How many is too many?

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scruffy

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I have 3 guineas at the moment and am hoping to rescue 2 more soon, so i was just wondering what everyone's opinions are on how many is too many to look after properly and how many do you all have, as i'm new i want to get to know everydoy's pig families!
 
I have about 20 now. I used to have between 25-35 when I was very active rescuing but that was to much. Rescues often need extra tending and I am a perfectionist. I spend time making the cages fun (things and such in them), some needs medicating, taming, some are preggy and needs to take care of the batch to and so on together with my own private cuties. My max is 30 and can only handle that for a shorter period of time. I prefer being round 20.
 
This is a difficult one :)

It depends entirely (in my opinion) on the space available, time available, money available and I suppose to sum it up the quality of life you can provide them with. Theres so much more to keeping guinea pigs then feeding, watering and cleaning them out. They need regular exercise, one to one attention, daily grooming,regular bathing etc and this all takes time and commitment.

I have 10 guinea pigs of my own at the moment and there are generally a few rescues here too. I am now at my maximum for keeping, as I believe that is as many as I can fully do justice to. My guinea pigs are my "pets" and I don't believe I would be doing them or myself any favours by keeping anymore.

Sadly I have personally seen too many people, and that unfortunately includes some of those involved with rescue keep more and more animals...because they can't stand to part with them. They think they are better off with them or no one can care for them the way they will. Many become so blinded that they become little more than "animal collectors" and it's a downward slope from there. Though these people can never recognise themselves as such :(

Unfortunately guinea pigs seem to suffer more than many species in this respect as they are rightly described as very addictive, so many colours/types to choose from and relatively easy to breed :-\

I guess you will find people on here who will say that personally 1 is enough for them to care for while others will have many, many more and say they manage :)
But to me....less is more ;)

Barbara
 
we have 31 now and I wouldnt swap/part with any of them,theyre all loveable lil characters
 
i have 4 piggies at the moment and could probably cope with a few more and still give them all plenty of attention. i also have 6 rabbits and 5 cats! so a few more piggies and thats about all i could cope with! i really admire people who commit so much time to rescuing and rehoming its quite remarkable and very much appreciated! :)
 
It depends on the person and their situation I guess :) I only have a pair, there is no where else for me to put another cage except up, which I suppose we could do, but I dunno, I'd get annoyed :P I think it I got any more (or more than 2/3 more) I'd have too many than I could care for I guess.
 
I also agree. I only have one at the moment. The ststes arent a popular place where piggies are. I am also horribly allergic to them but I love them so much..
 
Too many is more than you can personally care for - by care I mean having the time to spend with them, clean them out, play with them, groom them, pay vet bills etc. Too many people 'collect' and tbh I think forums can encourage that. I have 5 piggies and that is enough although I might get one more if I get Fudge neutered. I also have 2 bunnies and would love more but deep down I know I've got enough (for now ;D)
 
I agree with a lot of the comments already said - it depends on your circumstances and how much time/money you have.

I currently have 3. I am looking to rescue one more pig to pair with my current solo sow and that will be it. I also have a rabbit and a dog. This will be my self imposed limit as anymore would mean a compromise on the care they receive from me. I have to remember that I work full time, go to the gym 4 times a week and need to sleep as well! At the moment all my animals are absolutley spoiled rotten and come first but I couldn't guarentee for it to stay that way if my time was stretched to thinly!
 
