More Than Two Guinea Pigs?

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Clarey008

Clarey008

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Hi All
I currently have two lovely long-haired four year old Sows and am thinking about getting another pair, probably living in separate quarters but side by side so they can interact. Has anyone else got any stories of how they were bitten by the bug and increased the size of their guinea pig families? In terms of work required and finding care for them when you go away, is it a lot harder and have you found it worthwhile?
 
:wel: to the forum -and welcome to the world of guinea slaves !

Are you happy to add your location to your profile ? ( County and Country will be usefuil).

If you have a rescue near you, and you have ròm - you might want to consider fostering ....
 
I would love to have more than two, but really lack the room! I've always wanted to see the larger group dynamics. Lots of luck in growing your pig family!
 
I have the room, but need to consider carefully whether I have the energy! Good idea about fostering, I have just updated my location, I believe there is a rescue centre in Westbury, Wiltshire, so will investigate.
 
I started with two and ended up with ten.Had a herd of six and a herd of four.It was a lot more work and washing and a lot more expensive.Now down to three due to financial and health difficulties.The extra work was worth it.
 
madguinealady said:
I started with two and ended up with ten.Had a herd of six and a herd of four.It was a lot more work and washing and a lot more expensive.Now down to three due to financial and health difficulties.The extra work was worth it.
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Wow, ten of them, that's impressive!
 
Well initially I set out to get just one piggy and came back with two from a local rescue. It was before I found this forum I believe so I had the two in a 100cm cage but one kept getting hurt cos she was too cuddly. So then I took in a male through the forum and got him neutered and low and behold my cuddly one was still left out when he snuggled with the ice queen. So then I got a 6 week old. I was going to stop at an even number but ended up taking in Buddy after someone was trying to rehome a lot of males and he was considered too ugly by most people.

I have since lost two of the pigs but recently took in another to make it an even 4 again :) So yes I have been well and truly bitten by the bug. My only regret is that one of my current pigs won't accept Isobel and drew blood so they have to live as two pairs now. I liked having 4 live together as I really felt that you see more of their characters when they live in groups.
 
I've almost always had at least four guinea pigs (six was the most we've ever had at once), but right now I only have the two. I keep asking my boyfriend for some new piggies, but so far he's resisting!

We always kept our guinea pigs in pairs (we did have a three for a while after one unexpectedly gave birth; so we kept the baby with her). We had a wooden unit where we 'stacked' the cages on top of each other (they weren't actually on top of each other, if that makes sense?) so they could still hear each other. They would all interact together when we put them out in the run or in the living room/hall; we never just got one/a pair out, it was all or nothing! We did this quite regularly, so they socialised quite well.

It wasn't really me who was bitten, initially. I got my first guinea pigs aged five. I was content enough with two, but my mum wasn't! So we got two more and it sort of cycled from there (when one died, we'd get a new mate for the one in that pair that was left). We also fostered two for two years. Mum did decide that she didn't want any more pets after our seventh guinea pig died, which lasted all of about a year, before I ended up buying another pair! (There was also a gap of a year or two between that pair and my current two, due to university).

^_^ Yay, piggy families.
 
You have all encouraged me, I like the idea of being able to put them in a large run together even if they don't live full time together, however I guess it depends on their personalities. Now I need to look out for another cage and a larger run.
 
Clarey008 said:
You have all encouraged me, I like the idea of being able to put them in a large run together even if they don't live full time together, however I guess it depends on their personalities. Now I need to look out for another cage and a larger run.
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We started with two and now have 8. A pair of boars, a pair of sows and a group of 4 sows. It is a lot more work in terms of cleaning and even little things like the time it takes to ferry them all to and from their runs outside. It also costs more to feed obviously and our fridge is often too full because of squeezing their veggies in! But I'd agree it's worth it if you are prepared to be in it for the long run.

I also agree it's really nice seeing those in bigger groups interact - I would put all 6 of our sows together but the pair of sows are sisters who were rescued together and have such a lovely bond I can't bear to risk it.

I'd definitely look into fostering though as a great alternative - you get the lovely time with the piggies and they get a great home and the rescue is able to take more in potentially so wins all round.

I'm sorely tempted to take more in but I couldn't really manage any more so will stick with the 8!

I never put the different groups (of girls) together in a run - they always go in runs in the groups they live in so I'd be interested to hear if others have any views on what is best on that front.

Good luck with your choices - @Tim recommended a good large outdoor run to me recently on eBay and when I looked into it there's an even larger size of the same thing for about £45 inc postage too. I will add the thread for you that it's in.
 
