just wondering how many piggies I can fit in my 5ft by 7ft shed with a permanently attached 6ft by 8ft run? 
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How Many Can Fit?
- Thread starter my4piggies
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anyone?
CuteAsAButton
Junior Guinea Pig
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I heard that the minimum size for a pair of piggies is 4ft by 2ft and each additional pig requires an extra foot of space, so 5ft by 2ft for 3 piggies, 6ft by 2ft for 4 etc. I imagine you could have quite a big herd in that much space. Or you could have a smaller group and just spoil them with so much room.
Veggies Galore
Senior Guinea Pig
Please also bear in mind the logisitcs of how you would keep them warm in winter and cool in summer . This is why I opted to keep mine in a hutch in a shed.
Member Gallery: Hutches
If the weather gets really cold,there's no way I could afford to heat the whole shed - I can cover the hutch so at least I know they are warm. and, in the summer , I can leave the shed door open so they don't get too hot - they will be safe from predators in their hutch.
Member Gallery: Hutches
If the weather gets really cold,there's no way I could afford to heat the whole shed - I can cover the hutch so at least I know they are warm. and, in the summer , I can leave the shed door open so they don't get too hot - they will be safe from predators in their hutch.
well my shed is 7ft by 5ft with a 5ft by 3ft level.. so 8 piggies?
orangeinepig
Teenage Guinea Pig
Technically you could have about 12 I believe but I wouldn't as 12 would be a lot to handle and the veggie bill a week alone will be massive
okay I have 4 at the moment 2 males and 2 single females so my plan is to neuter the males and then put my friendly female in with them and get 2 more girls so there is more girls to males so will be 5 in there x
I have 4 at the moment 2 males and 2 single females so my plan is to neuter the males and then put my friendly female in with them and get 2 more girls so there is more girls to males so will be 5 in there x
Critter
Moderator
oooh as lovely as that sounds there's almost 100% certainty that having a female in with two males will result in fights between the males, quite possibly vicious fights even though they may really love each other right now. It doesn't matter whether you put two, three or twenty females in there, the two males will fight tooth and nail, literally, for rights to the females.okay
Harmonious relationships in mixed-sexed groups are one or more females with ONE male, and that's the golden rule - it really must be only one male. Sorry.
Even then you need a proper introduction as females tend to either love or reject the males, and when they reject them they do so very firmly.
If you wish to keep a male and female herd you will have to have divide your shed and outdoor space to keep the other male separate, preferably with a female of his own.
I know buy ill try it, they where in a group of females before I got them(even though they weren't neutered!..) so that's why I'm planning it will work but if not I do have a back up plan..
Critter
Moderator
I see your logic, but be aware that fights may not happen immediately, they could happen when your back is turned. Bite wounds, apart from being painful, can on occasions be deep, and sometimes complications occur such as infections or abscesses.
How old were they when they were in that mixed group?
How old were they when they were in that mixed group?
they where a year old and most of the females had gotten pregnant.. the old owner knew nothing about them all, they where in awful cages, no hay.. 
my girls fought rather badly when I wasn't there so I'm aware it could happen xx
my girls fought rather badly when I wasn't there so I'm aware it could happen xx
Critter
Moderator
Just been refreshing my memory Best Bonding Tips?
So I take it you now have three set-ups? One for Blossom, one for Jaffa Cake and one for the two boars?
Blossom had quite a go at Jaffa Cake and they won't go back together right?
It doesn't necessarily mean that Blossom is an unsociable piggy.
I'll be honest, the plan to put your boars in with Jaffa Cake and add a couple more sows scares the heck out of me! No offence, and I do understand how having a happy herd sharing all that space appeals to you.
If you are going to get your boars neutered then it may be safer long-term to see if your girls will accept a boar each. There's no garuntees on that. I have a sweet-natured and calm boar Freddie, but he naturally thinks that he is immediately in charge when it comes to meeting females (then he calms down and is gentle and sweet). I believe that is normal. Anyhow, I have had two sows who loved/love him, and two who have violently rejected him.
From the way I can make out your options (and I may have got your situation wrong, if so please forgive me), your preferred scenario would to have two happy boars and three sows all getting along and enjoying the space. I still can't see it happening for any length of time, even though they have lived in the communal big mixed group before you rescued them. Yours would be a complex and precarious arrangement that could come to blows at any moment. If there's tension in a herd any one of them can 'snap', boar or sows, and yours is likely to be tense with two boars in the mix.
May I ask about Blossom? She will still need her own set-up.
The way I see it Blossom and Jaffa don't mix, so there will always be two set-ups (one for Blossom) even IF the two boars and all other sows get on great together. Why not see if each boar can become the head of his own herd, starting with the two girls you have? That way none of them will be lonely if it works. Be aware, each sow you introduce needs to accept the boar for it to work.
If one of the sows rejects her boar then you're back to three set-ups which ever route you go down.
If you are wanting as few set-ups as possible then trying to pair them with one boar each is the most likely to work to have two set-ups. A nice neat split of your shed may work out really well and both pairs will have lots of space, and resolves the issue of both of your sows currently living on their own. Buying two extra sows in the hope of creating one large herd in there is likely to result in a split, and it may be harder to end up with two set-ups, as it relies on all four sows wanting to live in a mixed group, if that makes sense?. You may be back to three set-ups, with one or more still on their own.
