How many piggies should I have?

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iluvguineapigs

iluvguineapigs

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Hi everyone!
I have two guinea pigs and am building a new hutch for them. The hutch will be 5ft x 2ft and two levels. Some people have said lots of room for two or it should be fine for 4 guinea pigs. I was thinking of getting 1 moreaddition to my pair. And if I have 3 [in total] will one be left out?

I had two guinea pigs and 1 died so I got my ok guinea pig a new friend. She has been with us for 6 months and is well but if I get another piggy will that one be left out, because the other two are bonded and *** gang up, or 3 is an odd number, or its too close together adding new guinea pigs or will it all be fine.
 
HI,

I have three in a 5ft x 2ft hutch and they work well, I think 3 would be the max even with a second level especially if they are all in one area at a time:))
 
Ok thankyou
will one be left out though especially as I already have two and will they gang up on the newbie?
 
iluvguineapigs said:
Ok thankyou
will one be left out though especially as I already have two and will they gang up on the newbie?
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I have a trio, 2 sows, 1 boar. Sometimes it looks like one is being left out but it may not be the case because i see my sows together then one with the boar & then all 3 together. :)

I can't answer as to whether they would gang up on a newbie because it's all about personalities, the best thing to do would be to let your pair choose their 3rd friend.
 
Niki said:
I have a trio, 2 sows, 1 boar. Sometimes it looks like one is being left out but it may not be the case because i see my sows together then one with the boar & then all 3 together. :)

I can't answer as to whether they would gang up on a newbie because it's all about personalities, the best thing to do would be to let your pair choose their 3rd friend.
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How do I let them choose?
Take them too the pet store?
I think they would try to take them to re sell them again!:)
 
iluvguineapigs said:
How do I let them choose?
Take them too the pet store?
I think they would try to take them to re sell them again!:)
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I wouldn't recommend getting a pig from a petstore. The amount of times I've heard of 'male' pigs turning out to be pregnant girls, or the guinea being very ill and still being sold is enough to turn you crazy! If I were you, I'd go to a reputable rescue near you, and your pigs can choose a friend from the ones they have there. That way you'll know for sure your new pig is 100% happy and healthy, and you'll know you've just helped out a little piggle :)
 
Phoebe-PP said:
I wouldn't recommend getting a pig from a petstore. The amount of times I've heard of 'male' pigs turning out to be pregnant girls, or the guinea being very ill and still being sold is enough to turn you crazy! If I were you, I'd go to a reputable rescue near you, and your pigs can choose a friend from the ones they have there. That way you'll know for sure your new pig is 100% happy and healthy, and you'll know you've just helped out a little piggle :)
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Completely agree with Pheobe, you need to find a good rescue that will let the piggies you already have choose their own friend. Bonding can be very stressful and difficult, I have done it several times and every time is different and I fully admit to making panicky calls to Suzy when things went wrong recently, so it really is best left to a rescue if you are not overly experienced.

As to the number in that hutch, I have 6 guineas (1 boar and 5 sows) living in a 2 storey 5ft x 2ft hutch and they have a fair bit of room. I am going to be changing it soon to create a further mezzanine, part of my ramp de-steeping process! Creating a herd is great fun but again you need to know the personality off all piggies, and even then they can take you totally by surprise!
 
Ok, would I take my two piggies too a rescue and put them in a possible guinea pigs pen/hutch?
 
You best contact the reputable rescues within your reach; not all actually do piggy dating. You will also need to pass a home check (mainly to see that your piggy hutch is big enough, well protectd in winter etc.)

Then you agree on a time you bring along your two to let them meet their prospective friend(s) under supervision. The setup differs, some have a pen specially for introducing piggies. It is always done under the expert supervision of the rescue lady.

Piggy dating has the advantage that you can "test ride" the piggies without then having the problem of what to do if things don't go to plan. Depending on the rescue, it may have several possible candidates, so you can find the ideal one. A rescue will always take a piggy back if things don't work out in the long run; you won't get that with a shop.

Personally, I would look for either a neutered boar or two girls that are younger than your pair; those are the combinations that are the ones that usually work, provided your girls accept a boar (which shows right at the start - another advantage of the dating service). Introducing a single girl can be very successful if the character combination is right; however, it can equally easily end in one girl being left out.
 
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