Quartets?

[xRoan]

Hello all! Still relatively new to the forums and guinea pigs but I was instantly addicted.

Started with one, got her a friend, and am now bonding a third to the duo. It’s going really well. I’ve heard, however, that trios have a risk of falling out or singling one guinea pig out. Is four better? I’ve got a 2x6’ C&C cage in the mail right now so housing shouldn’t be an issue. They’re all sows.

edited to add: The third girl was unplanned but she was the only one of eight pigs that came into store and I didn’t want her to go to a home where she’s be alone her whole life. Her vet appointment is in two weeks!

 

[Wiebke]

Hello all! Still relatively new to the forums and guinea pigs but I was instantly addicted.

Started with one, got her a friend, and am now bonding a third to the duo. It’s going really well. I’ve heard, however, that trios have a risk of falling out or singling one guinea pig out. Is four better? I’ve got a 2x6’ C&C cage in the mail right now so housing shouldn’t be an issue. They’re all sows.

edited to add: The third girl was unplanned but she was the only one of eight pigs that came into store and I didn’t want her to go to a home where she’s be alone her whole life. Her vet appointment is in two weeks!

Trios, when they work are really great but more trios than not end up in the long term with a 2+1 outsider issue of some sort. If you have got the space and would like to extend, you can consider either a fourth younger sow or a rescue dating a de-sexed boar - acceptance is the crucial issue with cross gender bondings but you'll get the best of both genders and some interesting new group dynamics.

I am personally very fond of 'husboars' and have been for a long time; currently I have 9 of them. By allowing your sows a say in who they want to live with and by adopting an already safely de-sexed boar from a good welfare standard rescue (if you have access to one) will make sure that your quartet works and that you can neatly avoid all the usual pitfalls that come with bought piggies. The adoption fee of se-sexed piggy is also massively lower than if you were doing the op yourself.

Here is more information:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Rescues, shops, breeders or online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations (Recommend good welfare standard US rescues)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

 

[Hope4gem]

Maybe four is better than three, not sure, but we have a herd of 3 sows and they're just fine with each other.

 

[xRoan]

Trios, when they work are really great but more trios than not end up in the long term with a 2+1 outsider issue of some sort. If you have got the space and would like to extend, you can consider either a fourth younger sow or a rescue dating a de-sexed boar - acceptance is the crucial issue with cross gender bondings but you'll get the best of both genders and some interesting new group dynamics.

I am personally very fond of 'husboars' and have been for a long time; currently I have 9 of them. By allowing your sows a say in who they want to live with and by adopting an already safely de-sexed boar from a good welfare standard rescue (if you have access to one) will make sure that your quartet works and that you can neatly avoid all the usual pitfalls that come with bought piggies. The adoption fee of se-sexed piggy is also massively lower than if you were doing the op yourself.

Here is more information:
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Rescues, shops, breeders or online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
Guinea Lynx :: US Guinea Pig Rescue and Shelter Organizations (Recommend good welfare standard US rescues)
Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics

I appreciate the response! The nearest US rescue to me is like eight hours away. The only option for a male would be bringing one home myself and keeping him alone for the duration of the healing process, which I’d prefer to avoid My original pair was born March 7th, and the newest was born on the 26th. The next incoming batch was born on the 31st; you think that is young enough to make a safe quartet or should I wait longer?