How Many? How many piggies do you all have?

[FuryanGoddess]

Right now, we have two piggies... *posted some new pix of them in my profile* and there are times I think about adding number three.. he'd have to be the last.

I would kind of want a crazy haired one... but if I found a single male in need, I'd take that on.

Is it harder to go to three from two? How does it change the dynamic? Should I wait until they are older? Gumball is about 8 mos. Darwin, I'm thinking is prob about 3-4 mos old...

 

[bpatters]

Yes, it will change the dynamics, but there's no way to know how it will change until you try. They may love each other to death, they may try to kill each other, it may be something in between.

But if your other two are males, you might want to wait until they're completely through piggy adolescence before you add another one. You don't want one to be the goat of the bunch and be always picked on by the other two.

 

[FuryanGoddess]

yeah, I was worried about that. When do they usually finish the 'adolescence' period?

Also thought that it would be nice to find a big fat, older male, at least a year old, to add to the two I have. I LOVE the big piggies !

 

[bpatters]

Adolescence depends on the pig, but can last for up to two years.

 

[RubyRain]

I have 2 permanent females but have fostered a set of 3 and a single female before. Going from 2 to 3 was no big deal but going from 2 to 5 was a lot more cleaning up and hay!
Luckily they all got a long when put together. Only a few sessions of rumblestrutting and dominance games. But no biting or real fighting.

 

[cavycuddler91]

I have 10 guinea pigs. Not all in a same cage but divided into 5 cages. It takes ALOT of time daily to clean. I do poop checks twice a day. To fill waters and feed takes time and alot of money. Nail trims, boar sacs, and grooming takes more time. But giving one on one attention? I'm always holding a pig. Cage cleaning takes about 3 hours... per week. And it's LOUD. I have very vocal piggies. I also have 2 pigs that are alone because they are wild and love to start fights so they are constantly making noises and chewing their cage bars.
Did I have an easy transition? No way. I went from 2 piggies to 10 in two months. (Not intentional) However, introducing my third to my first two went very well. I gave all three of them a bath and let them free to roam in my hallway to meet. And after three hours, in the clean cage they went. They still try to figure out who's boss and chase eachother here and there.. but no fights at all. You just want to have lots of hidey spots and multiple water bottles and food dishes.

Oh, not to mention I have 5 dogs. And fostering 1. I did have two fosters but he found a home recently. So if I can have 10 guinea and 7 dogs... I bet you can adopt another piggie!
Good Luck!! <3

 

[Inle_Rabbit]

It wasn't a problem for me to go from two to three. The issues I had was the third one is not very guinea pig friendly. He seems to hate other male guinea pigs. He's such a sweetie other wise, just not very pig friendly. I have to keep him completely separated from my other two. So you may want to go to a good rescue where your pigs could meet the new guinea rather than just pick someone up from anywhere. That would be my advice. I've also been reading that males do better in even numbers rather than odds but that may be up to opinion I'm not sure.

 

[SurfingPigs]

If you are planning on adopting from a rescue I would inquire about bringing your pigs in for a meet and greet. Our rescue down here encourages this for people adding a pig to existing pig(s), and it usually helps gauge how things will generally go in the cage. Taking your pigs to meet prospective pigs (at a rescue, where prospective pigs have been quaratined) would be the best thing to do. An older boar would pair nicely with two younger boars, perhaps around 2 years old or so.

As others have said, since they are younger boars you probably still have some months ahead of you where their dynamics will change due to hormones. Adding a third pig to this mix just increases chances for spats. How big is your cage? If it is big enough (over 2x6 for 3 males IMO), then you might be able to do it. I wouldn't go smaller than a 2x7 for 3 males, especially with at least 2 likely to be going through puberty at the same time, but it all depends on the group dynamics. It can definitely be done, so don't let the prospect of sometimes-annoyed pigs dissuade you.

No matter what you do, if you choose to adopt a third, make sure you have space for an extra cage. If you adopt and the third doesn't work with the other two, you could always have them living as neighbors.

ETA: I currently have 5 piggies. 3 are my pigs (neutered boar living with 2 sows in a 4x3), and a foster mom and her daughter. Just adopted out 5 pigs in the past month, too!

 

[Squint96]

I have two; the second I got so Squint could have a friend, but it didn't work out at all. They are seperated now. I would love to get a third so Squint could have a friend. Benjamin was marked as not getting along with others at the shelter, but I couldn't resist. Do you think it is reasonable to ask for a third so Squitn has someone? My parents are against it and said, basically, I could give Benjamin back and get another, but I could never return him.

 

[sewlittle]

We went to the rescue in hopes of picking out a mate for my 2 that lost a sister. All good intentions going to the rescue ...we said...maybe 2 more that would make 4... When the girls were placed in a playpen with all the adoptable ones... My timid one got so mean and upset at 2 of them showing teeth and making alot of noise that back them into a corner ...that we had to take them out of the bin.
What was left was 3 bonded ones and a single one. the single one took to my son letting him pet her right off the bat...so of course we had to take her..and she got along with everyone. My 2 piggies picked the bonded ones and they all laid down together..it was precious...
So we are a big happy family of 6 piggies! Hubby flipped out momentarily when we started pulling them out of the laundry basket one by one that we brought them home in, but he saw how happy me and my son were...so he was on board.
the difference between 3 to 2 up to 6....is just is a matter of more poops...more food...more everything ...especially LOVE!