Piggy Size?

[Citychicktoo]

Hi everyone! My husband and I were having a chat about piggies and size.
Does any know the largest size a guinea has even been? Our are average size.

[cavy-cool-crazy]

I've heard of some domesticated piggies to grow to 4lb. Most average at 2-3lb.

However, there are wild piggies, or Cuyes, which are kept for food in some area of the world, and they *reportedly* have weighed up to 6lb.

In terms of length, most domestic piggies are just short of one foot, but cuyes can be nearly twice the length of a domesticated piggy. I'll see if I can find the link about cuyes for you.

[suzilovespiggie]

Are cuyes a type of pig or a cousin? Have not heard of them before.

[aqh88]

2-3lbs is pretty normal, 4lbs is possible, and then there's the genetically modified super cavies that I have heard can be 7lbs. I believe they were meant to be used as a food source but a few have found their way into petstores. There's a thread somewhere on guinealynx with pics of the 6 and 7lb guinea pigs but I can't find it again. I think there is only 1 group of wild guinea pigs still left in Peru.

[cavywench]

Cuyes usually refers to guinea pigs that are used for food.

[DrkSilence13]

My first piggie I ever had weighed 4.5 lbs. She was REALLY big compared to Midnight. She wasn't too fat either. She was just a big girl.

[citronsoul]

This is an older thread about large pigs. It's got links & pictures of cuy/cuyes along with comparisons to regular pigs. They're still bred in the Netherlands & Germany.

http://cavycages.com/forum/showthread.php?t=11667

[Ly&Pigs]

I believe the correct spelling is Cuy.

[pink_cottonball]

I've never heard of these "larger piggies...this makes me think of something I've been meaing to ask, what is the average piggie size, adult boars? don't know why I mad that face guess that today is just a good day...

[Citychicktoo]

Thanks for all the information. I appricate it. ....Guniea pigs used for food!...Tell me it's not true.......

[cavy-cool-crazy]

Pink, the average size for adult pigs is 2-3.5lb. Most of mine, including one adult boar (neutered, which I guess makes a difference), weigh just under 3lb.

[Katie]

Yes, guinea pigs are used for food. What's wrong with it? Cows, sheep, goats, chickens, pigs, turkeys, rabbits, ducks and other animals are kept as pets by some people and others see them as food.

[ScottandDebbie]

Off Topic for a sec or two....
One of the reason I don't eat meat. I can't stand the thought of eating another living creature. I even have a difficult time wearing leather shoes.
I am so *bizarre* that I don't even kill ants, or spiders. If they get in my house... I do the "capture and release" technique. Ants are a bit of a challenge though. Citrus Essences, and some spices seem to help.

(Just a me thing)

We have a 4.1 pound cavy. He really doesn't look that much larger than our other boys, but when you pick him up... you are amazed how heavy he is. Even our vet was surprised and re-weighted him.

He has lots of loose skin. Maybe because he is an older gentleman. He's not fat, just strangely heavy. Larry, my *big* boy.

[Lisser]

That big boy is a very adorable big boy!!!

[ScottandDebbie]

Well thank you Lisser.
We think Larry is pretty adorable too.

Larry happens to be one of Teresa's rescue piggies from "CavySpirit", that we were *blessed* with only a few months ago, as was Oscar also. They were cage buddies, so we took them both.

I can't imagine anyone giving up Larry and Oscar.
But we have them now, and we are giving them a very nice home, with lots of good care, and tons of love. <grin>

[Ly&Pigs]

What an adorable PEW.

In Peru, guinea pigs are raised and used as food. It happens in other countries but not on so large a scale.

[smoot]

Don't google "cuy". I think someone warned us before but I really wanted to know more about these guys. Now I have to go dig my eyes out with a spoon...