I dont agree totally with Barbara as i have 33 now and have had 44 at one time but I do have all the time in world, money is not an issue as I will always find whats needed , I dont part with my pigs because as Barbara said I dont believe anyone will look after them like i do ( you lot are the exception) and i dont believe you can lump us all together , it is not wrong to believe anyone else can look after them as you do, in my case it might well be true because mine are kept in runs in heated sheds with fans in summer, heating in winter, and anything else needed my medcial drawer is stocked well up including POMs who my wonderful vet keeps me supplied with, so why would i want them to go from that to a hutch in a garden ( no disrespect to anyone with hutches)
yes if you live in a flat maybe 2 is enough but what about Peter Gurney he had a lot and lived in a flat and who is going to dare to say he did'nt keep them well, its up to the individual and just becasue we keep more then you think is right does not make it wrong, as long as they get attention and are healthy and happy why not?
I certainly do not think my 33 pigs lose out on anything in life and if the case arises will take more on, I have the room etc , most of you will only have 2 or 4 but its individual choice and ability,
Barbara I am not blinded and not an animal collector, I just care deeply about these little furballs and intend giving them all my love and kindness i can humanly provide, I believe its rare to find an animal collector, its genuine people ( mostly ) who care and feel the need to have animals for companions, I would in reality prefer animals to people in my life with animals you get loved unconditionally,
you do get the odd few who find they get carried away beyond their ability, but like the lady I took 5 pigs from she knew and found them good homes, I think thats a responsible owner, yet this lady has pigs (porky pigs)inc 16 piglets goats guinea pigs rabbits dog and cat horses and chickens again is she an animal collector, she lives on a small holding and treats her animals like royalty, like i intend doing some time soon, my future daugther in law has 11 ( 5 of her own) horses cats chickens geese sheep and chickens , its not right to say any of these people are animal collectors, just becasue they keep above the normal amount of animals,
 
I've got 3 and I'd love more but we dont have room. I couldn't really cope with anymore. To be honest I could only cope with Misty but then we got Sooty and it started gettin too much for me cleaning them out because it would make my M.E worse. I'm not too sure why we got Brandy but we did and I love all my piggies and I give them as much attention as I can and help to clean/feed them when I'm up to it. I think for some people animals do become an addiction. One of the stoires on SSPCA was a woman who had loads of animals and neglected them all and nearly all of them died and were found with maggots and things in them. Aslong as they all get attention, fed, cleaned and taken to the vet when they need to I think it's fine.
 
I believe its rare to find an animal collector


Big big no. You cant make me believe you can handle 40 cavies a day only you and notices illness, discomfort or other. I am pretty sure you get offended now but Ive seen it over and over again and many rescue come from places like that cavies, cats, dogs, horses, rabbits any animal. I am sorry though but you hit a very soft spot for me there. Its a well known "song" and Ive seen to many very ill cavies on that behalf.

I could dare PG to keep guineas in a way I wouldnt keep them. Like using purely hay and nothing else in the cage for bedding. Yukkie :-\

But I will add that we keep our guineas differently. Some has them more like a farm animal in big herds and such. But cavies are very fragile and it looks nice and fun and such but i prefer keeping them on a close eye.
 
I think its down to the individual. I have a pig who hates being held - the only boy in the group. I see him every time I walk past his cage which is 20+ times a day & I give him special attention becuase of this. All of mine inc rescues are in the dining room at the moment. I think that if you can Guineas should be kept in little herds because of them being 'herd' animals in the wild. They should have big open spaces but with places to hide but also place where they can run & popcorn too without fear of damaging them self.

As long as you have the time to sit & observe your animals you can do it. Even with 30 it would only take half an hour to do a daily spot check taking a minute each.

I personally would love to have 30 if I had the right set up & really do think that I could do it well. But I don't have the set up to do that- the shed is big enough but it holds the household junk that we never use! If I had a piggy shed I would have to dedicate alloted times to it every day - & would savour every minute!
 
well i have 4 and thats enough for me at this time as I'm only jsut turned 20 and i still live at home and i work fulltime (at home)aswell i work with children (I'm a childminder) so i have to think of them aswell and i have to kep mine outside as my mum wont let them live in the house i can bring them in for cuddles tho andi aslo have a cat aswell to watch

when i get my own place i may have more than 4 and will be able to have them inside aswell

i think it dose depend on the space you have and the time you have to speed with them and the cost of buy all there foods hay and etc
 
