Are Ramps Safe?

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Jessmacg

Jessmacg

Junior Guinea Pig
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Hi there,
Haven't been on here in a while. Our four piggies spend about half the year in the hutch in the garden and when it starts to get cold we bring them in for the winter. We don't have a lot of space in our home which is why we put them outside when the weather is nice and not only is their hutch massive, they also have the garden to run around in. One year the babies (not really babies anymore the younger ones are 2 and a half) got quite ill in the winter which is why we bring them inside when it gets cold, the area they have is a lot smaller (still enough for four piggies) but I'd rather them not get ill.

Any way the point I am getting at, is that I'm getting ready to bring them in for the winter as its quickly approaching and thinking of splashing out of a C and C cage (as appose to the make shift pen they had last year). I've read up on the cages but I am trying to decide whether its a good idea to include another level with a ramp. I've read that ramps are a bad idea as it can damage their backs, however a lot of people seem to have ramps in their cages. Any advice? Has anyone heard this before?

Thanks for your help guys!
 
Guinea Pigs aren't natural climbers. Some take to ramps - others aren't so keen. The important thing is to make sure your ramp is safe. Here are some examples ..


my ramp tunnel.webp
My ramp ( complete with ramp tunnel)

Gimz - ramp 9.webp Guttering Ramp ( photo courtesy of @Gimz )

) BossHogg ramp.webp Guttering Ramp - photo courtesy of @BossHogg

PiggySmitten - ramp and poos (2).webp
Ramp Tunnel - Photo Courtesy of @PiggySmitten
 
Bookmarking this.

I have got spare carpet, but won't the pigs chew the edges and nibble on the fluff?

I need to do some work on my new 6ft double level hutch in the shed this weekend. Now that I finally have access to a shed the pigs will be moving into it this winter! I'm sure my babies will master the ramp with no problems; Lilith will probably work it out too. I can see my boar Brunel not really being very keen. I've got a couple of ramp tunnels on order with C&E cosies, so hopefully they'll arrive soon and give him the confidence to give the ramp a go.
 
I took the big chunky plastic feet off a sofa that was getting put in a skip, its raised the foot of my ramp by 4" not too high for the piggies but made a massive difference to the angle! ;)
 
Great idea having the ramp down into the litter tray.

Think I'd need to add a brick to it underneath the audboise to stop them shoving the litter tray around. Mine do like to re-arranged their furniture!
 
PiggyOwner said:
Guinea Pigs aren't natural climbers. Some take to ramps - others aren't so keen. The important thing is to make sure your ramp is safe. Here are some examples ..


View attachment 53448
My ramp ( complete with ramp tunnel)

View attachment 53449 Guttering Ramp ( photo courtesy of @Gimz )

) View attachment 53450 Guttering Ramp - photo courtesy of @BossHogg

View attachment 53451
Ramp Tunnel - Photo Courtesy of @PiggySmitten
Click to expand...
I see poop, out with the dustbin & brush
:yahoo:
 
Tewdric said:
Great idea having the ramp down into the litter tray.

Think I'd need to add a brick to it underneath the audboise to stop them shoving the litter tray around. Mine do like to re-arranged their furniture!
Click to expand...
I had to use my old ramps from my last hutch which was much smaller, once I put the fourth level in, I'm buying a new length of guttering to put longer even gentler ramps in. The shorter ramps have been a stopgap. ;)
 
The key is actually a bit of ramp training. You do not necessarily need a roof / cover for the ramp, but you definitely need sides. My guttering ramp in the picture above is relatively steep, however the carpet tile velcroed to it enables their feet and claws to grip safely and they can actually charge up and down it very quickly. Initially i put a trail of food up the ramp for the more adventurous ones to explore of their own accord.... and up they went. However two of mine were much more shy. So I took to picking them up and plonking them on the ramp half way up with food at the top and I stayed on hand to help with panicking piggies making sure they didn't jump sidewards! After a few attempts they could all get up and down slowly, though they tended to stay together in one cage area or another for a while. Pretty soon though they were charging around to their hearts content!
 
I went to the hutch this afternoon and wondered why the piggies weren't out raiding the buns hutch as they usually do, Sadie had pulled a load of hay into the opening to the ramp, (see my top picture) and decided to park her bum and wouldn't move despite getting chattered at by the other 3 as they were missing valuable eating time! I've since dismantled her nest and all 4 are back to doing zoomies all round the hutch! :))
 
Mine love their ramps and use them all the time. The one to the outside has one of the log tunnels over the end as the sides stop a bit short. I cover them with strips of the vet bed that were trimmed off the cage pieces that were too wide, this has rubber back so it stays in place on its own. I think the secret of ramps is not to have them too steep.

IMG_6739.webp
 
@BossHogg sorry don't know what's going on with this photo, it's a double image again! Perhaps you could try your magic mod thingy.:ple: :).
 
Well I'm pleased to report that all my pigs are now using the ramp thanks to the arrival of a lovely ramp tunnel from C&E cosies.

I'm slightly concerned that baby wenlock has decided that it's more fun to climb down the outside of the tunnel rather than take the usual route up through it..... but I'm guessing she'll grow out of it fairly soon?:doh:

IMG_0954.webp
 
@Jessmacg Gorgeous pigs!

I've had to mend my ramp as the pins holding that were holding it to the bit of wood with the hinges on gave way. I spent Saturday re-pinning and then gorilla glueing and gaffa-taping it all back together.
 
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