How many would be best?

[Gemma1286]

Hi everyone. Starting off, I haven't got any new pigs yet, wanting opinions before I do. In regards to my newly lone guinea pig, Charlie, I've decided to wait a month or two and get him neutered so that he can be housed with sows. He's showing no signs of depression and eating like a pig lol, so I feel like he could handle the wait.
I want to know how many sows are the best balance? Would love three sows making four in total, would that work?
And will they be ok living in a 4x4 c&c for a little longer until I can make a 7x4?
I know all about the 6 week wait after and everything else so its just these details i want to be 100% on, although any advice is welcome as you can never learn enough
Thanks!

 

[Hetja]

A 4x4 C&C will be fine. Three sows should work very well (I have this group constellation right now)

Actually the number of sows doesn’t matter that much. Most boars are ok with between one and six or seven sows. More can be stressful for them but some can handle it. One can be stressful for the sow (especially if the boar wants sex all the time).

 

[Wiebke]

Hi everyone. Starting off, I haven't got any new pigs yet, wanting opinions before I do. In regards to my newly lone guinea pig, Charlie, I've decided to wait a month or two and get him neutered so that he can be housed with sows. He's showing no signs of depression and eating like a pig lol, so I feel like he could handle the wait.
I want to know how many sows are the best balance? Would love three sows making four in total, would that work?
And will they be ok living in a 4x4 c&c for a little longer until I can make a 7x4?
I know all about the 6 week wait after and everything else so its just these details i want to be 100% on, although any advice is welcome as you can never learn enough
Thanks!

You can pair up Charlie with as many sows as you like, but I would strongly recommend to ask a rescue for dating and to make sure that the girls themselves are getting on and are accepting him. By going to a good rescue with a mandatory quarantine/vet care and pregnancy watch you can be assure that you won't have to deal with any nasty surprises. Rescues have sometimes got sow trios, but most common are sow pairs; choose one (if there is a choice) that is best of friends as that is key to a successful trio without outsider issues.
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts (contains information you may find very helpful)
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

UK: Recommended Guinea Pig Rescues
some other countries: Guinea Lynx :: Rescue Organizations

 

[Gemma1286]

A 4x4 C&C will be fine. Three sows should work very well (I have this group constellation right now)

Actually the number of sows doesn’t matter that much. Most boars are ok with between one and six or seven sows. More can be stressful for them but some can handle it. One can be stressful for the sow (especially if the boar wants sex all the time).

Brilliant, thank you! Time to start the hunt for three girlies then I think 4 pigs in the end will be the perfect size for me to handle.

 

[Gemma1286]

You can pair up Charlie with as many sows as you like, but I would strongly recommend to ask a rescue for dating and to make sure that the girls themselves are getting on and are accepting him. By going to a good rescue with a mandatory quarantine/vet care and pregnancy watch you can be assure that you won't have to deal with any nasty surprises. Rescues have sometimes got sow trios, but most common are sow pairs; choose one (if there is a choice) that is best of friends as that is key to a successful trio without outsider issues.
Adding More Guinea Pigs Or Merging Pairs – What Works And What Not?
Neutered / De-sexed Boars And Neutering Operations: Myths And Facts (contains information you may find very helpful)
Bonding: Illustrated Dominance Behaviours And Dynamics

Thank you for replying.
I've got a few rescues looked up, one doesn't do bonding and there isn't any of them with sows as far as I know but will keep my eye out and possibly send out emails. I didn't actually realise how far and few between they are!

Have read the guides before but will go over it again to double check.

 

[Wiebke]

Thank you for replying.
I've got a few rescues looked up, one doesn't do bonding and there isn't any of them with sows as far as I know but will keep my eye out and possibly send out emails. I didn't actually realise how far and few between they are!

Have read the guides before but will go over it again to double check.

There are more rescues, but these are the ones we can guarantee for that you are in safe hands. Anybody can call themselves a rescue or a breeder without license or control, and the results can be accordingly. There is a much higher demand for rescue sows (especially younger ones) than boars in rescue, so most piggies around are generally boys.

It is always worth enquiring as rescues have normall more piggies in the pipeline than advertised on their adoption pages. Even starting with one sow and then adding a couple of younger ones later on is not a bad way forward; if they are younger, they cannot challenge for dominance and your single sow will happy to gain in status as the First Lady of a minigroup (which a trio isn't yet).

 

[Flutterby]

I agree going to a rescue to do the bondings is the safest bet then you are sure he's coming away with the perfect girls for him.

 

[Merab]

You come across as a very thoughtful and caring owner.
Any sows will be lucky to live with you and Charlie.
I’m sure he will be ecstatic with girls for companionship