Exploring cage

Status
Not open for further replies.
Trish&Ewan

Trish&Ewan

Joined
May 20, 2012
Messages
133
Reaction score
0
Points
0
Location
South Yorkshire
Hi all, we have had our little girls for nearly 3 weeks now, they are in a large wooden hutch outside the back door. It's got 2 levels and is quite large, but the girls haven't even been downstairs yet! They stay in their bed bit most of the time, and come out on the top level for food when no-one is looking. I'm just worried they aren't getting enough excercise?

Also I'm worried to let them in an outside run on our grass as we regularaly find cat poo on it - can cat wee hurt guinea pigs? I give them grass and clover to eat in their cage but I wash it first!

Thanks
Trish
 
do they have hide's in the open part of the hutch? it may be they are scared of being exposed?

as for the run, wash down the grass, then put the run down, this will stop any cats getting onto that patch of grass. then just move the run around the garden. :)
 
Not sure about the grass but with the hutch have they been down stairs at all ?
if not try putting one piggy upstairs and one piggy downstairs, also make sure the ramp isn't too steep or anything (:
 
A slippery, steep or exposed ramp will not entice new guinea pigs to explore. Make sure that it is safe to use: good grip on the ramp and rails to prevent piggies from being badly injured/killed by freak falls.

Also lure piggies with safe hiding places from which they can explore new territory.

You can put them downstairs and sprinkle bits of veg all over the place between hideys (cardboard boxes with door openings are great), but don't expect instant wonders - most piggies take a few trips until they are convinced that a new place is "safe". they are prey animals, after all.
 
Thanks Lauralucy, I didn't think of washing the grass down that's a great idea! Twaims - Will try one up and one down and see if that works thanks, will let you know! And Wiebke I think now the ramp maybe too steep, will ask my OH to think of a way of making it less steep, with more grip - and make it a bite more exciting for them down there. Any other tips would be great.
 
When i first had mine in a double storey hutch i didnt think they were using the ramp until i popped home on lunchtime to find one piggy up the top hiding from the other, checked on them in the evening and both were downstairs again!

i used to place mine in the bottom during the day and upstairs at night :)
 
I took 2 c&c grids and put them together and put fleece and coroplast in the middle it makes the perfect ramp. Maybe you can find something similar to grids and do this. Make sure the holes in the grids aren't to small, or your piggies cant use the holes as steeps and it will just hurt their feet. Maybe a friend can give you a couple of grids.
 
Check this site out for ramp tunnels for 2 story wooden hutches http://www.cosycavies.co.uk/products/tunnels

I have one boy piggy who refused to use the ramp after months of trying various enticements. My other boy piggy is a daredevil and used to zoom up and down his ramp too fast for my liking. I was always worried he would lose his footing and fall of the side, even though I did improvise a railing for the wooden ramp. After getting the ramp tunnels it has solved both problems. It only took 24 hours for the timid boy to start going up and down like there was never any problem. And the speed maniac has been slowed down to where I can breathe easy.
 
Thanx for link, they look amazing! Think I need to invest in one of those. Its such a brilliant idea and will make it much safer.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top