The one I mentioned is currently still at £10.50 plus p&p at £10. It is 48" x 72" (122cm x 183cm) I have two of them and they love them :)
 
PiggySmitten said:
We started with two and now have 8. A pair of boars, a pair of sows and a group of 4 sows. It is a lot more work in terms of cleaning and even little things like the time it takes to ferry them all to and from their runs outside. It also costs more to feed obviously and our fridge is often too full because of squeezing their veggies in! But I'd agree it's worth it if you are prepared to be in it for the long run.

I also agree it's really nice seeing those in bigger groups interact - I would put all 6 of our sows together but the pair of sows are sisters who were rescued together and have such a lovely bond I can't bear to risk it.

I'd definitely look into fostering though as a great alternative - you get the lovely time with the piggies and they get a great home and the rescue is able to take more in potentially so wins all round.

I'm sorely tempted to take more in but I couldn't really manage any more so will stick with the 8!

I never put the different groups (of girls) together in a run - they always go in runs in the groups they live in so I'd be interested to hear if others have any views on what is best on that front.

Good luck with your choices - @Tim recommended a good large outdoor run to me recently on eBay and when I looked into it there's an even larger size of the same thing for about £45 inc postage too. I will add the thread for you that it's in.
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How big is the one for £45? Sounds like it's the same one but coated in black.
 
Tim said:
How big is the one for £45? Sounds like it's the same one but coated in black.
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It's £46.99 actually, sorry - was close! It's a Bunny Business brand with product code no. BB-452 and it's said to be 216cm x 118cm (85" x 46"). There's both black and silver listings on there I think.

The run the size you've highlighted is £40.99 buy it now price inc free delivery. Agree the £10.50 auction one is a bargain. It's a decent size too.
 
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Thanks everyone, I will have a look when I get back from work. I like rectangular runs, I used to have a triangular run and it was a nightmare to catch my previous boys when they ran into the corners, as the door in the side just wasn't big enough.
 
Good luck with whatever you decide to do! :)

I have recently added two new girls to my current pair. So I now have a group of four.

The cleaning does take longer but only by around 5 minutes longer. My cage liners need to be changed a couple of days earlier now too, but I don't really see that as a problem :) I just keep one clean set ready to just swap over.
 
ayemee said:
Good luck with whatever you decide to do! :)

I have recently added two new girls to my current pair. So I now have a group of four.

The cleaning does take longer but only by around 5 minutes longer. My cage liners need to be changed a couple of days earlier now too, but I don't really see that as a problem :) I just keep one clean set ready to just swap over.
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Do you let them out in a run together, or always keep separate?
 
I think its a work load that you adjust to. I started out with a pair of boars, adopted a single boar then another single boar who we sadly lost after an illness then took in another loan boar living in terrible conditions but he soon settled down and we introduced him to our other single and the pair fell in love so have the 2 pairs .
I currently have 14 piggies in my house at the moment as 10 (5 pairs of boars) are here on foster, they have been here for 3 weeks and will be here for another 3 and I love looking after them all
 
Wow 14, that makes 4 sound manageable! So from what I have read on here, the easiest thing would be to get another pair of sows? As unneutered boars would fight over females if they can smell them? This forum is very useful, can't believe I haven't discovered it before :nod:
 
Just be warned - I started out with the usual two piggies and now - years later - I have got two dozen (18 adopted piggies of my own and 6 as permanent fosters for a sanctuary); with my hub protesting ever since I went from two to four piggies.

They are addictive and they can creep up on you... :D

If you can go rescue and give more unwanted or neglected piggies a loving home, that would be great. Most rescues struggle to make space for more in need of knowledgeable care, so any that they can rehome to a good place are most welcome! There are good guinea pig rescues in the Bristol and Southampton area. :tu:
 
I wanted the ten together but had a sow in each group that detested each other so had to keep two seperate herds.
 
My problem is that I have a Pets at Home less than a five minute walk away and find it very easy to fall in love with the guinea pigs there. However I guess it would be more rewarding and useful to try and find some rescue piggies.
 
Clarey008 said:
My problem is that I have a Pets at Home less than a five minute walk away and find it very easy to fall in love with the guinea pigs there. However I guess it would be more rewarding and useful to try and find some rescue piggies.
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It is more rewarding. :) I didn't get my piggies from a rescue, but I believe Bacon came from a breeder(never again!) and Eggs from an accidental litter. I do wish I had rescued, however! I would love to get another boar, but I don't think that three would work out that well-especially because Eggs is just now going through puberty, and they are trying to settle their differences. In addition, I doubt my parents would allow me to get another. But in a couple of years, maybe I can convince them to get another pair...

