Guinea Pigs And Ramps

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Jojessgaz

Jojessgaz

Junior Guinea Pig
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I am a new owner who feels i made the wrong decision regarding my hutch in getting a two tier, i will have to work with it now the best I can. I have had my piggies 2 weeks and need some advise on how and when to introduce them to the ramp to make their hutch a bit bigger to move around. They move around a little now just on the top tier probably a lot more when I'm not peeping in on them, as everything is moved around come the morning , and the litter tray seems to be moved totally so they can hide behind it, bless well it is their house! I want to put in some sort of banister on the ramp to hopefully make sure they don't fall and have read that maybe putting a tunnel not the ramp to start with with help? Does anyone have any advise or experiences they can share thanks so much, the ramp I have was fitted with the stone lining that's used for the roof, I take it for grip, will this be okay, wasn't sure if it would hurt their feet?
 
My pigs started using the ramp straight away. Maybe put some veggies on it to introduce them? As for the material I'm not sure if it will hurt their feet as I know their feet are very sensitive. Maybe put some fleece on it?
 
Before I got a c and c cage I had a hutch with the same ramp with the same lining. It won't hurt their feet as it's not overly rough, it's for grip and I actually found it helped keep their nails trim.
Beans took to the ramp right away, no worries what so ever. Toast took about 2 weeks before she tried it. I tried putting her on it myself but it just stressed her out, so I just let her do it in her own time. Once she got the hang of it she loved it :nod:
 
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Did anyone adapt the ramp re stopping them falling off the side or anything round the top opening? Think I've over read on stuff and am now worried they will have an accident
 
Jojessgaz said:
Did anyone adapt the ramp re stopping them falling off the side or anything round the top opening? Think I've over read on stuff and am now worried they will have an accident
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Piggies are not 'climbers' really and a fall can be fatal :( I had very low inclined ramps with vet bed fitted and hubby patiently carved tiny rails for them to keep them safe. Once they had mastered them, there was no stopping them belting up and down :D
 
I know guonea pig slave... this why I havnt opened up the bottom part of the hutch. With them being outside I am very panicked that they may fall and I'm not there. But the cage is too small for them to stay upstairs. I'm not very good making things but can try and put some sort of wooden rail in . It's also the top bit I'm worried about...the hole left for the top of the ramp. Piggy owner posted a fab box that was pit at the top but I couldn't make that . Will have to think what I can do. I really do keep putting off the grand opening! !
 
I do find these ramps very steep in the double storeys - could you possibly find a carpet shop and ask for a longish piece of inner tubing...secure it on the top floor so it runs the whole length of the ramp so they can potter down safely ? A small box or even a blanket at the mouth end of the tube that touches the lower floor would give a less steep incline...just racking brains here :hmm:
 
Mine are also in an outdoor run with a ramp and have never had any problems with it.
It took them varying amounts of time to get fully comfortable with it (Eddi was flying up and down in under an hour, and I think he was quite devastated when the girls worked it out too, and he lost his 'exclusive' bottom floor!).
I do make sure that the ground floor has a healthy covering of bedding and hay at all times, and whilst I accept that ramps can pose a risk to guinea pigs, so can practically everything else too. If they fell from their ramp it wouldn't be much higher than falling from the top of their wooden houses, or their willow tunnel, or their wooden platform.
But they love all of those things as well, and I would never take everything away simply because they might fall awkwardly.
Obviously it is best to do what you are comfortable with, but I have also accepted that I can only do my best, and nothing can ever be 100% safe.
 
Swissgreys do you have a picture at all? I find them sat on top of their carrot house all the time...so I kno they get every where ! Guinea slave... yes some people have suggested a cosy tunnel which I could stick on with Velcro. ..I'm happy to spend a bit if it gives a bit more safety but at the moment the ramp came with the same chipping lining that's on the roof and as I was advised this gives great grip and will help their nails but I can't help think it's a bit sharp on the pads of their feet? Would a cosy tube made extra long still give them enough grip not to slide ?
 
