Suitable for 4?

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sproggie14

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We recently moved and rebuilt the pigs cage. It's 4 cubes long by a little less than 3 cubes deep, maybe 2 2/3 deep and has a 1x4 loft. Here's a pic

DSC_1089.jpg


I'm keen to help as many rescue piglets as possible but obviously I don't want to over crowd the existing trio. Do you think there's room for a fourth or should I stick with three?

Thanks :)
 
Personally I think 4 in that would be too many, especially if their boars. If their a close trio then adding a fourth might be tricky anyway :/
 
Yes sorry I should have said, I currently have a neutered boy and two girls and I'd be looking at adding another girl.
 
Well, I added a fourth sow, Floss, a few weeks before my shed was actually finished, which meant that I had 4 in a double storey 5ft x nearly 2ft hutch...and I felt that they were too cramped. Could you possibly make your cage bigger somehow? :)
 
The cage is as big as it can get really, unless we add a little on to the loft.

Technically, according to guineapigcages.com it's big enough. They say 2x6 (i.e. 12 cubes square) minimum for 4 and this is almost 4x4 (so nearly 16 cubes square) when you factor in the loft. I don't want to push it and have them be cramped but nor do I like the idea of not making full use of the space when there are so many rescue piggies needing homes.
 
Upper levels don't count towards square footage. A 3x4 cage is big enough for 4.

Can you cover the ramp with something solid? If they slip on the ramp, they can break their legs.
 
Just echoing what lissie has said re. the ramps - please look in to covering them with an old piece of carpet or some correx/fleece - they can easily get their feet/toes stuck in between the wiring and it will cause a nasty injury! Guinea pigs shouldn't walk on wire flooring as it can cause bumblefoot and other health issues....
 
agree, you have to have the minimum space as a basic floor before adding a second layer.

I have 3 girls and a neutered boar in this pen
8005915954_5eb76abdde_z.jpg

its a 5 grid x 3 grid with a 2x3 upper level but although they have enough room, there are times they will bicker over things so as much space as possible is the best thing for a happy herd, the top level does help with giving them that extra space the one level would lack even though its the correct size for 4
 
Don't worry I took the pic while we were putting the cage together and ramp covers were in the wash. There were no pigs in the cage when it was taken.

I'll err on the side of caution then and stick with three :)
 
Personally I think 4 guineas would be too much for the cage to handle. I have two guinea pigs and one has bumble foot because I thought 2 cage cleanings a week would be good but it wasn't. You run the risk of bumble foot and other skin conditions if you have too many to a cage or you make a few cage cleaning mistakes. I would stick which 3 because my 2 can be a hand full. Even though I love mine very much I couldn't handle another.
 
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