Also, there is a poor piggy at my local pet store that has been there for months, so I understand the temptation. :))
 
Yes maybe in a couple of years if you apply subtle pressure! I will get all the equipment in and see if anything suitable comes up but at the moment there do not seem to be a pair of sows anywhere near me in need of rescue. I wouldn't mind three either but I'm not convinced it would work as the girls are so close.
 
Clarey008 said:
Yes maybe in a couple of years if you apply subtle pressure! I will get all the equipment in and see if anything suitable comes up but at the moment there do not seem to be a pair of sows anywhere near me in need of rescue. I wouldn't mind three either but I'm not convinced it would work as the girls are so close.
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Do you mean your current girls are well bonded?

My two original girls are close too. I was worried adding in the other two would change this but luckily it hasn't. I often see those two eating and exploring together still as a little duo.

The two new girls I have, before they went to the lady I got them from, were living in poor conditions. So it's very rewarding seeing them interact in a small group and popcorn around. :)
 
My first was from a home who didn't love her. She was a chore and nothing but a chore to them, so she had the minimal of care and wasn't cleaned out much, or fed fresh veggies. No enrichment and no socialisation. Though she wasn't the worst kept piggy (there are sadly many horror stories) it was bad enough for me to feel desperately sorry for her. When the family agreed to the offer of taking her off their hands. I got her with the thought that she may never grow to like humans, but she transformed over time and I saw her beautiful character blossom. She always was a little bit skittish yet the growth in confidence in her was huge and it is a very rewarding to see this, and knowing that I had saved an animal from a sad and lonely prison was wonderful. As the saying goes - you won't change the world by rescuing an animal, but you do change the world for that animal.
I have rehomed others, from loving homes, and I have bought a couple from small-scale hobby-breeders, but I was very fussy about the breeders I chose, and have no regrets. These were not back to back breeders, and all of their pigs were kept like pets.
However for me I am determined to get future piggies from a rescue, as rescues are often over-run and they (the pigs) should experience what it is to have an environment where they are loved.

I think getting another pair to live alongside yours is a lovely idea, and as others have said, with this arrangement you may find fostering very rewarding.
 
We started with 2, from a pet shop for my 2 teenage daughters, then found one living alone in a pet shop, so my daughters bought her for me. (24-hours of wild dominance behaviour till they settled down, then fine) we then added a neutered male rescue piggy, then another rescue female, and a week later another rescue piggy! (all 3 from same rescue group). As we have a C&C cage (since number 3) I kept adding to it. We have 3 floors all connected by ramps and our piggies love using the ramps. We have a large hay box on every floor as well as food & water, if you blink they've changed places and gone to another floor, except when snoozing of course.
It is more work, and depending on your current bedding you may find another option easier. We were on dust free shaving covered with hay on ground floor and fleece upper floors, but it needed a thorough clean out virtually every day as they all wee on same floor so decided it was easier with fleece /towel liners. I made a couple of extra pads to place in toilet area so these can be quickly changed every day with full change every 2 nd or 3rd day.
They live indoors and all come out into a large pen at night. It is more work than I expected, as it is more time consuming cleaning, health checking & lap time, nail clipping etc and catching them for pen time! However I am so glad they are in a little herd, they get on fairly well apart from odd little squabble, and its more interesting watching them than TV! I'm also really pleased we added the rescue piggies and have them a nice home after whatever ill treatment they had experienced before abandonment ( evidence of chewed ears, thinned coat from neglect and infestation) So pleased to see them happy! Go for it if you have the time and finance to dedicate!
 
1GuineaPig1 said:
It is more rewarding. :) I didn't get my piggies from a rescue, but I believe Bacon came from a breeder(never again!) and Eggs from an accidental litter. I do wish I had rescued, however! I would love to get another boar, but I don't think that three would work out that well-especially because Eggs is just now going through puberty, and they are trying to settle their differences. In addition, I doubt my parents would allow me to get another. But in a couple of years, maybe I can convince them to get another pair...

Also, there is a poor piggy at my local pet store that has been there for months, so I understand the temptation. :))
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We found a piggy living alone at a local pet shop so we 'rescued' her, so I know that feeling, but so glad we did! Thing is that led to rescuing another 3 from a refuge.. Lol!
 
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