More than one piggie?

[shell29]

Do I need to have more than one piggie at the time? I don't want it to be lonely or sad (silly huh), do I need to get them at the same time? I am new at this.

 

[DocDolittle]

Guinea pigs are very social animals, and a buddy of the same sesx is often the answer to a happy pig. What gender is yur pig? How big is her cage?

 

[shell29]

Guinea pigs are very social animals, and a buddy of the same sesx is often the answer to a happy pig. What gender is yur pig? How big is her cage?

I have not got the pig yet. I am getting it at the end of March (still pregnant a friend is giving it to me). I am making a cage for it that is 2 x 4 will that be big enough for two pigs. I hope to have females.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

No, it's not silly to want what's best for your piggies. If you haven't gotten any piggies yet, you should opt to adopt instead of buying from a pet store. There are literally hundreds of pigs in shelters and rescues that need homes. Many of these pigs are already in same sex pairs.

You don't necessarily have to get them at the same time. If you do that's great, but if you can't then when you get the second pig you will need to keep it in a separate cage in separate room for 3 weeks for quarantine. That way if either are sick, the signs will generally show up within that time frame.

If you are considering getting pigs (I don't know if you have any yet) please build them a c&c cage. They don't cost a fortune and are easy to make.

 

[shell29]

No, it's not silly to want what's best for your piggies. If you haven't gotten any piggies yet, you should opt to adopt instead of buying from a pet store. There are literally hundreds of pigs in shelters and rescues that need homes. Many of these pigs are already in same sex pairs.

You don't necessarily have to get them at the same time. If you do that's great, but if you can't then when you get the second pig you will need to keep it in a separate cage in separate room for 3 weeks for quarantine. That way if either are sick, the signs will generally show up within that time frame.

If you are considering getting pigs (I don't know if you have any yet) please build them a c&c cage. They don't cost a fortune and are easy to make.

I am getting them from a friend who just bred her female and she is giving it to me for free. I am not buying them. I am funny about buying animals because there are too many out there that need homes, there is no sense in me buying one when I can give one a home. Plus I am sick about the way people bred animals in mills just to make money. I would rather adopt but a friend offered me one. I can probably get two from her though. I am confused about how to determine the gender though and I do not want to bred.

 

[DocDolittle]

Well, can I say two things? First, please do your best to stop your friend from breeding, have her look at https://cavyspirit.com/breeding.htm. And also, to look at sexing, look at this page https://cavyspirit.com/breeding.htm. More recommended reading: https://cavyspirit.com/sociallife.htm

 

[Ly&Pigs]

That would be https://cavyspirit.com/sexing.htm for sexing them. (Doc you had it wrong there)

At least your going to give two pigs that might otherwise go to a shelter/rescue a home. I am glad you want to get a pair. I love sows. I have 4 of them myself in a 3x4 with a loft. I agree about asking your friend not to breed. Does she realize the risk she is putting her sow in by letter her be pregnant? I do hope all goes well for it hurts me to read stories of pregnant sows dying trying to deliver or dying by getting toxemia.

I really commend you for coming here first and learning about cavy care before you get them. I think you will make a great piggie mom/dad.

 

[shell29]

I honestly don't think she has read anything about the risk and her boss convinced her to breed with her male. I will give her the web sites and let her look. I will never breed that is why I wanted to know how to determine the sex of the pig so I don't end up with two piggies of the opposite sex. I read the complications and I would NEVER put an animal in danger like that. I can not find any shelters in my area to adopt guinea pigs either. The nearest place was Atlanta. I am a good and loving pet owner that would never mistreat an animal. My dog is nuetered and my dove is only in a cage because she would die in the wild (we rescued her from dying alone and starving in a cage). So I would love to adopt a guinea pig.

 

[shell29]

Thank you. I will be a piggie mom.

 

[pennick]

If you are thinking of having 2 pigs and your friend will give you 2 pigs, definately take 2 from her. It will be much easier for you down the road. These 2 will come from the same family, hopefully get along and will be healthy. Otherwise you will have to look for the same sex, or have the male neutered and hope they get along and then quarantine them, then if new one is sick or has mites you will have to take to vet. Much easier to just take the two.

 

[shell29]

I looked at the page for determining sex. I still am not sure I will be able to correctly determine their sexes. Maybe she will but I am not sure. I hope so. She will probably give me two because two of the other people who wanted one from her changed their minds already. Sad because pets can be such a joy.

 

[Piglet]

You could always just take them to a vet if you are not sure. Give them a check up while you're there

 

[dagwellismypigy]

If you are getting a preggo pig, you don't need to get her a friend. Most likely there will be a female baby or multiple female. If there are males you need to seperate them at 3 weeks so no other pigs get pregnant

 

[Amanda]

From experience, I know you will end up wanting more than one. I started out just saying that I only wanted one and now have four. They are the best pets I have ever had. Very loving, tidy for the most part, and cute as a button! I wish I had room to have a dozen, but four is definately the limit (maybe )

 

[Ly&Pigs]

Dagwell, I believe she is getting two babies from her friends piggie that is currently pregnant and is due to have the babies in March.

 

[dagwellismypigy]

I have not got the pig yet. I am getting it at the end of March (still pregnant a friend is giving it to me). I am making a cage for it that is 2 x 4 will that be big enough for two pigs. I hope to have females.

This is why I thought she was getting a pregnant pig.

 

[Ly&Pigs]

I can see where people can get confused by that statement.

 

[dagwellismypigy]

well i feel stupid. more so than usual. lol

 

[rabbitsncavyluv]

Not really. I wouldn't take in purposely bred piggies. It makes it too easy for the breeder and encourages them to breed more. You can adopt two from a rescue or shelter. How do you know the breeder's pigs aren't sick?

If you are thinking of having 2 pigs and your friend will give you 2 pigs, definately take 2 from her. It will be much easier for you down the road. These 2 will come from the same family, hopefully get along and will be healthy. Otherwise you will have to look for the same sex, or have the male neutered and hope they get along and then quarantine them, then if new one is sick or has mites you will have to take to vet. Much easier to just take the two.