Hi. I'm looking for some advice. I have been offered some gunipigs dur to leave mum in a couple of weeks. So I have my heart on 2 gorgeous boys. But I have been going over and sitting with them and I've fallen in love with another boy all from the same litter. I've read that 3 boys are basically a no no so I'm wondering do I stick with the 2 I originally had my heart on or is there a way I could get around having the 3? Obviously I'm aware I need a bigger hutch and maybe another one and a good size run again possibly a second 1 too.
Boy piggies
- Thread starter Beckybeck
- Start date
Siikibam
Senior Guinea Pig
Please stick to just the two. If you decide to take all three home then you need to find the third a friend. Preferably through dating so he can pick his own friend. The other thing to observe which two seem to spend the most time together. It’s about compatibility rather than which ones you think are the cutest. If you do bring all three home, you’ll need to house them in a way that the third has interaction through the bars. I’m not sure how feasible that is when they’re in a hutch. I would strongly suggest you don’t try to form a trio. They rarely, if ever, make it through their teens, even when they’re okay now. It’s difficult to get the right balance given there can only be one top and one submissive piggy.
I would also say you should proceed with caution. Make sure that you double check the sex of both piggies before you take them home. Don’t just rely on the current owner.
Boar pairs need a 5ft hutch. If you are to house them outside then you need to make sure you get a sturdy hutch and all the bits and bobs to keep them warm enough in winter. Do you have the option to move them indoors or into a shed/garage when it’s too cold? Have a read of the guides I’ve linked to below in preparation.
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I would also say you should proceed with caution. Make sure that you double check the sex of both piggies before you take them home. Don’t just rely on the current owner.
Boar pairs need a 5ft hutch. If you are to house them outside then you need to make sure you get a sturdy hutch and all the bits and bobs to keep them warm enough in winter. Do you have the option to move them indoors or into a shed/garage when it’s too cold? Have a read of the guides I’ve linked to below in preparation.
New Owners' Most Helpful How-To Guides and Information
New guinea pigs: Sexing, vet checks&customer rights, URI, ringworm and parasites
How Do I Settle Shy New Guinea Pigs?
Rescues, Shops, Breeders or Online? - What to consider when getting guinea pigs
Illustrated Sexing Guide
Please don’t attempt a trio. It’s not worth the stress to you and most importantly to them. It is the thing we see most often in the behaviour section - helping people deal with the aftermath of failed boar trios, it happens so often.
If you want the third boar, then you would need to get a fourth also and keep them as two entirely separate boar pairs.
The minimum hutch/cage size for a boar pair is 5ft but 6ft is recommended.
As siikibam has said, you need to choose two piggies who are spending their time together as that is how you increase your chances of their bond being a compatible one and it lasting through the hormonal teens.
There are no commercial hutches big enough to attempt a trio - you need three square metres for a boar trio and even then it wont make it work.