You cant make me believe you can handle 40 cavies a day only you and notices illness, discomfort or other

thats exactly what I do , my life is very full I have had 5 kids but 2 have left home my animals keep me sane and I have health problems which means I am at home but would go crazy not having anything to do,
I've just spent 45 minutes with my pigs I check boys in morning girls in afternoon, they've been fed watered veggies fed, spot cleaned, major cleaning was day before yesterday due again saturday my daughter helps me out as 4 of the pigs are hers
I've had this before when people do not believe i can keep trhe amount I do myself and manage but apart from visiting my sheds you will just have to believe me,. as most of you know I have kept pigs for over 30 years and keep them very well, as my vet said he wishes others were as observant as I am concerning pigs and their ailments,
thing is I KNOW MY PIGS and am very aware of any changes in their manner and if one does'nt greet me in the morning I will want to know why,
and I dont think anyone can cristicise Peter Gurney hes the one who wrote books and by whos advice many of us go by,
you live by your means and if you can and do manage, no one can judge you.
I think by now many of you know me and know of my set up and know full well that yes i do manage and want to manage and enjoy managing and know I am not an animal collector but an animal lover there is a difference, please do not judge by your own standards just becasue you might not be able to cope does not mean others cannot as well,
 
I've been visiting this forum and others, including rabbit forums, for a while now and whilst there are many wonderful people out there who care very deeply for their furry family however small or large, there are it has to be said people who for one reason or another collect too many then advertise them to rehome. And I do feel forums encourage this, I've been guilty of that myself, trying to persuade someone to have 'just one more' etc. I think each individual knows themselves how many is too many and you need to set yourself a limit, including thinking about future circumstances, eg if you're planning a pregnancy, or going to uni, or having a gap year etc. Someone like Michelle and another lady on RU with 41 rabbits, are very different to someone who isn't in a stable environment and can't offer guaranteed longterm care for their 'collection'.
 
It's one of those questions that is completely individual, for me it depends on space, money and time.

If you have the time, funds and space to own 100 guinea pigs then go for it :) I think you know in your heart what you can handle. A responsible owner always knows how many is best. For example, i currently own 5 rats, 1 guinea pig and a ferret. At the weekend i will be taking on two more baby rats. When they arrive i know am at my capacity because if i get any more pets i won't have enough availble time to give them all the cuddles they need.

To be honest i don't usually have as many rats at one time but 2 of my current 5 are considered elderly now and nothing perks up elderly rats like young wippersnappers!
 
totally agree with you, there are a minority who do collect animals as i said but how do you class an animal collector or animal lover as in my future daughter in law she lives on an farm so has land and has a lot of animals inc 11 horses she rides them in competitions and as my son will confim always doing her bluddy horses, lol but she also has cats geese sheep etc, i have 33 pigs a dog and parrot and koi and intend selling our bungalow purely to get more land to keep my animals maybe i am an exception in that I can be selfish as far as my animals,in that they do come first, but thats my life,
the lady i took 5 pigs from also had a big small holding with all sorts of animals but she was wise enough to know she was not able to keep her guineapigs as she would like purely becasue of numbers, now to me shes a good pet owner
its the ones who do not know when they can no longer manage who are the ones to watch, and the care diminsishes is when they need help,
I certainly do not take too kindly being called an animal collector, that sounds as if you take them in then ignore them while you carry on your collection, not me at all, I use to ahev 44 pigs at one time but feel comfortable at 35 so even I know my cut off point, so please dont assume just becasue you have over 6 animals you are a collector, I consider them animal lovers as i said before give me animals over people anytime
 
kayjay said:
I've been visiting this forum and others, including rabbit forums, for a while now and whilst there are many wonderful people out there who care very deeply for their furry family however small or large, there are it has to be said people who for one reason or another collect too many then advertise them to rehome. And I do feel forums encourage this, I've been guilty of that myself, trying to persuade someone to have 'just one more' etc. I think each individual knows themselves how many is too many and you need to set yourself a limit, including thinking about future circumstances, eg if you're planning a pregnancy, or going to uni, or having a gap year etc. Someone like Michelle and another lady on RU with 41 rabbits, are very different to someone who isn't in a stable environment and can't offer guaranteed longterm care for their 'collection'.
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Yes I really agree with you (for a change ;D).

At the moment I have my own pets- Worm the cat and Audrey the rabbit (Audreys friend Rowan sadly passed away at christmas :'() and I am fostering 2 rabbits and 1 cat. Although this is actually quite a small number, I'm feeling its getting a bit much for me at the moment so once the cat goes to a new home I will not be fostering more cats for a while.
 
