Expanding herd

[Three'sAHerd]

Hello,
I have two 3-year-old sows (a rex and a Peruvian) and want to expand my herd. Preferably I would like to add 2 baby piglets, however, I would like to know which genders and ages would be most compatible with my two now? My Peruvian is shy but friendly and my rex is cheeky and friendly as well, but they get on like a house on fire - I have never had any fights!

 

[Pearl and Zip]

Welcome to the forum!

It sounds like your piggies get along well together. Adding more might change this. But if you do end up getting new piggies please keep this in mind: Adopt your piggies, don’t buy them from breeders. Adopting gives animals a second chance. Buying from breeders contributes to overpopulation, leading to more guinea pigs getting euthanized.

This thread from this forum may help you:
Boars, sows or mixed pairs; babies or adults?

 

[Wiebke]

Hello,
I have two 3-year-old sows (a rex and a Peruvian) and want to expand my herd. Preferably I would like to add 2 baby piglets, however, I would like to know which genders and ages would be most compatible with my two now? My Peruvian is shy but friendly and my rex is cheeky and friendly as well, but they get on like a house on fire - I have never had any fights!

Hi!

The best way is to add two bonded sub-adults that cannot upset the existing hierarchy, whether that is two young sows or a young neutered boar/sow pair. Ideally you date your pair at a good rescue that offers introductions under expert supervision so you come home only with new mates if acceptance has happened. It is a bit more effort but you get a lot more service and minimal headaches by going down that route.
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations

If you get piggies on spec and do the bonding at home, you have to always have a plan B at the ready in case things don't go as you wish and the bonding doesn't come off. You can never predict bonding dynamics as they rely entirely on how the individual personalities involved react with each other and whether they can work out a hierarchy or not.
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

 

[Jamston]

If you had 2 bonded sows can they share a suitable home with another bonded pair of sows if I adopt a rescue pair of girls?

 

[Three'sAHerd]

Thank you! Your advice is really helpful and so are the links.

 

[Wiebke]

If you had 2 bonded sows can they share a suitable home with another bonded pair of sows if I adopt a rescue pair of girls?

Yes, they can in theory. In practice, it is down to whether they can sort out a hierarchy or not. Merging two adult sow pairs with established leaders is often unsuccessful as neither is usually wiling to step down from their top spot or an undersow that is not willing to lose their higher ranking.

It works out most reliably if the second pair are babies or not yet fully grown sub-adults, so the hierarchy is very clear cut. That is how I build up a small group. Rescue dating is of great advantage as you can make sure that all sows are getting on before you bring them home and you have the rescue to fall back on in case it doesn't work out.

 

[Jamston]

So the best approach would be to adopt a pair of baby girls through rescue dating? Or should I just adopt a single female through rescue dating?

 

[Three'sAHerd]

My pigs were older when I got them so they are tame and bonded but still a bit skittish at times but if I adopted two younger sows and bonded them while keeping them separate, then introducing them 3-5 weeks later, would they become less tame like the older two or would the older two become more tame, or would it have no effect?

 

[PigglePuggle]

Theo (who is admittedly no expert being only a small male piggy aged 17 weeks with stripy boy pants that are off to the vet next week next week) would like to make the case for considering adopting little male husboars sometimes. This might not always be appropriate but he thinks boy piggies are getting a bad rep here and probably lots are languishing alone in rescues or in the free ads like he was, smelling all musky and alluring and just hoping to meet some ladies one day, because humans seem to prefer girl piggies and boys smell a bit interesting sometimes. Please don't automatically reject little unwanted boars! They can bring a whole different dynamic and a new set of cute behaviours into your life and into the life of your lady piggies