How many is too many?

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The Highway Man said:
My tribe is complete. A pair of Dutch does, and my trio of piggies. I'm happy with my lot. :)
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In fact whilst there was a break in the building work at my house today, I let them have some lawn time. Normally they get free roaming in the garden, but due to my garden being insecure at the moment, they were all playing in the pen. ;)

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large herd

Suzygpr said:
I've had a large herd in the past - made up of lifetime residents and rescue pigs that benefited from herd life so they could learn to be social piggies again, and to meet and bond with a new friend before being rehomed together. It worked very well, if my current lifers would be a bit more co-operative I would have another herd now.

I had 15 at one point - my interaction was welcomed but not necessary as they had their own kind - if I had food or treats I got a lot of attention from them, sitting in their pen with them was the best though as they just used me as a piece of furniture and the confidence they had from being a herd meant that they could explore and wander as they chose.

Suzy x
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I totally agree and am in that sort of situation ,my piggies love my visits with their food etc.,but are happy with each other and I get lots of pleasure from seeing them all interacting with each other.
However it is time consuming and expensive to run a large herd,I have just spent 90 minutes doing nail trimming! Dont think they were impressed,but my older piggies are so laid back.
 
I've got 38 in my herd, all female, and I've not really had any problems with them. Its my little sanctuary, I've got ex-breeders, unwanted pets and the others I've either bought or had bought for me.
My girls all live together in a 10ft by 6ft shed, its insulated for winter with lino on the floor. Its got huts, tunnels and a 4ft double layered hutch in it that I've taken the bottom out of and one of the bottom doors. That way its easy to keep clean and they don't lose any space on the floor, also then they have the top layer as an extra and the other wire door at the bottom has their water bottles on. I have lots of happy squeaks! :(|):(|):(|)
 
For me it's financial (mine always seem to get problems and the vet bills are horrendous!), but also where to put them! I'd have to get the workshop cleaned out and then ask OH to build another house...... can't see that happening in the near future. But one day i'd dearly love to have more. To have a herd tho i'd not be able to intro my girls at the moment, with one blind you can't alter things too much.

I'm sure i'll be seeing some newbies soon by what you're saying love x):(|)
 
I_love_piggies! said:
I've got 38 in my herd, all female, and I've not really had any problems with them. Its my little sanctuary, I've got ex-breeders, unwanted pets and the others I've either bought or had bought for me.
My girls all live together in a 10ft by 6ft shed, its insulated for winter with lino on the floor. Its got huts, tunnels and a 4ft double layered hutch in it that I've taken the bottom out of and one of the bottom doors. That way its easy to keep clean and they don't lose any space on the floor, also then they have the top layer as an extra and the other wire door at the bottom has their water bottles on. I have lots of happy squeaks! :(|):(|):(|)
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love to see a photo of ** set up :)
 
I have recently been "pigsitting" 4 extras (in two seperate cages so 4 cages in total) and I must say that it became a bit of a handful and the I was forever filling bowls scooping poop,filling hay, changing water and doing veg.

so for ME 8 was too many, I lost my enjoyment and it became a bit of a chore that had to be done rather than enjoying doing it, and not spending quality time with the pigs. I'm in awe of the people with 15+ piggies! but I spose I do already have my hands full caring for my 3 kids and sick mum so may have taken on more than I could handle! I was glad to see them go home!
 
I currently have seven that I am more than capable of financing at the moment. I'd happily have three more - but I'm going to uni soon and it wouldn't be fair on my Dad, who has to do the bulk of the caring while I'm away.

Mine are in groups of two and three. The boys are a pair, then the girls are in two and three, but share the run.

When my Dad was younger, they had 24 guinea pigs between the four of them!
 
You are the only other person I know of who has more than me,I have 34 at the moment ,all acquired in similar ways to yours.
 
In my own personal oppinion,
I would never want a herd, i like my pair of boars, and my single boar who hopefully will have a friend soon, i had another foster pair at one time and another pair for holiday, and just in a pair they're so much more dependant to you as a human, in a herd your not as important to you, i'd always be worried i wouldn't have the time to love each one as i love each of mine now. I'd worry i wouldn't notice if one had an illness or something.
A group of 50 odd piggies may work for some people but thats not my cup of tea.
Although i'd like to have a few more pairs, but just pairs, maybe a trio, nothing more, but i love boars, and have only ever had boars so it's hard to have more than a pair :)
 
We have just the two boars as we were new to guinea pigs before we got them. Now I've got them I'd love to get more, but as we have two boars I don't see how we can add more to create a herd as I think it could cause fights. I don't have room at the moment for a second cage or run if I had extra piggies living separately.
 
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