Size: Pig Limit per cage!

[Biscuit]

The front page of guinea pig cages has long been my guide (before I even noticed there were forums) on cage size. However, now I have exceeded 4 female pigs living together.

Is there such a thing as too many females in a cage together, providing they all get along, each have multiple hidies, tons of space, multiple hay lofts and water bottles?

I'm not looking to be a hoarder or anything. At this point I sort of let the influx of senior/special needs pigs in desperate need that seem like a fit for our herd dictate how many we have. We have a 6 year old, 5 year old, and four year old, with another not far behind.

I would think not, I can't think of any negatives to having a herd together. That said, what would the square footage requirement be for 5 females. What about 6, 7, and 8?

[i-love-nev]

No I think more then that would be fine. After all they are herd animals. As for sizes . . . Give me 2 minutes to work this out. Lol.

[Ly&Pigs]

I've always had a large herd of sows. From 5-7. Basically for sows you start with a 2x3 for 1-2 then add on an extra 1x2 space for each additional sow. So for example if you have 2 in a 2x3 and add 2 more, you'd need a 2x5 or 2x6.

[i-love-nev]

Judging on the sizes on the home page.

5 pigs - 2x7 so that would be 14 grids floor space (if you get what I mean)
6 pigs - 2x8 - 16 grids floor space
7 pigs - 2x9 - 18 grids floor space
8 pigs - 2x10 - 20 grids floor space

Of course a 3x5 would be better then a 2x7 (more floor space)
and a 3x6 would be better then a 2x8 because again there is more floor space. So on and so forth.

Hope this helps.

[Pumpkin_RIP]

The only drawback for me, personally, to having a ton of pigs, is that I just don't have time for each one individually. But for some people that doesn't bother them. You must have a lot of extra space for all those piggies!

[newpiggiemommy]

How many pigs does it take to eat all the grass on a one acre plot of land? No just kidding! My mom said if I get any more piggies I could sell the riding mower! LOL

I have my 4 girls in a 2x4 with a 2x2 loft! I guess I need to add on again!

[Biscuit]

I have 3 floors, each 3.5X4 (spaces between the grids) grids. They get up speed on the ramps and by circling the floors. I couldn't go out more than 4 grids to the side unfortunately...so I went up.

They also get out for hours upon hours nearly every day and take over the living room. It takes 3 midwest pens with using an entire wall, but it's worth it. Even the oldest still popcorn and sprint about.

As for individual time...the ones that seem to enjoy it get more of it for sure. 5 days a week at least I take each pig out of the cage and hold them on the couch, check their feetsies, pet them, hand feed them romaine, etc. Then the pigdad does the same when I'm not around. He works from home and they sit in his home office next to his computer desk. It's great. He takes breaks and plays with them throughout the day. He gets a towel and puts the calm ones on his desk between his arms while he works and feeds them veggies. Sometimes they type emails. We put them on the fridge!

These are the two we've been looking at for months: Adopt Lizzy & Izzy - Guinea Pig Small&Furry

[Jenni_Feathers]

As long as the cage is big enough and everyone gets along I don't think there would really be a maximum amount of pigs to put in one cage, I know there is a member here, I haven't seem her on in a while, but she had 12 Guinea Pigs in one cage, granted her cage is huuuuge but I don't think she had any problems. They were a bunch of females and a neutered male.

For males though I doubt you could get by with more than 4-5 in a cage becuase of fighting.

[pigsforlife]

Someone over on GL, has 18 females together with no problems.

[Biscuit]

Adopt Lizzy & Izzy - Guinea Pig Small&Furry

They are so cute! I'm owned. I know I linked it already, but no one commented on their ultimate cuteness so I'm going to have to link it again obviously.

I'm going tomorrow to cavy care to see them. It's odd that I've never been there, I've had a bunch of stuff off their donation list forever but have had communication issues (phone tag) for months.

I've thought about starting a rescue, but somehow the real gap seems to be responsible pet owners who adopt rescues and keep them for life.

[pigdad]

Over a year later..

regarding Biscuit's post: we have 8 rescue pigs living on a 3-floor pig-mansion. based on past replies and our own reading, we've given them 33.75 sq feet to roam on a daily basis (more than previously recommended). they still get floor time, select pigs get nightly "kitchen service" (all they can eat vegetables while I prepare the big veggie platter for the rest) and they all get 10+ hours of livingroom floor run-around time every 7-10 days. they live as a herd, all females, do not fight and appear to share the numerous fleece cozies and pillows quite well.

the question is that of pure math =) 8 pigs, 33.75 sq feet. is that at least the recommended space or better? what is the general consensus on pig/sq ft living arrangements these days?

[Ly&Pigs]

Nice to see you on the forum. Tell Biscuit hello for me please.

Is the main level that square footage or the whole cage? Generally you don't count upper levels as square footage.

Here's how I figure things out for sows. Start with a 2x3 and add another 1x2 section for each added pig. So for 8 you would need a 2x9 (or any configuration meeting a 2x9 as a main level).

For anyone else reading this and wanting to know for boars, it would start with a 2x4 instead of a 2x3 and then add another 1x2 for each boar.

[Myspoiltpiggies]

Edited - Just realised this is a very old thread. so what I wrote doesn't really apply anymore!