do your pigs use their ramp?

Status
Not open for further replies.
catslovelycats

catslovelycats

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Jun 24, 2008
Messages
332
Reaction score
13
Points
255
Location
Burgess Hill, West Sussex
I have a fab large cage that has a rather steep metal ladder attached to the 2nd floor area.
I think it's too steep for the pigs to go up (or more offputting for thenm trying to go down again) so I've removed the metal floor so they just have 1 floor to use.
I've read that some people use fleece tunnels to encurage pigs to use ramps, but this is so steep I don't think it'll help wonder if anyone else has any ideas?
It's a shame not to be able to offer them the extra space.
 
The ramps on my three storey Baffy Essegi are quite steep but my pigs use them. Initially, I put carpet on the ramps but after a few weeks I was able to take it off and they still use them. I put sandpaper on the little ramps to wear their claws.
 
The ramps on my hutches aren't very steep, the piggies can easily use them. The floor has good grip, so maybe if you can put something on the floor that they won't be scared to walk on, fleece or something?
 
Thanks for your replies.
I can't lower the floor because it can only be fitted at one height against the cage base plus it then means the ramp's position makes the hole in the floor too tight to go up.
It's strange because it's basically a metal ladder - I'm not sure pigs would be able to use it.
I had considered replacing it with wood but there is still the issue of it being steep.
I suppose I'll just have to try an experiment but I'm a bit concerned in case one of them somehow got caught. It beats me that the cage is meant to be for a rabbit because the ladder is so narrow and the hole onto the next level sp small.
The size of the cage is great though!
 
I've got a three storey Essegi cage too and my pigs wouldn't use the ramps at first so I put higher sides on the ramps so they would be more enclosed & the pigs wouldn't fall off the sides. Some of my pigs got the idea after a while but the others refused point blank!
 
I can't imagine many pigs would attempt a ladder and I'm not sure it would be very safe. I would change it for wood or something else. Can you raise the bottom of the ramp by sitting it on a small wodden block or similar? The guinea pigs can just hop up onto the ramp (like a step) and it will reduce the steepness a little bit. :)
 
The ramp in my girls hutch is quite steep, but is made of wood. Is there any way you could cover the ladder with carpet maybe so it's solid for them to walk on? Carpet would ofer them more grip too :)

Could you maybe sit the end of the ramp on a brick to lift it so it's not as steep?

For comparison for you, this is the ramp in our hutch..

IMG_0554.jpg
 
Leilalouise said:
I've got a three storey Essegi cage too and my pigs wouldn't use the ramps at first so I put higher sides on the ramps so they would be more enclosed & the pigs wouldn't fall off the sides. Some of my pigs got the idea after a while but the others refused point blank!
Click to expand...

I put treats on the ramp too, at first, so they would get the idea that there were exciting things up or down the ramp. The ramps are very slippy without carpet or sandpaper.
 
mine took to their ramp within minutes, but I think it's because it has sides, is not steep and is covered with vetbed, which gives really good grip for their little starfish feet!
 
My girls get on really well with their ramp (Which is two c&c cubes bent into a * shape with corex bent to fit it also a * shape), it's fairly steep but has high sides on it, and a strip of towel on the ramp (Secured with pegs at the top) so they can grip. they are always running up and down it.
 
the stars are meant to be the letter 'you' (if i just write the letter itself it blanks it out with a *)
 
Mine use their ramps but they are wooden, covered in fleece and I added sides to them. I dont think metal 'ladders' would work unless you put something solid on them and also something grippy..... then try to entice them....
Hope you get something sorted for them
x
 
Mine use a ramp which is covered in a bit of bath mat. They took to it very easily.

Could you extend the ladder perhaps eg by cable tying on another ladder or a C&C cube to make it less steep? If there's not much room in the cage, add in a corner step. It's hard to explain what I mean but on the guinea pig cages site I've seen pics of ramps which have a corner in them where the length of the cage doesn't allow for a long enough ladder.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top