How many sows in a 6'X3' cage?

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CiaraPatricia

CiaraPatricia

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So I was measuring the girls' cage we're building the piggies in the shed, and it's 6'X3', which is great, 18 sq feet :) That's the inside dimensions too. Though my dad's gone away to england for the week so it won't be done til a while after he gets back.

But just wondering, realistically how many sows do you think could live in a 6'X3' cage? I don't want them to be cramped or anything. They'll have access to a run on nice days only, so pretty much all winter they won't have access to a run. So I guess I shouldn't have too many. Though the run will seem small compared to the cage! I'll have to let them use my big rabbit run or something :)

I have the two girls now and would love to get two more. Do you think it'd be fine for four, or that it'd be a squeeze to get them in?

I guess I'll see once it's built and has Lola, Sukie and all their accessories in there!

Also, if I had four, would it be ok to just have two or three hidey houses, as long as I make sure they are sharing them and nobody is being left out? I know you should have one for each pig, and one extra, but I want to leave lots of space for the to run around too. :) Oh and I'm also thinking of building a bit of an upstairs :D
 
You can have up to six guinea pigs in that. I have added mezzanine floors or double decker huts for added space.
 
Yeah, I'll have to see how many I can afford first, and can look after! :)
 
More piggies mean definitely more time/mess and money for food as well for medical treatment; that is an aspect you should never be overlooked.

I have assembled my tribe slowly over the course of a year so everybody could adjust.
 
Yeah I'm definitely not just going to get four, but get them in ones or twos, over a long time (have to find pigs somewhere, and there aren't too many around here really, except in bad petshops that I don't want to buy from).

I will be able to afford them (unless of course a lot of them get sick, but I would work something out), but won't get them all at once, maybe one or two sometime in august, and then maybe wait til next year if I want more, after the winter and all. I might not feel the need for any more. I really like the idea of my girls having lots of space, and the more I get, the less space they'd have . . .
 
And then if I hear of any in rescues in the meantime then I can try and get them :) though there doesn't seem to be any around.
 
I wouldn't leave it later than August because the pigs you choose will need to become aclimatised to being kept outdoors at it might be better getting adults as they will cope better over the winter.
 
Yeah I was thinking I definitely wouldn't leave it later than that. I would get adults too if I could, but I think I'll find it pretty hard to find any. I'll just keep a lookout for ones needing rehoming . . .
 
I have three and actually have no pangs for more. my cage is over 25 sq feet so plenty room for more, but after having two very expensive vet bills in the last year (£500 including petrol) I think it is sensible to stick with just the three. You will find the number you feel comfortable can afford and have time to look after - it is at that point you have to make sure you don't get tempted! Best of luck in finding some more rescue piggies - you could even have a NEUTERED boar :)
 
CiaraPatricia said:
Yeah I was thinking I definitely wouldn't leave it later than that. I would get adults too if I could, but I think I'll find it pretty hard to find any. I'll just keep a lookout for ones needing rehoming . . .
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Where abouts are you? Maybe a piggy train could be organised?
 
Romily said:
Where abouts are you? Maybe a piggy train could be organised?
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I'm in Ireland! So I don't think a piggy train would come this far. :) I'm always looking for rescues that have piggies near me (south of Ireland) but there don't seem to be many piggies ever. There are one or two places, an hour or two away, that sometimes have pigs but usually just rabbits. :( And I think they might only rehome to indoor homes. :(

I did get a rescue pig from the ISPCA inspector, she lives near me, and I told her to let me know if she gets any female pigs. :) I think it's very rare that she gets them though.

I don't know why but I guess they're not a very popular pet in Ireland compared the the UK? Or I'm just not looking hard enough!

I'll keep checking the free ads sites for any unwanted guinea pigs near me though. :)
 
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lovelygirl said:
I have three and actually have no pangs for more. my cage is over 25 sq feet so plenty room for more, but after having two very expensive vet bills in the last year (£500 including petrol) I think it is sensible to stick with just the three. You will find the number you feel comfortable can afford and have time to look after - it is at that point you have to make sure you don't get tempted! Best of luck in finding some more rescue piggies - you could even have a NEUTERED boar :)
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Yeah, I think I'll know when I feel like I have enough, maybe even just one more girl, then I'll have 3 boys and 3 girls :) My girls sometimes seem like they don't like each other that much (they do but they don't cuddle up or anything) so my thoughts were that getting one or two more would give them more company and that they'd probably be happy in a group.

Or if my 3 boars start to fight ever, I'd think about getting Cenci (the troublemaker!) neutered so he can live with the girls. :)
 
You could have up to six in that cage, but If I were you I'd add them one at a time. That way you can be sure it works, that you have money and time for them etc until you move on with one more a few months later if you still feel like it. That way you get the joy of having another piggy more times too! :))

As for hideys, how about a piggy garage? I mean one hidey, but with as many "parking spaces" as you have piggies. It doesn't take much DIY to construct, I think and it would be very space efficient. It would give a largeish surface on top too, for lounging :)
 
I would recommend going from 2 to 4 piggies in one go if possible, as adding one single piggy to an established pair is the bonding most likely to go wrong. After that, you will have a "group" where you can add ad lib and intros are much easier. I can also recommend a neutered boar; he absorbs a lot of the girls hormonal grumpiness.

My hubby has just built me a piggy "garage" where I have put a correx tray on top of a wooden frame for a two tier bunk house. It has been a great success since!

Best of luck and take what comes your way!
 
Good idea about the piggy garage! They could use the top of it too, giving them a bit more space. :)

I have a log cabin that would fit 2-3 pigs, and some upside down flower pots! and a tunnel/bridge thing for them right now.

I was thinking if I made a quite big wooden house, just big enough for them all to be cosy in, that it'd be great if they would all use it and cuddle up together to keep warm, but I think it might be a long shot! Especially since Lola is bossy and likes to kick Sukie out of the house. rolleyes

Maybe I should get two piggies soon, so that hopefully two will cuddle up together and the other two will, so that one isn't left alone on a cold night. I'm also going to give them a couple of snuggle safe heat pads.

And if I have two groups of two, that will tolerate going into houses together, then maybe two log cabins. Hopefully they would be warm enough if I added lots of hay and a heat pad. I'm really concerned about them being warm enough since the cage will be completely open (in a shed), will log cabins will warm enough? I can't put their hutches in the shed because they'd be too heavy to go on the shelves, my dad says the shed will fall down! And the bunnies are on the floor of the shed.

Maybe I could make (or get my dad to make) some kind of wooden boxes for them and insulate them . . . but I already have a log cabin!

I can't insulate the shed or add electric heating or anything. I've always had my pigs outdoors so don't know why I'm only getting concerned this winter. Last winter was just so bad.
 
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