Group of guinea-pigs

[Alicia]

This is something I'd really like to have in the future, a group of guinea-pigs. I think I can afford more guinea-pigs, I pay for everything for them, and I buy food in 10kg bags which is cheaper, I also always have money saved for vets fees. I don't really know how many I was thinking in the group, I have 3 guinea-pigs now, so maybe 4 or 5? I know that's not a very big change in the amount of guinea-pigs I have but I've got used to just having 3 so any extra guinea-pigs would be a big change for me. My Mum has always said I can have as many guinea-pigs as I'd like as long as they can all live together (last year we had 4 hutches of guinea-pigs :red )
I know they are social animals and I love to see little groups of them I am planning to buy a new hutch next year anyway (my guinea-pigs are in the shed for the winter so aren't using the hutch, so I'm waiting until they are ready to move back outside to get a new hutch) so I could buy one big enough for extra guinea-pigs.
Do you think it's a good idea or not?

 

[threelittlepigs]

It sounds as if you have thought everything through and have a back up plan (Your Mum!) in case anything goes wrong.

Just out of interest how old are you and do you plan to leave home? I only ask because people sometimes take on a lot of pets only to rehome them once they leave home.

 

[JanexxM&L]

yehh i think its a good idea xxxxx it'll be a nice challenge as well to have 4/5 guinea pigs, the work makes it harder but the thought of looking after them and keeping them happy is great! xxxxx

 

[Alicia]

It sounds as if you have thought everything through and have a back up plan (Your Mum!) in case anything goes wrong.

Just out of interest how old are you and do you plan to leave home? I only ask because people sometimes take on a lot of pets only to rehome them once they leave home.

I'm 16, and I go to college at the moment. Ive got another year of college and I might stay on after that and do a further course, rather than university, so I'd probably still be living at home while I do that. I don't think I'd move out within the next few years

 

[Wiebke]

You have thought it obviously through!

You will find that from 4-5 piggies onwards, you see real group behaviour developing, but you will also find that nearly doubling the number of your piggies will take some adjustment and getting used to - more food to prepare, quite a bit more poos to scoop, more squabbling when more sows come into season (especially at first) etc. You will also find that the guinea pigs identify themselves primarily with the group and not so much with you at cuddle time, even those that have been quite cuddly before.

However, I adore my Tribe and find the group dynamics endlessly fascinating.

 

[emmalala]

I've managed to get an instant tribe:red of babies! watching them altogether though is amazing.

 

[Alicia]

You have thought it obviously through!

You will find that from 4-5 piggies onwards, you see real group behaviour developing, but you will also find that nearly doubling the number of your piggies will take some adjustment and getting used to - more food to prepare, quite a bit more poos to scoop, more squabbling when more sows come into season (especially at first) etc. You will also find that the guinea pigs identify themselves primarily with the group and not so much with you at cuddle time, even those that have been quite cuddly before.

However, I adore my Tribe and find the group dynamics endlessly fascinating.

I don't really mind them not being interested in me, I don't like to hold them as much as I like to just watch them. I love seeing a group of guinea-pigs together and I'm also interested in how the group would behave together and just watching them together, and I like seeing your photos of your group
Would it be better to get 2 guinea-pigs seperately and gradually introduce them, or to get a pair at the same time and then add them together?

One of my sows, Marmalade is quite dominant and didn't like Sasha when I first got her, but I think this may have been because Sasha was an adult guinea-pig, because Marmalade really liked Amber who was a baby when I put them together. They have now settled together well and all 3 of them get along well.

 

[Wiebke]

I don't really mind them not being interested in me, I don't like to hold them as much as I like to just watch them. I love seeing a group of guinea-pigs together and I'm also interested in how the group would behave together and just watching them together, and I like seeing your photos of your group
Would it be better to get 2 guinea-pigs seperately and gradually introduce them, or to get a pair at the same time and then add them together?

One of my sows, Marmalade is quite dominant and didn't like Sasha when I first got her, but I think this may have been because Sasha was an adult guinea-pig, because Marmalade really liked Amber who was a baby when I put them together. They have now settled together well and all 3 of them get along well.

Try to add sows that are younger; that won't upset the established hierarchy and make for a much smoother ride. I find that adding two bonded piggies at the beginning has helped me with avoiding an outsider problem - they will always have each other to fall back on. After 5 piggies, it doesn't matter anymore; any newcomer will just fit into the hierarchy somewhere depending on age and personality.

 

[Alicia]

Thank you for all the help I've decided instead that I am just going to keep with the 3 guinea-pigs I have. I'd love more guinea-pigs but I've really been thinking about when I move out and things I'd like to do after college and I don't think I could be without pets at all, but I think it would be more difficult to move out if I had lots of pets, and I think my guinea-pigs are happy as a little group of 3 and I don't want to add anymore which could upset the group