Housing together in new hutch

[Emmy1971]

Hello….Me again! So my older piggy Ginger, is recovering from pneumonia and is doing well. I have two baby piggies who are around 6 weeks old now as company for her. They are all girls. I am buying a new hutch for them so there are no connotations or smells from our other girl who we lost 4 weeks ago. All three have been outside for short periods in the garden grazing. Currently all 3 are inside as per vets recommendations whilst ginger recovers. Any advice or hints for putting them all outside in their new hutch together? I would actually love them to live inside with us but I have a rented flat and it’s too small! Hence spending a fortune on hutches, runs and blankets and pillows! Thank you all xx

 

[Piggies&buns]

Are they already living together as a trio?
The best thing is to put some soiled bedding from their current cage into the new hutch so that it still smells of them. They will find it easier to recognise it as their space.
Have you bought the new hutch yet? Ensure it is 6ft x 2ft which is the recommended size for three piggies

Best wishes for Ginger’s recovery

 

[Emmy1971]

Are they already living together as a trio?
The best thing is to put some soiled bedding from their current cage into the new hutch so that it still smells of them. They will find it easier to recognise it as their space.
Have you bought the new hutch yet? Ensure it is 6ft x 2ft which is the recommended size for three piggies

Best wishes for Ginger’s recovery

Thank you
They are not living together yet as I was advised to keep them separate until ginger had fully recovered! But they are less than 2 metres away from each other in the living room and kitchen so they see and hear each other! I thought a 5ft hutch was sufficient I was getting a two story one, if not, looks like I’ll have to rethink things. Thank you fot your wishes…. I cannot believe how much I love little ginger! She was adopted 17 months ago and I am totally a piggy mum now!

 

[Piggies&buns]

A 5ft hutch would be the minimum size for three sows, 6ft the recommended size. That’s fine, but what you don’t want is for lack of space to become a problem, particularly as your youngest two are young, and then have to rework things later. Two storey doesn’t make it bigger - it’s only the bottom level which counts towards the cage size so while a second level means they can get away from each other it doesnt increase floor space.

I would personally bond them in neutral territory indoors first (once you are able to) before moving them into the hutch. You need to be able to keep a close eye on them for several hours to ensure the bonding is successful before moving them to the cage they are to live in. I would personally find that easier to do indoors given it can take a long time.
Also i would personally rather ensure they are actually going to bond and are successful before going to the trouble and expense of buying a hutch. If things don’t work out, it could leave you out of pocket when trying to come up with a new solution.

Bonding and Interaction: Illustrated social behaviours and bonding dynamics
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Sows: Behaviour and female health problems (including ovarian cysts)