Double Hutch Help!

[DitsyMum]

I'm a new piggy mum with 3 lovely little piggies. We chose the chartwell double hutch from home and roost to house them in (although because its so cold outside its currently in the conservatory!) Its a great hutch but I have some questions I hope you can answer!
1: Our piggies are 9 weeks old and currently just on the top level. What is a good age to let them start going "downstairs" to play?
2: The ramp has side rails - so should prevent them falling off but do I need to put carpet or some cut up fleece blanket to help make it non slippy?
3: Do we need to shut them upstairs each night? I'm not sure if its safe to let them have full run in the dark!

Sorry if these are daft questions- we've only had them 5 days and I'm worrying about them like a new mum with a baby! Brings back the memories of when my daughters were small...constantly checking on them listening to every snuffle and sound!

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[Hank288]

Is it a run underneath the hutch or is it a 2 layer hutch with 2 wooden floors?
I generally find that the younger ones are better at the ladder than the younger ones. So I personally would let them go up and down. Some pigs can go up fairly smooth ramps but 2 of mine struggled. I cut up a carpet tile and used Velcro to attach it to the ramp.

Unless it is a run at the bottom with no floor I would not shut them in one level for the night. Mine have the full run of their double hutch all the time (apart from clean out day).

 

[eileen]

I have two of these hutches, my two females went up and down the ramp and do now, but husboar and other female will not use it, so they are placed down stairs, and I allow the other sows to use the ramp. In the other hutch, none will use the ramp, so i've put a plank of wood over upstairs hole, i've lined all floors with lino. I place piggies in bottom of hutch during the day for exercise as 6 feet long and place them on top level for night time. During winter months they are inside a 6x2 c and c cage, put them out for spring and summer, i've also got ramp covers that can be washed that they use very successfully and is completely covered so no risk of falling. it depends on the Piggies as to whether they will use ramp.!.

 

[AbiS]

I know exactly what you mean. When my boys were little I would lock them upstairs in the hutch overnight because I was terrified that they would fall down the hole in the dark. I stopped doing that when I realised how competent they were at running up and down. In fact - both of them have fallen down the hole but not until they were much older (they were fine).

I lined the ramp with carpet off cuts so they could grip to it better.

 

[Veggies Galore]

I'm glad to hear your ramp has sides . You see some hutches for sale with just a plank for a ramp

I have had to tap into my OH's skills to get a ramp I am happy is safe enough .

So, sides are a good idea - plus a surface with a good grip .

I am currently using a ramp tunnel I had made by C and E cosies but I may see if I can sew one myself when it wears out.

This picture shows my ramp - with sides and ramp tunnel


I was afraid of mine falling down the hole at the top so have a wooden cover .....



it can me taken off for cleaning


and is fixed in place by screws




the Guinea Pigs like to sit on top of it!

I am much happier with the tunnel top fitted but will confess , it has doubled the amount of time it takes me to clean them out !

Sparkle knows that the best way not to be picked up is to hide 1/2 way down the tunnel. She's a little madam - but she won't fool me !

 

[DitsyMum]

Is it a run underneath the hutch or is it a 2 layer hutch with 2 wooden floors?

Its a 2 layer with 2 wooden floors. Wanted a hutch slightly raised off the ground for when they are outside - even in the nicer weather there's a fair bit of rain! Thanks for the velcro tip too!

 

[eileen]

I'm glad to hear your ramp has sides . You see some hutches for sale with just a plank for a ramp

I have had to tap into my OH's skills to get a ramp I am happy is safe enough .

So, sides are a good idea - plus a surface with a good grip .

I am currently using a ramp tunnel I had made by C and E cosies but I may see if I can sew one myself when it wears out.

This picture shows my ramp - with sides and ramp tunnel
View attachment 41622

I was afraid of mine falling down the hole at the top so have a wooden cover .....


View attachment 41623
it can me taken off for cleaning

View attachment 41624
and is fixed in place by screws


View attachment 41625

the Guinea Pigs like to sit on top of it!

