Such a dilemma :(

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JayceeStar

JayceeStar

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Aaah, I'm so confused, and stuck about what to do :(
Basically, I have fallen head over heels in love for Bailey (http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=53188), and I just know if I take her back to work, she won't be looked after as well as she deserves. She's been through so much and it would break my heart to not see her again. The piggies are very well looked after at my work, but when they get ill, that's when things go downhill - and Bailey is very vulnerable after everything, and it still undergoing trteatment for her infection in her wound.
I currently have my 4 sows in a P@H Summer lodge, and they will be joined by my boar Buddy, when he has been neutered.
Basically, I don't know what to do, as I want to keep Bailey, but I don't think the hutch is big enough for 6 pigs.
Bailey currently lives with 2 sows, Betty and Bubbles, and has done for about a year. There is no way I can keep all 3, so I have a hard decision to make...do I take all 3 back to work together, or do I take Betty and Bubbles back, and bond Bailey with my girls?
I don't want her to have to leave her friends, but I really don't know what's best for her, as I know that living with me, she'll be spoilt. She gets on with my girls, as they all go out in the run together, so I don't think bonding will be a problem.
I'm stuck with the dilemma of, Is my hutch big enough (which I honestly don't think it is :() and the fact that I leave for uni on Saturday. I'll be home every 4-6 weeks, my mum is looking after the pigs and rabbits while I'm gone.

Basically, I don't want to take Bailey back to work, I love her like my own pig now, but don't think I can have 6 guineas in my hutch, and don't know if seperating her from her friends and putting her with my girls is the right thing to do :(
Just after some opinions really! Sorry for the long post!
 
Ooh, that is a dilemma :{...I can see how you have become so attached to her. I really don't know what to suggest though. Its a tough decision.
Sorry I can't help you more. I hope you come to a conclusion soon.
 
Hutch dimensions are:

144.8cm Wide
57.2cm Deep
122cm High

So basically, it's just a tiny, tiny bit smaller than 5x2ft, and that's a double decker hutch - so it's like two 5x2's onto of each other :)

They are out everyday when possible, for at least 5 hours, so not in their hutch all day.
 
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Very tough decision, I would let my heart rul over my head and keep her but see what everyone else thinks. Is she really close to the other two?
 
helen105281 said:
Very tough decision, I would let my heart rul over my head and keep her but see what everyone else thinks. Is she really close to the other two?
Click to expand...

I haven't noticed them being particularly close...she's always been the odd one of the three, when out in the run she socialises with all the pigs, but whenever she's put back in her hutch with the other two after her medication, she purrs and sniffs them...so I'm not really sure what sort of relationship they have!
 
That doesn't sound like she is that close, Johnny was like that with the female he was originally paired with at the rescue. I would keep her but I am a sucker for a sob story.
 
As 5ftx2ft is big enough for three pigs and you have double that for the piggies as well as outdoor space I don't see the hutch size as a problem. Have you tried Bailey in with your girls yet? - if they don't accept her then your decision is made for you.

Personally I wouldn't be able to return her either after all the care and bonding you two have been through together. Easy enough just not to return her and if your boss asks (I doubt he'll even notice she's not there) you can say that she passsed away after all. Change her name so you don't talk about Bailey any more and who's going to know the difference!

Suzy x
 
As you have two 2x5 ft levels, you should be OK with four guinea pigs.

I agree with Suzy - I would keep her on! I would try her on with your two sows and see how it goes.

PS: The rumbling is just a greeting - with a hint of dominance...
 
bit confused. How many piggies do you have at the moment? if you keep bailey and bond with your herd how many? is the 6 keeping her 2 friends too or just Bailey?
 
ok just reread it'll be 6 pigs without the friends. if they all get on ok and get plenty of floor time then it should be ok. In the end it's so much better for Bailey to stay with you even if they have to compromise on space you can always look to get a bigger cage in the future or maybe make 2 herds and get another one in future. Keep her. :)
 
Cgilchrist said:
ok just reread it'll be 6 pigs without the friends. if they all get on ok and get plenty of floor time then it should be ok. In the end it's so much better for Bailey to stay with you even if they have to compromise on space you can always look to get a bigger cage in the future or maybe make 2 herds and get another one in future. Keep her. :)
Click to expand...

Just realised how confusing my post is! Yes, I currently have 5 pigs of my own, plus Bailey and her 2 friends. So, if I keep Bailey, i will have 6 of my own. They get floortime everyday, most of the time in a 8ftx8ft run in the garden :)
 
I too think you should keep Bailey.

Converting your measurements to sq feet means each level is 9 sq ft. If you allow 1sq ft for the ramp then you still have 17sq ft & 6 pigs should have a minimum of 16sq ft which means your hutch is perfect. :)
 
Tis up to you at the end of the day, but i'd say go for it, it sounds like you both have a strong bond together, and you could give her a loving home where she would recieve lots of love and attention, hope you come to a conclusion soon and keep us updated!:))
 
...

BAILEY IS STAYING!

I was up all night thinking about it, and cried my eyes out this morning just at the thought of having to say goodbye. We've been through so much together and watching her get better has been an amazing experience. Even the vet said we seemed to have a special bond :) So, in the space of 6 months, I've gone from 2 pigs to 6. Ooops.
But they mean the world to me and I wouldn't be without any of them :)
Thankyou everybody for all your support with Bailey and her illness, it really has helped more than words can say!
 
Glad you have decided to keep Bailey - makes sense if she gets on with your lot :))

I hope your mum likes looking after the piggies if you're off to Uni. Does she know about looking for signs of illness etc?
The only reason I say is cos a few years ago my mum had to look after my pigs as I had a houseshare that wouldn't let me have pets. Unfortunately my mum didn't notice that my pig Carrot wasn't eating and when I went home to visit after a month he was as thin as can be. So, make sure your mum knows what to look for xx>>> xx
 
Yes my mum is very good - when I went on holiday last weekend she gave Bailey her meds all weekend :) She's seen how much of a worry I am over them and she's always watching them when out in their run and getting them out for a cuddle!
 
I had a feeling she's end up living with you ;) You've made the right decision, putting so much time into getting her better, has built a really strong bond between you..
Marbles used to be a nervous piggie until she was ill, and all that handling, changed her into a stable, happy piggie, and she became really laid back ;) I think Bailey feels really comfy with you, and uprooting her would have put her back into uncertainty..
A home for life... that's what she's got :)
 
Thinking about it though was there really any other decision you could have made seeing as the 2 of you have been through so much together. Very glad your'e keeping her. :))
 
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