Sorry to hear about Rowan Mandy - was it old age or illness? (tell me to bog off if you want to!).

Out of interest how much time do people spend tending to their animals?

I now have 7 guinea pigs - the last 2 really needed to be taken from their environment & were totally unplanned as I had said no more (see Resces, Interesting Day). I thought that having 5 was enough for me to really SPOIL them & be able to get on with other things. But to be honest having the extra 2 has accelerated my pleasure of keeping them and not stretched me at all. Then there will be babies in the very near future too- so we'll see how I feel then. I don't feel over worked with what I have is what I'm trying to say.

I probably spend too much time with my herd (inc 2 cats) and ignore other things such as washing up & laundry!
I estimate spending at least 21/2 hours each day on mine. Probably 1 hour of that is watching Guinea Pig TV (just sitting observing). The other hour & half is more hands on inc feeding, handling, cleaning out & telling them how beautiful they are!
 
kayjay said:
I've been visiting this forum and others, including rabbit forums, for a while now and whilst there are many wonderful people out there who care very deeply for their furry family however small or large, there are it has to be said people who for one reason or another collect too many then advertise them to re home. And I do feel forums encourage this, I've been guilty of that myself, trying to persuade someone to have 'just one more' etc. I think each individual knows themselves how many is too many and you need to set yourself a limit, including thinking about future circumstances, eg if you're planning a pregnancy, or going to uni, or having a gap year etc.
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I agree with this too and I think it is an important point you make about looking to the future and circumstances before you take on any kind of animal. As far of course as this is possible ;)
I think it's important to note that it is not just individuals, but some people involved in rescue who take on way too much, I've seen it happen and I'm pretty sure that everyone else who has been/is involved with active rescue has too.
Especially in the early days of animal rescue, I was just so keen to help anything and everything, I was so upset and desperate to help the animals in our area. I took on too much, not just animal wise but with the running of the organisation and it's not something you can or should try to keep up. You can't save them all.

All that said it's vital that people should not be made to feel bad if they genuinely do have to give up an animal or animals. It happens sometimes.

Finally I think those of us who rescue and re home on any level, should keep what we have been discussing here in mind when re-homing..."How many is too many."
We will all have our own opinions on this issue and this will be reflected when we choose where to place our rescues.

Barbara
 
Well put. I could have gone home with 20 pigs the other day but know my personal limit. I just decided 2 of the most needy, still about 50 left without the ones Sars took. It is hard making the descision to leave so many but a bit of tough love on yourself works wonders!

Using my summer hutches I could have taken & housed about 15 in luxury or 20 with a squeeze - bearing in mind they're used to bad outside conditions. But I decided on 2. Bloody hard descision though knowing that I could have given more a proper home.
 
I have 3 guineas as well as my 5 buns I am rehoming another piggie from Cheryl to join my herd and hopefully adopting a male bun to join Ruby then thats my limit ;D but its does come down to yourself how many you can manage as long as your styill able to spend time with them all and have money for vet bills Etc then its fine but know your limits!
 
Yes it's all down to the individual and there is no right or wrong answer.

I have 12 piggies at the moment. 8 sows and 4 boars. I admit I spend more time with the boys only as they are downstairs where I can reach them. My girls gets brought down every other day so I can check them all out and give them attention from me personally. But as my mum and everyone else can go upstairs, they get the same, if not more attention than the boys everyday :)
 
Out of interest how much time do people spend tending to their animals?

