Can Guinea Pigs Live In A Three

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BubblesPiggies

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Hi me and my two younger siblings are looking to get guinea pigs. Me and my brother will be mainly responsiblefor them but my sister is only 7 so cant be trusted on her own so would need help. Anyway my question is can guinea pigs live in a three because we have the space for a large hutch what size would it have to be
Thanksxxxxxxx
 
I know people on here do have trios of sows so it is possible.

A rescue is a great place to buy guinea pigs as they are likely to be able to advise you on general care and feeding. There is a rescue locator at the top of the page to help you find one local to you.
 
flowerfairy said:
I know people on here do have trios of sows so it is possible.

A rescue is a great place to buy guinea pigs as they are likely to be able to advise you on general care and feeding. There is a rescue locator at the top of the page to help you find one local to you.
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Ok we were thinking about getting them from either a breeder or an independent pet store because we wanted to get them as babies but there is a posaibility we could look into getting them from a rescuex
 
I think so. There is a possibility of a pig in the middle situation, 3s a croud sort of thing.

Some people get 2 sows and one neutered boar. The boar would be happy going along with both the sows and less likely to cause any disagreements/fights. As he has to make sure both sows like him as a potential mate.

A trio of girls is more reccomended that a trio of boars. The rehoming section on the forum is a good place to look :) I'd reccomend rehoming rather than buying babies in a pet shop. Seen as tho you have a younger sister it might be better to rehome pigs that are used to be handled. As guineapigs are skittish by nature. My youngest pig noodle I got in December 16 as a baby and it's taken up until now to get her used to being handled and she's still not a fan.
 
ChloeCee98 said:
I think so. There is a possibility of a pig in the middle situation, 3s a croud sort of thing.

Some people get 2 sows and one neutered boar. The boar would be happy going along with both the sows and less likely to cause any disagreements/fights. As he has to make sure both sows like him as a potential mate.

A trio of girls is more reccomended that a trio of boars. The rehoming section on the forum is a good place to look :) I'd reccomend rehoming rather than buying babies in a pet shop. Seen as tho you have a younger sister it might be better to rehome pigs that are used to be handled. As guineapigs are skittish by nature. My youngest pig noodle I got in December 16 as a baby and it's taken up until now to get her used to being handled and she's still not a fan.
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Ok thanks there are aome independent pet stores that handle them frequently and there are some small farms that breed around my area. My mum isn't keen on adopting but i am.
 
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/forums/guinea-pigs-looking-for-homes.19/

Where are you from? Noodle was from an independent pet store and sold to me saying she was 12-14 weeks...she was a lot younger! At least with rehoming/adoption you can get a back story of the pig/s and you know that you will only have to get them used to you, you won't have to train them and the risk of things going wrong with bonding etc is a lot lower. I've put a link for the rehoming section there are lots of pairs and trios on there :) x
 
ChloeCee98 said:
https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/forums/guinea-pigs-looking-for-homes.19/

Where are you from? Noodle was from an independent pet store and sold to me saying she was 12-14 weeks...she was a lot younger! At least with rehoming/adoption you can get a back story of the pig/s and you know that you will only have to get them used to you, you won't have to train them and the risk of things going wrong with bonding etc is a lot lower. I've put a link for the rehoming section there are lots of pairs and trios on there :) x
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I'm from Manchester england like i say my mum is not keen on rehoming
 
Good luck! I have a trio of sows from rescue - they're either two sisters and a cousin or three sisters (from the situation they came from noone can be sure!) I got them at about 16 weeks old and they've always got on very well as a three and don't seem to be a two and a one. Their inside cage is a 5x2 C&C
 
