8 girls, 2 boys) from there at the end of last month and I am pretty much full up here! I cannot reccommend Joanne and her rescue enough; she is fantastic and very close to you! The advice and support I've had off Joanne after adopting all of my piggies has been brill. I have a grand total of 13 Milhaven piggies here now (hoping for a 14th soon!) and they're all super piggles! Seriously, I can't reccommend Milhaven enough!

Here's her adoptions page: http://www.milhaven-rescue.com/guinea-pigs-for-adoption/

Harry and Ron and Carlton and Buddy are particularly scrummy piggies but they're all lovely! x)
 
Best of luck! I hope that all goes well! I am looking forward to seeing pics!
 
I'm having second thoughts now.
I spent some time building an extention for the C&C, looked at it, thought "that looks terrible", then tore it all apart again.

I am also worried that by getting emotionally attached to more pigs, there will be even more for me to worry about. (Such as illness, death etc)

I don't know what to do, I have been looking forward to getting more piggies as a treat for myself but now I just feel awful about the whole thing. I don't know if it's just be being paranoid or if they'd be better off with someone else. :(
 
You have to judge for yourself how well you can handle the joys of a new pair with the pain of losing a pet. It is the emotional attachment which makes our life so rich, but we have to pay a price for it.

Think about it and weigh up all the factors. See what your gut says.

All the best!
 
Just had a positive reply from Jo, which made me feel a bit better.
I also had a chat with my Mum and she thinks I'm making problems that aren't there and should just go ahead and get the piggies.

I think what I'm worried about the most is the cage situation. I planned to have the new cage side-by-side with O&E's, but I can't work out how to do it. Do you have to have two seperate correx trays? I tried just extending the original tray but then when I went to put the grids down the middle as a divider I realised they didn't fit well and there's no way of connecting them along the bottom.

Any tips? :{
 
If both Jo and your mum think that you are alright with more piggies, then I am sure that they know and trust you well enough! In my personal opinion, you are a wonderful piggy mum, but I don't want push you into something you are ultimately not happy with. In the end, it is always your own decision and it has to be right for YOU. Never mind that adult life means lots of decisions you have to either muddle through or take a plunge.

Could you cut through the sides of the existing correx in order to connect the grids? On the other hand, an advantage of having two separate correx trays would be that they wouldn't able to wiggle their way through the divider. You can connect bits of exisitng correx with duct tape; it doesn't have to be one solid tray if it is on the floor.
 
Wheeky said:
I'm having second thoughts now.
I spent some time building an extention for the C&C, looked at it, thought "that looks terrible", then tore it all apart again.

I am also worried that by getting emotionally attached to more pigs, there will be even more for me to worry about. (Such as illness, death etc)

I don't know what to do, I have been looking forward to getting more piggies as a treat for myself but now I just feel awful about the whole thing. I don't know if it's just be being paranoid or if they'd be better off with someone else. :(
Click to expand...

This is the exact thought I had yesterday when Miss Piggy started to breath funny (had a piece of hay stuck up her nose and when i realized it was soon out and she was normal again) and all I could think was why have I brought myself so much eventual heart ache :0. These thoughts were all soon gone when I came back to there cage to four very sweet little faces. Like Wiebke said it all comes down to weighing up both the joys of having them and the sadness that will eventually follow. You'll make the right decision for you :).

What about building the new cage on top of the current boys cage if you have enough grids/ panels? I've never done it myself but there have been some amazing ones that people have done to keep separate pairings. It would also mean less worrying about space. If not I'm sure you'll work the spacing out :).
 
Ooooh! Did you by any chance reserve Autumn and Winter? (Yes, I stalk Joanne's website somewhat obsessively - it is not healthy for me!) They're gorgeous and I am incredibly jealous of you if you did! :D

If you did, they are so cute. I adopted their mum last month :). She's adorable but weirdly enough her babies don't look anything like her!

I can't help with with the C&C cage, but about your fears; don't worry. I've now got 19 guinea pigs and I do sometimes get the worries like what would I do if they get ill (I'll have 16 together eventually so I do worry that they will all catch something!) and despite the fact that I don't like to think of it, I am painfully aware that as they are all around the same age (under and around one year old), I am going to have an awful year or two when they're all older.

BUT. I have 19 wonderful piggies. If they get ill, I'll deal with it. I just want to give them the best life I can and take care of them to the best of my abilities. Just think how much love and fun you're going to get off your new arrivals and current piggies! It soon banishes the bad thoughts and worries - I promise!

Plus, there's always the amazing support of Joanne if you need her and the rest of TGPF who will be here for you if you need us!

Chin up, and look forwards to getting your new bundles of love!
 
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