I would say on a normal day at least 1 and half to 2 hours, on a clean out day all morning or all afternoon, major cleaning when everything in shed is removed and hosed down inc grids and corrulux twice a year takes all day if not 2 days so a weekend, time i consider well spent, and i throughly enjoy cleaning them out as well with my music on the pigs enjoy it as well ,as mummy sings to them not as keen in really hot weather as it gets sweaty but I do lose weight lol but its easier as they are put out in runs
so I dont get as distracted by big eyes wanting cuddles and tickles, the cleaning tends to take me a lot longer becasue I will stop mid way and cuddle and walk round the garden chatting to them, my new neighbours from London are going to think I'm a mad woman, ( next door thought i was sweet ahhh) but they are moving across the road next week and elderly people form London inc their 85 year old mum are moving in, wonder what they'll make of me 98) 98)
 
As you yourself just pointed out we manage our cavies in different manors and yes I will critisize PG if I dont agree. Noone is perfect and we all have different opinions on keeping cavies and how to do it best. Just because hes is famous doesnt mean everything he does is perfect. Its just the way HE thinks is the best. I always check PG site when I need some nolidge because he knows tons about cavies but it is not wisely to take anyones nolidge for pure truth just because the person is famous. What is good for his cavy isnt necasarily good for mine. Theres a few topics regarding PG I absolutely doesnt agree on and where my experience and nolidge says otherwise. Does that make me a bad cavy owner? No I would say not. It just proofs that I care to use my own brain to instead of blindly trusting one man in the whole world.

As much as you will claim you take good care of your babies (and not you in person but ppl with your amount of animals) as much will I claim that a surden amount,-and problably more then wed like to think, does not take good enough care of them. SÃ¥ we can agree on disagreeing ;)
 
michellemuffin said:
Out of interest how much time do people spend tending to their animals?
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God where to start!

Before i set off for work i go wround all the cages and remove any fresh food that they have hidden, top up dried food and water, scoop out litter trays, etc

Once back from work, i have my tea then it's play time for everyone. I spend 30 to 60 minutes with my rats, it used to be longer but now they are slightly older they're not as bothered!

Leo the piggie who is still very nervous of me gets some free time on my bedroom carpet, plus a cuddle. How long depends on him at the moment. He doesn't tolerate me for long at the moment.

Henry the Ferret gets free time in the garage and my company until he too gets bored and falls asleep. As soon as playtime is over i fill up dishes and water again, put in treats, etc

Then if i'm lucky i might get a chance to read the paper or watch some tv. Fortunitly i have no interest in the soaps (Eastenders, corro, etc) so they don't get in the way of my pet care! How about everyone else?
 
If you had asked me years ago if I would be able to cope with 3 children, 5 guinea pigs, 2 rabbits, 2 dogs, 1 cat, 2 bearded dragons and a OH and have a part time job, I would have said no! But we do cope plus what ever life throws at us. If I didnt have my pets I wouldnt know what to do with myself. Some people have loads of children and that can be more stressful then having any pets. Yes if I didnt have my many animals I would have more money and go out more. But that just isnt me, I love being at home and being a mum to my children and pets.

Mary
 
Well at weekends its all day taking in turns to letting the pairs or groups have the run of the garden, clean out day is always a sunday (main clean out day) so whilst scrubbing hutches and bottles everybody is out.

During the week i feed at 6.30am everyday taking any greens Etc out of the hutches, topping up water bottles Etc after work they are given 1 hours run each around the garden and given greens.

being pregnant now i will still have time for the gang, any heavy lifting is done by the O/H (bales, food sacks Etc) so inbetween the baby and animals i might have half a chance for a sit down ;D but i can't wait
 
hils78 said:
Sorry to hear about Rowan Mandy - was it old age or illness? (tell me to bog off if you want to!).
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Thank you. He was only a year old. :'(
A few days before Christmas Audrey had stopped eating (gut stasis) so we were back and forth to the vets and then Rowan also stopped eating, so we were back twice more to the vets with him for treatment. It seems them both not eating was not related- it just happens for various reasons to rabbits sometimes.
He seemed completely better by Christmas Eve so it was an awful shock to find him dead on Christmas day :'( I was truly devestated. He was a wonderful, gorgeous boy. I dont know why he died, particularily as he seemed so well but a lady on RU said perhaps he had liver damage caused by not eating, or it could have been that the gut stasis was just a symptom of something bigger or even a heart attack.

We miss him very much xx

kayjay said:
including thinking about future circumstances, eg if you're planning a pregnancy, or going to uni, or having a gap year etc.
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I do think this is incredibly important, and has a lot to do with my reasons to foster animals rather than having many permenants.
 
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