Extending the furry family

[Rosierum]

Now that I will be moving out of my parents house I will be able to extend my piggy family. At the moment I have 2 sows both around 15 months old.
I have a few questions
1. Is it easier to introduce 1 new girl or a pair
2. What is the best size of cage for 3/4. Are there any shop bought ones or will only c&c do?
3. Could I extend my current cage to take more piggies
http://www.petsathome.com/shop/rabb...a-pig-and-dwarf-rabbit-cage-by-ferplast-15992

 

[CiaraPatricia]

Wiebke said before that it's easier to add a pair, and then after that if you want to add more then you can add them one by one, because they're already a herd and will accept new members, or something.

I'd say that you could extend your cage with a pen, or use a pen as a cage, or that a 120cmX60cm two tier cage would be ok for four. Or you could use a C&C cage cos then you can extend it anytime and add even more pigs!

 

[helen105281]

That's exactly what we did, we had Gertie and Johnny, then added Jess and Millie together and then all the others were added one by one.

 

[rainbowstarsx]

I had Stefan and Damon for a few months, and then introduced Cookie and Eddie after a week of getting them, I'd say it was easy and they got along great from the start.

I have that exact cage with all 4 of them in, I find that there' always 2 at the top, and 2 at the bottom or 3 at the top and 1 at the bottom. They get a lot of 'floor time' as well, I guess it's just up to you what you think obviously if you have the space and the money, get a C&C cage, I wish I had the space and money for one!

 

[Wiebke]

I have found that introducing two younger girls is usually the safest bet; that way, the hierarchy won't be upset and the youngster will have each other if the two big'uns stick together.

Alternatively, you can think about a neutered boar (or a bonded boar/sow pair), provided you can find a rescue where your girls can go and date him/them; not all girls will necessarily accept a boar, although yours should be just still young enough that they will anyway.

2x6 ft is a miminum for 4 guinea pigs; a 2x5 C&C cage will also work if the grids are 12in and not 10in.