I am much happier with the tunnel top fitted but will confess , it has doubled the amount of time it takes me to clean them out !

Sparkle knows that the best way not to be picked up is to hide 1/2 way down the tunnel. She's a little madam - but she won't fool me !

thats the same ramp covers i have...great.

 

[DitsyMum]

I know exactly what you mean. When my boys were little I would lock them upstairs in the hutch overnight because I was terrified that they would fall down the hole in the dark. I stopped doing that when I realised how competent they were at running up and down. In fact - both of them have fallen down the hole but not until they were much older (they were fine).

I lined the ramp with carpet off cuts so they could grip to it better.

Thank you for the reassurance! Love your piggy picture - mine like squishing themselves in the same tunnel too! Happiness definitely is having guinea pigs! I've not got half my chores done this week where I've been so distracted by the piggies !

 

[DitsyMum]

I'm glad to hear your ramp has sides . You see some hutches for sale with just a plank for a ramp
!

That smiley was my daughters expression at a ramp without side rails! She was horrified I'd even shortlisted a hutch without them!

 

[DitsyMum]

I'm glad to hear your ramp has sides . You see some hutches for sale with just a plank for a ramp

I have had to tap into my OH's skills to get a ramp I am happy is safe enough .

So, sides are a good idea - plus a surface with a good grip .

I am currently using a ramp tunnel I had made by C and E cosies but I may see if I can sew one myself when it wears out.
This picture shows my ramp - with sides and ramp tunnel
I was afraid of mine falling down the hole at the top so have a wooden cover .....
it can me taken off for cleaning and is fixed in place by screws
the Guinea Pigs like to sit on top of it!

I am much happier with the tunnel top fitted but will confess , it has doubled the amount of time it takes me to clean them out !

Sparkle knows that the best way not to be picked up is to hide 1/2 way down the tunnel. She's a little madam - but she won't fool me !

Thanks for all the fab advice and pictures. Think we'll let them explore the downstairs this weekend - gives me a day to sort out a covering for the ramp for better grip. They seem to like playing on the fleece blanket on our floor so may use an old fleece and velcro (for easier washing)...don't think carpet would work as there are little ridges on the ramp. The wood is quite smooth though and I just think they would slip on that.
I also like your wooden cover over the ramp entrance...may have to think of something like that..there doesn't seem a lot of upper floor space when the ramp hatch is up and one of my piggies is such a skitty thing...she doesn't like being picked up yet and darts about all over the place. She likes it when I eventually catch her and have a cuddle but likes to give me the runaround first!
Here's a pic of their adventures out of the hutch!

 

[Hank288]

My ramp has little ridges on it. I just cut up the carpet tile into little squares the same size as the gap and used Velcro to secure them. I have never had any problems with this method of ramp grip. The pigs have always managed to use it fine.

 

[DitsyMum]

My ramp has little ridges on it. I just cut up the carpet tile into little squares the same size as the gap and used Velcro to secure them. I have never had any problems with this method of ramp grip. The pigs have always managed to use it fine.

Never thought of individual bits between the ridges! Thanks for advice. Do you find carpet tiles don't grip enough without velcro? I think I have a spare one in the loft with a rubber back, or perhaps cutting up a rubber backed mat would work? I'm thinking of an easy clean option!

 

[Hank288]

The one I used had a rubber back and I just cut it up. I have not yet had to wash it and have had my hutches for 6 months now. I was just worried that the tiles would fall with the speed that my girls run up and down. I just wouldn't want the tile to move. I used the self adhesive Velcro. When I need to wash them I was just going to take them off and scrub with a brush and carpet cleaner.

 

[DitsyMum]

The one I used had a rubber back and I just cut it up. I have not yet had to wash it and have had my hutches for 6 months now. I was just worried that the tiles would fall with the speed that my girls run up and down. I just wouldn't want the tile to move. I used the self adhesive Velcro. When I need to wash them I was just going to take them off and scrub with a brush and carpet cleaner.

That's good to know. I'll give it a try! Thanks for your help!