IF we were considering a third piggie...

[homeschoolmama]

...and I'm not saying that we are yet, we're just kind of chewing the idea over right now... what are the differences in going from 2 boys to 3? I don't care about the financial part, I don't mind more frequent pickups for food & such. I mean everything else!

- What are the social dynamics like with 3 versus 2?
- How difficult is it to integrate a 3rd male into a cage with two VERY dominant males?
- What age piggie would we be looking for? (our boys are 5 - 5 1/2, and almost 2)
- Would our 2x5 cage (with two 1x2 upper levels) be enough? Not just barely, but comfortably? And if not, what would be better/ideal? I think if we rearrange a little, we could fit a 2x6 in their current spot... but no larger.
- Do we need to have 3 of everything, like we have 2 of everything now?
- What are the problems that I don't know about, having never owned 3?
- What are the perks that I can't imagine?
- And am I missing anything else that I should be asking???

My husband mentioned this morning that if we're adding on to the cage anyway, this would be a good time to look at upgrading the size & maybe pick up a third piggie. I hadn't really thought about a third piggie before, but maybe it's worth considering after all?

Thanks so much You all are the greatest I love having somewhere to come & pester people with my millions of questions, and not have them mind too much!

[DocDolittle]

Would our 2x5 cage (with two 1x2 upper levels) be enough? Not just barely, but comfortably? And if not, what would be better/ideal? I think if we rearrange a little, we could fit a 2x6 in their current spot... but no larger.

Frankly, I think that with boys, a 2x5 should be for two boys and a 2x6 for three. I'm upgrading our boy's cage to a 3x6 just so they have the added width, because I think that the smaller width is what makes it hardest for them to get along at times. Your cage right now sounds exactly like mine, soI think a 2x6 would be best, but it really depends on what you think. Right now I'm also trying to convince my parents to let me nab up a little boy from our local rescue, so I'm very interested in this thread too.

[aqh88]

Unless you have very submissive docile boys that get along great I wouldn't go less than a 2x6 for 3.
3 boys might get along even better since there will not be 1 bully or 1 submissive pig but everything will be more spread out. You could also end up introducing a bully, having the new one get beat up by the other 2, or ruining the relationship your current pigs have. Can't say but most of the time provided you have enough space things work out better than they were instead of worse and everybody is happier.
With very dominant males it could be a nightmare to add another or it could go along just fine. It depends how much they like the other guinea pig. When I added Peppermint to my group of girls Rolo, the most dominant one, picked on her nonstop for weeks but when I added Maple they all just accepted her and acted like she'd always been there. Boys usually have to go through more chattering and rumbling than girls but it's much the same. Sometimes it goes fine and sometimes it turns into a death match. It helps to introduce slowly. Start with a barrier between them and work your way to putting 1 with the new one at a time and eventually both.
The more of everything you have the less fights are likely to break out. You don't always need 1 per guinea pig but it depends on your guinea pigs and I would at least give them 1 house per pig. About the only problems with 3 once you get them introduced and getting along is more space, more food, and more poops. Guinea pigs are happier the more company they have and tend to be more active when there are more especially when that includes more space. You do have to watch out for individual personality clashes but overall everyone is happier with more friends.

[C&K]

Would it be possible to expand out? to a 3x5 as opposed to a 2x6? That would give a lot more room. I don't have boars so take my advice with a grain of salt, but I have read manytimes that they are better off with more then one for each pig. So you are best off to have 4 water bottles, 4 food dishes, 4 hidyhouses. As you can see, the extra width really helps with this.

If they are very strongly bonded and dominant, I think there is a good chance for fighting. I would go with a really young submissive baby boar that perhaps they can feel protective off and not threatened by. A rescue would be your best bet to help you out with matching up pigs. Someone who really knows their pigs well. I am going to 3 girls, but my two seem pretty relaxed, and are not closely bonded. Girls are also just easier!

[homeschoolmama]

Would it be possible to expand out? to a 3x5 as opposed to a 2x6?

Ummm, I really don't know. My living room is 13x21, and we've already got 2 bookshelves, a shoe rack & bench, sofa & loveseat, 3 small tables & a coffee table, the entertainment center, the computer desk, a school desk, an exercise bike & a 5' tall suit of armor in here along with the 2x5 cage. And it's an open floor-plan, which means one entire "wall" is not there; it's open to the dining room & kitchen. We're really at capacity as far as furniture. I could make a 2x6 by sliding the armor & bike farther out, but to make a 3x5 I'm not sure we'd have room to get to the bookshelves anymore.

(sigh) maybe a 3rd piggie isn't a good idea for us right now. The boys are bonded so well, I'd hate to run the risk of breaking that bond and I really don't know that we have the room to expand the cage enough. Guess it'll have to wait 'til we build in 2 years.

[C&K]

Ummm, I really don't know. My living room is 13x21, and we've already got 2 bookshelves, a shoe rack & bench, sofa & loveseat, 3 small tables & a coffee table, the entertainment center, the computer desk, a school desk, an exercise bike & a 5' tall suit of armor in here along with the 2x5 cage. And it's an open floor-plan, which means one entire "wall" is not there; it's open to the dining room & kitchen. We're really at capacity as far as furniture. I could make a 2x6 by sliding the armor & bike farther out, but to make a 3x5 I'm not sure we'd have room to get to the bookshelves anymore.

I hear you. My living room is 20x10, and I have an inherited china cabinet taking up at least 18" along the the wall, so it is more like 18.5x10. We have an entertainment unit, two chairs, couch, 2 coffee tables. We now have a 3x4.5 table housing our guinea pig cage in there too. The really sucky part is it serves as our only real living space and play space for the kids. My two little ones share a bedroom that is 7x9 feet, so after crib dresser and bed, not much room to play.

[suzilovespiggie]

I have 3 boars. When my oldest, 2 years old, lost his cagemates, he was heartbroken. I got him a 6 wk old little guy. He was so happy and they bonded and did so well together. Later, when the little guy was 5 months old I was in a shelter that had another little guy, who was 3 months old and needed a home. I took him home along with an older female.
After quarintine I put a petition in my boys cage (I have a 3 x 5 ). and let them all smell and talk to each other for a week. Then on a Sat. everything in the cage was washed and we put them all back in. Legelas, my 2 year old, just stayed out of it. He is so submissive and laid back. The other 2 boys. Peppi, 5 mths. and Poncho 3 mths.
did all the boys things. There was no fighting and no drawing blood. It took about 3 hours and then everything settled down with a plate of veggies. They are now all best of friends. Peppi, is the dominant pig of my 3. He doesn't show it much though.
I also have 3 sows who all live together and they are fine together too.
Six, is my limit, as I cannot go up in cage sizes. My front room also houses 3 big dog crates for my dogs.
Best of wishes to whatever you decide.

[porkchopsmom]

If I could have another piggy I would get a girl since I have 2 already. Porkchop is now around 7 months and Applesauce is just over 1 yr. I would have to name her Cheese Cake so I could have my dessert too.