Jojessgaz said:
Swissgreys do you have a picture at all? I find them sat on top of their carrot house all the time...so I kno they get every where ! Guinea slave... yes some people have suggested a cosy tunnel which I could stick on with Velcro. ..I'm happy to spend a bit if it gives a bit more safety but at the moment the ramp came with the same chipping lining that's on the roof and as I was advised this gives great grip and will help their nails but I can't help think it's a bit sharp on the pads of their feet? Would a cosy tube made extra long still give them enough grip not to slide ?
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I think you'd be best asking CandE cosies to make you a ramp tunnel.


Ramp Tunnels


I'm rubbish at DIY - I'm always asking my OH to help out !
 
Jojessgaz said:
Swissgreys do you have a picture at all? I find them sat on top of their carrot house all the time...so I kno they get every where ! Guinea slave... yes some people have suggested a cosy tunnel which I could stick on with Velcro. ..I'm happy to spend a bit if it gives a bit more safety but at the moment the ramp came with the same chipping lining that's on the roof and as I was advised this gives great grip and will help their nails but I can't help think it's a bit sharp on the pads of their feet? Would a cosy tube made extra long still give them enough grip not to slide ?
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I have lots of pictures, but what exactly did you want to see?
The ramp?
I will dig one out tomorrow.
So glad to hear yours are little mountaineers too!
 
Yes please.. the ramp and the top bit and bottom bit so I can think what I can do to make it all safer.thanks
 
We was in a similar situation for the first 3 weeks of having our piggies. And with varying advice it confuses what to do.
I ordered a ramp tunnel from c and e cosies and trailed some bell pepper up it within 15 minutes all 3 of our piggies where zooming up and down :) we have a very large 2tier hutch and they don't find the ramp too steep at all.
The ramp tunnel and veggies was definitely the thing that worked as they wouldn't touch the ramp before hand.
Now they have so much more room and the whole bottom of the hutch is a play area for them, with the top of the hutch a sleep and feed area - hope this helps & font feel you've made the wrong decision with a 2 tier hutch :)
 
That was my next question haha...how people had set up their 2 tiers. So you have the food with the bed upstairs? Wasn't sure where to but their hay wud it be both levels ? What do you have on the bottom then? I've got a rope ball and carrot house they use loads. ..that could go down then there is a litter tray but it just seems to be on the way? So upstairs would just be their bed and hay rack. And their food bowl. I'm trying to leave space so they can move round better but now make it boring. The ramp info has helped loads. I will try and go on c and e cosies and see what they have.thanks alot
 
Jojessgaz said:
That was my next question haha...how people had set up their 2 tiers. So you have the food with the bed upstairs? Wasn't sure where to but their hay wud it be both levels ? What do you have on the bottom then? I've got a rope ball and carrot house they use loads. ..that could go down then there is a litter tray but it just seems to be on the way? So upstairs would just be their bed and hay rack. And their food bowl. I'm trying to leave space so they can move round better but now make it boring. The ramp info has helped loads. I will try and go on c and e cosies and see what they have.thanks alot
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There is a thread on how people have their outside hutches set up, "Piggy owner" has previously put a link above with their pictures on it :)

On the top level we have the sleep compartment with a rectangle litter tray which I pile hay into (it encourages them to keep most (but not all lol) their poop in the tray and makes it easier to clean) and I also put in a pigloo/hidey house for them in there especially for night time, then on the other open side of the sleep compartment we put out separate bowls for veggie time and also their pellets.
On the lower level they have a willow ball, willow sticks and a willow bridge which they love to chew. They also have another pigloo, a hidey tube & a hanging chew toy which clips onto the inside of the door.
I change around or add new/different things to the lower level level when I do a big clean out once a week to add enrichment for them :) Hope this has helped :)
 
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