Can i add another pig to my herd?

[guineapogmum]

hi all,
currently i have 4 girls in one herd and 3 girls 1 boy in another, and was wondering if I could add another piggy to the first herd? (4girls) I keep making the mistake of looking at RSPCA and i feel so guilty for one of the pigs that we ended up choosing Honey-Soy (the boy) over. he's been there for about 3 months i would love to get all of them but there's 7 piggies available....
thanks

 

[Piggies&buns]

Yes it is fine to make a herd of 4 sows/1 neutered boar. (you can keep as many sows to one neutered boar as the space allows) - but any bond comes down to compatibility so it whether it actually works out depends on whether your sows accept him.

The cage size (or any space they need to be locked into) needed for five pigs in one herd is 240x60cm (8 foot by 2 foot) but bigger than that is better.

Thread 'Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?'

Oct 31, 2017

1 Singles and Pairs
Singles: Challenges and solutions for different singles situations (link)
Pairs: A closer look all possible pairings (link)
2 Trios and More by Gender
Boars
- Trios and quartets - Why better avoided
- Large Groups...

• Wiebke
• Replies: 4
• Forum: Behaviour, Bonds and Species Understanding

• 

 

[guineapogmum]

ok, thank you, i honestly doubt it will happen as 'apparently' I already have too many piggies.
but if anyoneis in Perth and wants to get guinea pigs.... the ones on rspca are adorable.

 

[natalie.darts]

ok, thank you, i honestly doubt it will happen as 'apparently' I already have too many piggies.
but if anyoneis in Perth and wants to get guinea pigs.... the ones on rspca are adorable.

Look on gumtree, freeads, pets 4 home. There are loads on there needing a home. I got all of my guinea pigs of these sites.

 

[VickiA]

Look on gumtree, freeads, pets 4 home. There are loads on there needing a home. I got all of my guinea pigs of these sites.

The problem with rehoming from freeads sites is that you’re never guaranteed that the animals are in decent health or properly sexed. This includes those being offloaded by breeders. We always advocate going to a reputable rescue because the piggies will have been vet checked, quarantined and properly sexed. Rescues will also give you ongoing support particularly if bonding into a herd whereas support will be minimal or non-existent from these other sites.

 

[Piggies&buns]

I agree with Vicki.
If using such sites it’s a case is going in with your eyes open and being prepared for it being a difficult journey for many reasons.
Not everybody rehoming piggies is doing so genuinely. Undisclosed medical issues happen - We have seen members get piggies from such sites and ending up immediately at them were with hundreds of pounds worth of vet bills.

 

[guineapogmum]

I'm not looking for piggies anymore as I have 8, i have adopted some from RSPCA and gumtree and have only had 1 issue.