Guineapigfeet said:
Good luck! I have a trio of sows from rescue - they're either two sisters and a cousin or three sisters (from the situation they came from noone can be sure!) I got them at about 16 weeks old and they've always got on very well as a three and don't seem to be a two and a one. Their inside cage is a 5x2 C&C
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Thanks
 
ive a trio of boars that works really well,but the eldest is 5 years,next are one and 2 months.It just happens that the one year old boar is very laid back.Boars are much better in pairs,must stress it depends on personalities,you need a dominant boar with a laiid back boar.Lots of space ideally a feet hutch.I recommend you go to a rescue,as you will get a pair or more that get on,also will be health checked,not pregnant.IF you get from other sources you do not know what circumstances are,eg personalities,kept with males or females,but i understand it is not always possible to get from a rescue.At the top of the page is a rescue locator,if you put your post code in it will give you your nearest 5 star rescues.I hope you achieve your guinea pig family.well done for doing your research.Ask as many questions as you need to.:)
 
eileen said:
ive a trio of boars that works really well,but the eldest is 5 years,next are one and 2 months.It just happens that the one year old boar is very laid back.Boars are much better in pairs,must stress it depends on personalities,you need a dominant boar with a laiid back boar.Lots of space ideally a feet hutch.I recommend you go to a rescue,as you will get a pair or more that get on,also will be health checked,not pregnant.IF you get from other sources you do not know what circumstances are,eg personalities,kept with males or females,but i understand it is not always possible to get from a rescue.At the top of the page is a rescue locator,if you put your post code in it will give you your nearest 5 star rescues.I hope you achieve your guinea pig family.well done for doing your research.Ask as many questions as you need to.:)
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Hiya tahnks for the advice i would love to rescue but unfortunately my mum doesnt think it is good to get them from shelters. There are a few breeders in my area and farms which breed and handle them. Also there is an independent pet store that breeds within the store and a few other good independent stores which i have bought hamsters from before. Although my lastest hamsters are from a breederx Do you think getting them from one of these would be a good option if so which one would be the bestxx
 
BubblesPiggies said:
Hiya tahnks for the advice i would love to rescue but unfortunately my mum doesnt think it is good to get them from shelters. There are a few breeders in my area and farms which breed and handle them. Also there is an independent pet store that breeds within the store and a few other good independent stores which i have bought hamsters from before. Although my lastest hamsters are from a breederx Do you think getting them from one of these would be a good option if so which one would be the bestxx
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Have you visited the breeders to check the pigs are well cared for? I'd hate for you to get 3 guineapigs and they end up being in the worst state :( maybe try and show your mum one of the rescues close to you? Or show her the rehoming section on this page, it might help her understand how it all works and that it's a lovely way to get a new pet. Just make sure that you do you research as to where your new pigs have come from and that they are healthy and happy! X
 
ChloeCee98 said:
Have you visited the breeders to check the pigs are well cared for? I'd hate for you to get 3 guineapigs and they end up being in the worst state :( maybe try and show your mum one of the rescues close to you? Or show her the rehoming section on this page, it might help her understand how it all works and that it's a lovely way to get a new pet. Just make sure that you do you research as to where your new pigs have come from and that they are healthy and happy! X
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Ive not visited anywhere yet because I'm not getting them until july but nearer the time we will ill try and convince her but I'm not sure she'll budgex i will make sure to do lots of reasearch on the breeders or small farms ect before getting themxxx
 
I usually have 3 sows...it helps when losing a piggy too as they don't seem to be as upset.
 
BubblesPiggies said:
Ive not visited anywhere yet because I'm not getting them until july but nearer the time we will ill try and convince her but I'm not sure she'll budgex i will make sure to do lots of reasearch on the breeders or small farms ect before getting themxxx
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As pet stores and stuff sometimes don't have the care of the animal as their best intention. It's best to see how they treat care and go about their 'business' before deciding to go with them. As I know first hand it can be a lot of work to get a guineapig from a baby! There are also lots of already friendly and good with handling guineapigs in rescues and sometimes in the adoption part of big pet stores :) it's good to assess all your options and the pros and cons first. X
 
The real problem is that unless you have visited the breeder, and seen all of the cages and pigs you have no way of really knowing if a breeder is good or not.
Many breeders will allow you to come over, but bring the piggies out to see you, rather than let you in to look around.

