is this area big enough

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scarysarah

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Hi I have 6 sows and a neutered boar in a 6ft by 4 ft, free range area in the shed (they have a seperate run for the garden when its warmer!)

is this area big enough for them?

thanks sarah
 
what size would you suggest?

they seem to have plenty of room to run around and lots of hiding places
 
With seven guinea pigs I would want at least 8 feet long. I have four guinea pigs in a 8 by 3 c and c cage.
 
I have just been looking on the lynx website and the area I have provides 24 square feet which is within the reccomendations
 
hmmm.. I think the best way of seeing it is how the area size is displayed. If it's layered it doesnt count, if it's chocka with toys it's still a bit squiffy. If it has flat out run space then that's better. Obviously yours is more a rectangle and the hides etc. will take up space. Though if you've kept to the lynx's reccomendation and your pigs can run without stopping up another piggies bum then I think you're on the right tracks. But you're obviously feeling 50/50, otherwise you wouldnt have asked despite knowing that your in with by lynx's reccomendations.

Do you have C&C? Can you afford another couple of squares and make a 3x4 upstairs to take away some of the furniture in the main area? You're looking to make a nice long straight space as best as possible. My pigs often move the furniture round so they can make a race track around the edges of the cage! Very smart. It's the same concept as the 'surface area' and is the longest length from one end of the cage to the other (so to speak).

Good luck making the best out of your space!
 
That's probably the minimum space required. It's all down to what space you have. I have 4 girls in a 8 by 3 run which also has a upper level at each which is used for most of their feeding requirements. As long as they've got plenty of space for running around and pop corning then that's OK. Do you have more room in your shed to expand?
 
Hi thanks for your replies, the piggies do have plenty of room to run around without bumping into each other.
but at the moment i have 2 adults and 5 babies (4 mths old) so know these are going to get bigger! I did originally have 5 adult piggies in there, untill I lost a few last year (due to old age! all were over 6!) and they had lots of space!
I think I have enough room to add a 3 ft by 2 ft area, so will give a total of 33 sq feet floor space, which is over the reccomended minimum space!

do you think this will be enough space for them? (one of my sows is coming up 6, and has cataracts and probable diabeties. she is under veterinary treatment so not complelty sure how long she will be with us! )

they have a feeding area down one end (which they love) and the other end is layed with fleece for them to have a comfy snooze!.
they all get on well, just want to give them the best space possible!

thanks again for your advice!
 
If there is one with cataracts I would probably put sides up against any ladders if you are making the 3x2 upstairs. I'm not a herd keeper so I dont feel best qualified to say 33sq ft is enough for 7. When the younglings hit puberty they might get quite annoying for the older pigs, they might have mini bust ups and want to be on their own for a while. That's the only problem I can envisage.

My 2 guineapigs have a 140/70 ferplast and i think that works out to be 10.3sq ft. So if you have 7 (and some might get a bit rambuncious soon), people might say even 33 isnt quite enough.. that maybe a more suitable size is closer to 40-45sq feet. (6 sq ft each instead of 5)..

:() sorry if that sounds like I'm being a knit picky idealist! Id say as long as there is no battling thats a general sign of contentment, but as they get older their personalities will mature and they will most likely go through a terrible teens stage. I dont know if in herds dominances are harder or easier to spell out :/

You might get someone comment next saying I'm being too soft and you definitely need more space.. but you're doing the best you can right now.. I'm sure you will work out more space if you know you need to!
 
Thank you! I have made a extra 3 ft by 2 ft area but have had to put one of my younger sows in as have found out she is pregnant! (She was from pets at home!) not ideal I know!
Which I can open up to join the other space when shed had her babies!
They all get on very well and snuggle up together! And have room to run around!
I feel they have got adaquate space (ESP when I can open up the extended bit) and it is within the recommendations and they **** have more room then a lot of piggies!
 
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