Best Bonding Tips?So I take it you now have three set-ups? One for Blossom, one for Jaffa Cake and one for the two boars?
Blossom had quite a go at Jaffa Cake and they won't go back together right?
It doesn't necessarily mean that Blossom is an unsociable piggy.
I'll be honest, the plan to put your boars in with Jaffa Cake and add a couple more sows scares the heck out of me! No offence, and I do understand how having a happy herd sharing all that space appeals to you.
If you are going to get your boars neutered then it may be safer long-term to see if your girls will accept a boar each. There's no garuntees on that. I have a sweet-natured and calm boar Freddie, but he naturally thinks that he is immediately in charge when it comes to meeting females (then he calms down and is gentle and sweet). I believe that is normal. Anyhow, I have had two sows who loved/love him, and two who have violently rejected him.
From the way I can make out your options (and I may have got your situation wrong, if so please forgive me), your preferred scenario would to have two happy boars and three sows all getting along and enjoying the space. I still can't see it happening for any length of time, even though they have lived in the communal big mixed group before you rescued them. Yours would be a complex and precarious arrangement that could come to blows at any moment. If there's tension in a herd any one of them can 'snap', boar or sows, and yours is likely to be tense with two boars in the mix.
May I ask about Blossom? She will still need her own set-up.
The way I see it Blossom and Jaffa don't mix, so there will always be two set-ups (one for Blossom) even IF the two boars and all other sows get on great together. Why not see if each boar can become the head of his own herd, starting with the two girls you have? That way none of them will be lonely if it works. Be aware, each sow you introduce needs to accept the boar for it to work.
If one of the sows rejects her boar then you're back to three set-ups which ever route you go down.
If you are wanting as few set-ups as possible then trying to pair them with one boar each is the most likely to work to have two set-ups. A nice neat split of your shed may work out really well and both pairs will have lots of space, and resolves the issue of both of your sows currently living on their own. Buying two extra sows in the hope of creating one large herd in there is likely to result in a split, and it may be harder to end up with two set-ups, as it relies on all four sows wanting to live in a mixed group, if that makes sense?. You may be back to three set-ups, with one or more still on their own.
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okay
Hi! With two neutered boars, you will have to cater for two separate herds - two boars do not usually get on in the same space.
Also consider that in winter you want cuddling space for yourself and have somewhere you can stand when cleaning.
well my plan B was to put murphy in a heard (he is my most friendly boar) with say 4 girls and then try percy with blossom as blossom wont go with another girl, shes attacked to many.. would this work better? then ill make Jaffa cake apart of murphys herd?
this is percy(cant find one of murphy but he is the same breed (Peruvian) but he is chestnut with white on his face, they are believed to be brothers.
It may work, provided that you start with bonding one of your boys with Blossom, so you can see whether you can proceed with the rest as planned. Build the other herd around Jaffa Cake and the other boar, but make sure that any new sows can't challenge the exitsting hierarchy. That is the best way of making sure that things run smoothly. When you have got a herd, it is advisable to have an option to create a spare pen in case there are problems along the way. Group dynamics develop over time, and not always only positively, as I have learned the hard way with mine. Sows can become pretty cranky as they get older (unlike boars).
I have a massive garden I could fit a 7ft by 5ft shed with 6ft by 8ft run in it up to 12 times if I had to aha, but if I try a pair first then work on a small herd.. does that sound like a good plan? and of course ill have to have some kind of set up for any that dont feel like joining a herd
when I say pair I mean percy and cherry blossom,or just thought I could just leave the boys together and start a all female herd with Jaffa cake? idk whats best x
Critter
Moderator
I feel for your predicament! I was arguing with myself over what to do for the best when Snowball had to be separated. It's not always easy and sometimes you don't know what's best until you try it!
The boys are harmonious as they are. Jaffa would probably find a friend readily after a dating session or two. But it's what to do with Blossom.
Blossom may like a boar-friend, and if one of yours suits her, and the other suits Jaffa, then problem solved. If not then it's hard to know what to do..... x
If you are definitely getting them neutered then I'd try to date one at a time with Blossom first, let her choose, and see if the other will go with Jaffa.
If you're not sure now whether or not to neuter and are wondering about leaving the boar pair on their own then perhaps you could try dating the two girls, see if each can find a friend? x
The boys are harmonious as they are. Jaffa would probably find a friend readily after a dating session or two. But it's what to do with Blossom.
Blossom may like a boar-friend, and if one of yours suits her, and the other suits Jaffa, then problem solved. If not then it's hard to know what to do..... x
If you are definitely getting them neutered then I'd try to date one at a time with Blossom first, let her choose, and see if the other will go with Jaffa.
If you're not sure now whether or not to neuter and are wondering about leaving the boar pair on their own then perhaps you could try dating the two girls, see if each can find a friend? x
I'm worrying about getting them done as they are almost 3 years old so not sure if that would increase risks? my issue is blossom never goes with pigs, ive tried her with 3 now but I could try with blossom and if she wont take there is a higher chance Jaffa cake would take to them and start a herd that way until blossom find a friend?
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