2 x 3 cage for two female guinea pigs?

[h.h.lovecraft]

Hello. I am very interested in getting two guinea pigs. I've been very depressed for a while and from past experience I know guinea pigs help me a lot with that and help me keep my life on track. The thing is that in my current living space, a 2 x 3 cage (106.5 x 71 cm) is literally the biggest size I can fit and it seems like some people discourage that. I've thought of ways I could move things around or get rid of things, but we are already living in a rather small space for the stuff we already need. I know that the cage would definitely be too small for two males, but it seems like multiple sources say two females or a neutered male and female would do ok. I would also be able to give them at least an hour of supervised floor time/garden time everyday guaranteed as I am currently at home all of the time and will be for the foreseeable future, so they would get plenty of time to run around. I know a 2 x 3 cage for two pigs is discouraged by multiple people though and it's making me feel bad about it. I guess I'm just looking for reassurance that a 2 x 3 cage for 2 female guinea pigs would be alright, assuming they got lots of running around time outside of it. As I said, they would help me personally a lot and I can provide them with everything else they would need, but I don't want to be selfish. At the same time, the cage size is listed as the minimum size for two guinea pigs on a bunch of sites, which I know isn't ideal, but still doable and I think the pigs wouldn't be unhappy. Please don't be too harsh in the comments! Thanks everyone.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I’m so sorry to hear of your struggles.

A 2x3 isn’t ideal and it is a little on the tight side for two piggies in reality, particularly when you’ve got enough hides etc in for them as you need two of every item. However, the measurements make it 8 sq ft which is minimum size requirement for two sows. So in terms of welfare, then it would be acceptable.

Would you be looking to a rescue centre to get your piggies? I only ask because a rescue centre will have their own minimum sizes set out and won’t consider anything less so you would want to check things like that first if you are rescuing - it would be shame for you to spend money on a 2x3 to find a rescue wouldn’t consider it big enough.

 

[Bill & Ted]

I was just wondering if you could find a corner to fit the cage into. Sometimes an L shaped set up can give you/them a little more room?

 

[stef.trg]

You‘ve been given really great advice already! I think a lot of it is also fully depending on the piggies. Our 2 neutered boar/sow pairs are a good example. One pair is living happily in a Midwest cage with hayloft & for the other pair we had to extend the cage from a 2x4 to a 3x3.75 because our girl is a big old diva that likes a lot of personal space.

So I think it would be really useful to have a plan ready to go if it doesn’t work in the 2x3. It just takes away so much stress if you have a plan B ready. I wish you all the best with your piggies and I hope we get to see some pigtures when they‘re there