how many guinea pigs?

[hibiscuslightening]

I would like to get some guinea pigs but lots has changed since I had them as a child ( when we were told to stick them in an outdoor hutch with a rabbit...). I would like to keep them in a light, airy but unheated outhouse... ( can always bring them inside in very cold weather...). I am looking at building a bespoke enclose as the space I have available is 60cm x 160 cm. But is this big enough? If it is, then how many piggies do you think we should get?

I like the idea of 3 so if something happens to one we are not left with a lonely one.

Also would we need to squirrel proof the shed? ( LOTS of grey squirrels here)

When you say light airy outhouse do you mean like a dog kennel run or chicken run type thing or an unheated building?
They would be fine in a hutch outside in summer but would need somewhere inside in the winter. If it's an outhouse with the potential to put an electric heater in that would be ideal.
You would need to proof it against foxes, squirrels and rats.
I had 3 and they had a great time together.

Its an out- building (glorified shed)- with power, but I can’t really heat it.There is a heated room next door but it is rather dark but they could move in there or indoors in cold weather. Its definitely fox proof, but I know the squirrels sometimes get in the rafters. Hmmm, a chicken wire ceiling me thinks?

In Old Money (for I am ancient ) 60x160cm is about 2'x5'2"

That would be minimum for 3 guineas.
But I would say (IMO) that is way too small. Two at a pinch.

My guineas had a indoor cage 4'x2' that was only used for sleeping (up to 2 hogs) or quarentining a new pair or a going steril boar .

My Pighouse was about 6'6" x 6'6" and I had 5 at one stage . We had to divide the space with C&C barriers and each group had a big sleeping areas ( rabbit hutch on the floor with a door cut out and one of those plastic garden cushion trunks with 2 doors cut out) . They were open to the floor space for each group.

They do use the space , just for pootling.
I liked the playhouse . DD and I could go in, nearly stand up There was a light, a fan, I had a little heater . Two of the windows could be removed , the space was re-inforced with bars/chickenwire and mesh- to keep out flies, foxes ,insects .

The heated dark room may be fine in colder weather if its completely dry . (They cannot cope with damp ) . They'll burrow in the hay anyway . Can you put some light in there? Even a rechargeable low level one ?

Squirrels are destructive with wires and chew wood etc. We had one in our garden and it is fearless .
If they do chew then rats and mice can get in. They'll steal the pigs food . I don't know if a rat would go for a guinea , but piggies are extremely timid .
Be aware , there's a bacteria in wild mouse pee that can affect pigs . I had a healthy big boar die very suddenly ( he had vet treatment , subcutaneous infusions , hand feeding , the lot ) He had a sudden attack of the runs (liquid). When I contacted the Rescue (to tell them that he'd gone ) they had a sow with the same symptoms .
My two sows didn't get anything and I dont think the Rescues other pigs did. Not sure what caused it , but my digging brought the mouse pee .

Can you enlarge to space to give you enough for 3 pigs?
Three sows are lovely ( but they can be territorial)
Two boars ( don't keep a boar trio , it is hard work)
Or a neutered boar (only one in a group) and a couple of sows .
Boars are lovely . Gentle , cuddly , soppy .
We've had a couple of soppy sows but mainly they are looking for the next World Domination Project .
We've had two neutered and two entire boars (at different times) all lovely .

You'll need good dry storage for hay and newspapers too .

Good Luck

Thank you, I might be able to extend to 2.20 but I am a bit stuck for width... and I wouldn’t be able to move such a large cage around for the cold. I’d have to have a second smaller sleeping cage for cold weather use... Both spaces are completely dry though. I’d have a good sized run for the grass/kitchen too.

Plenty of food for thought.

We have a two storey cage for three pigs, it's 8sq feet down stairs and 6 sq feet upstairs, I wouldn't go smaller than that.

We have a boar trio, two ten week old siblings and an elderly pig, it's unusual that they bond as well as ours have. Ours squabble a bit but often fights with boars can be very bad.