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dahlia
I have had Madeleine for about 5 months now. When I got her from the store (yeah, i know) she was living by herself. I thought that I would wait a bit and maybe down the road get her a friend. I am definitely more inclined to get her a friend as I think she is lonely and/or depressed. She always stays in her one little corner and when I let her out to run, she just sits in a corner. I am aware of all of the reasons to have a guinea pig pair, but I have a few concerns:
1. The size of a larger pen for 2 pigs. Right now, Madeleine is in a pen that is almost 2 x 4 ( about 19" x 44"). She has plenty of space to run; she runs laps with no problem whatsoever. The pen is made out of a LOW plastic tub (about 2" taller than she is) surrounded by mesh cube. She has a ton of ventilation and fresh air and seems much happier in this setup than the cage purchased from the pet store. The only way to create enough space for another pig is to double the pen and I am afraid that it would take up too much space. Also, we are looking to move this summer and a new place would likely be smaller.
2. If I were to get a friend, I would like to get a neutered boar. I think this might decrease the chances of them not getting along. However, I see many, many, many posts about people with more than one pig having serious trouble with them not getting along. I do not have the space to have two separate pens and would find it difficult to have to give one up.
I know pigs like friends. I understand why she might be happier, I am just concerned that I might be in for more trouble than I anticipate and then I would stuck.
Thoughts?
1. The size of a larger pen for 2 pigs. Right now, Madeleine is in a pen that is almost 2 x 4 ( about 19" x 44"). She has plenty of space to run; she runs laps with no problem whatsoever. The pen is made out of a LOW plastic tub (about 2" taller than she is) surrounded by mesh cube. She has a ton of ventilation and fresh air and seems much happier in this setup than the cage purchased from the pet store. The only way to create enough space for another pig is to double the pen and I am afraid that it would take up too much space. Also, we are looking to move this summer and a new place would likely be smaller.
2. If I were to get a friend, I would like to get a neutered boar. I think this might decrease the chances of them not getting along. However, I see many, many, many posts about people with more than one pig having serious trouble with them not getting along. I do not have the space to have two separate pens and would find it difficult to have to give one up.
I know pigs like friends. I understand why she might be happier, I am just concerned that I might be in for more trouble than I anticipate and then I would stuck.
Thoughts?