If you want to know if a breeder is good you need to call and ask if you can come and look around.
Ask the breeder to handle the pigs while you are there, and be very, very careful that they have been separated into single sex group at an appropriate age, and have been sexed correctly.
Ask what their policy is on taking a pig back if there is ever a problem.

I would also expect a good breeder to ask you a LOT of questions abut your set up at home, and what you plan to feed your new pigs, etc.
A responsible breeder will want to make sure her animals are going to a good home.
 
ChloeCee98 said:
As pet stores and stuff sometimes don't have the care of the animal as their best intention. It's best to see how they treat care and go about their 'business' before deciding to go with them. As I know first hand it can be a lot of work to get a guineapig from a baby! There are also lots of already friendly and good with handling guineapigs in rescues and sometimes in the adoption part of big pet stores :) it's good to assess all your options and the pros and cons first. X
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I definitely won't be buying babies from large chains such as pets at home but am willing to try a independent shop. From my experience they tend to have larger enclosures for their pets and they tend to handle them too.
 
Swissgreys said:
The real problem is that unless you have visited the breeder, and seen all of the cages and pigs you have no way of really knowing if a breeder is good or not.
Many breeders will allow you to come over, but bring the piggies out to see you, rather than let you in to look around.

If you want to know if a breeder is good you need to call and ask if you can come and look around.
Ask the breeder to handle the pigs while you are there, and be very, very careful that they have been separated into single sex group at an appropriate age, and have been sexed correctly.
Ask what their policy is on taking a pig back if there is ever a problem.

I would also expect a good breeder to ask you a LOT of questions abut your set up at home, and what you plan to feed your new pigs, etc.
A responsible breeder will want to make sure her animals are going to a good home.
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Thank you that's what I was trying to say :) x
 
Swissgreys said:
The real problem is that unless you have visited the breeder, and seen all of the cages and pigs you have no way of really knowing if a breeder is good or not.
Many breeders will allow you to come over, but bring the piggies out to see you, rather than let you in to look around.

If you want to know if a breeder is good you need to call and ask if you can come and look around.
Ask the breeder to handle the pigs while you are there, and be very, very careful that they have been separated into single sex group at an appropriate age, and have been sexed correctly.
Ask what their policy is on taking a pig back if there is ever a problem.

I would also expect a good breeder to ask you a LOT of questions abut your set up at home, and what you plan to feed your new pigs, etc.
A responsible breeder will want to make sure her animals are going to a good home.
Click to expand...
Do you know any good breedersxx
 
I've bought guinea pigs from my two local Pets@Home stores - they have always been very friendly as used to being picked up. I've bought 3 rescues from a place local to me - two have been very timid and not enjoyed being cuddled, even after 3 years, but another has been used to being picked up and friendly. My first two I bought from a garden centre that had a pet store too - they were friendly and used to being picked up. It's hard to know how timid they may be because it's common for them to freeze when held by someone new for the first time.
 
JenniferG said:
I've bought guinea pigs from my two local Pets@Home stores - they have always been very friendly as used to being picked up. I've bought 3 rescues from a place local to me - two have been very timid and not enjoyed being cuddled, even after 3 years, but another has been used to being picked up and friendly. My first two I bought from a garden centre that had a pet store too - they were friendly and used to being picked up. It's hard to know how timid they may be because it's common for them to freeze when held by someone new for the first time.
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Some farms near me breed guinea pigs and handle them lots with the intension to put any they dont sell into a petting corner would this be a good option?
 
BubblesPiggies said:
Some farms near me breed guinea pigs and handle them lots with the intension to put any they dont sell into a petting corner would this be a good option?
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I don't know, you'd need to see how healthy they are and how they're kept. The idea of a farm doing it makes it seem like it's just something on the side to make extra money, I just don't know though without seeing them.
 
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