Diet: two smaller eating areas or just one large one

[Kareen]

When multiple guinea pigs are sharing a cage is it better to have two smaller feeding areas (to prevent fighting or having one or more piggy "dominate" the area or is one large feeding area ok.

As I posted earlier, we have recently adopted two now 7 week old sows and their mother (not sure about age, probably a little over a year). They have a 2x5 C&C cage and I'm trying to work out the kinks of their new living arrangements. Presently they have a largish litter pan with Carefresh, lots of hay and a bowl of pellets. It's also somewhat covered by a small loft area so the girls hang out there and feel safe. There are no pees outside the litter pan and very few poos. I'm very proud of them!!

I hear a little bit of squeaking coming from in there every now and then and one baby pig or another hops out. I think the mommy is showing them who's boss.

I was hoping to expand the kitchen area to 1X2 and fill it with litter and hay and make the rest of the cage fleece, a couple of toys/hidey houses and "jogging track"!! It would make clean up easier and leave them more playing room. I'm just concerned that only having one eating area will cause them some problems. SO (sorry for the long-winded explanation ) is one large area ok or is it better for them to have two smaller ones? Thanks!!

[akstrohm]

It really depends on your pigs. Mine are fine with one. If you notice them fighting or that one pig is getting blocked from the food, then you'll want two.

[rabbitsncavyluv]

With three pigs, I'd have at least two of everything.

[JD In Van]

With boars two seperate eatting areas seems to be best even if they do get along. I'm not so sure about sows but my boys will horde and hog their favorite food items when ever they can.

[lissie]

I have 3 boars in a 2x6 cage with two 1x2 hay lofts. It seems to work better for them because one of the pigs doesn't like to share.
I keep pellets dishes in separate ends of the cage so the food source is spread around the cage and noone can hog all the food.

[Kareen]

Thanks for the quick replies! I'm wondering though if spreading the food out makes it more difficult for them to have good litter habits. Do you put each bowl of pellets in a smaller litter box?

[lissie]

Well.. My boys were never good at using litter boxes, and I have given up trying. I just have the pellets dishes under the loft. Maybe you'll be more successful with litter training.

[JD In Van]

My boys pee in their houses not close to their food. I put their litter boxes under their hidies.