how to teach piggies to use a ramp?

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Jem121

Jem121

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I've recently put my piggies Norman and Neville in a new cage. They've never had a ramp to use so its understandable that they havent got a clue what it is and how to use it. If I put them on the ramp they willl run up it. But they're to scared to go down it. Any suggestions? I know it will take time for them to get use to it.
Many thanks x
 
Make sure they're comfortable on the ramp to start with. Does it have sides and a grippy surface? Try fixing a tunnel to the ramp if you can't give it sides. A nice dark hidey hole is more inviting than a bare ramp. If they feel safe on it, they're more likely to use it quickly. Start by place tasty treats in a little trail on the ramp and then just leave them. They'll eventually get the hint. I used to go to bed at night having left a particularly tasty treat on the top level. Nine times out of ten, the tasty treat was gone in the morning so someone had been brave enough to use the ramp! Mine were all running up and down within 48 hours but it's a nice 'safe' ramp in the eyes of the piggies. Full sides and carpeted.
 
It's a wooden ramp with little wooden slats across it. Its actually a chicken coop, I will try the carpet on it, havent got anything for sides at the moment the only problem is I cant leave them down the bottom as it has no base And my garden is slabbed so they will be freezing on the cold slabs at night. And there's no-where in the top bit for a watetbottle it has to go in the bottom bit. I've managed to bodge it up the top for tonight but its temporary not a long term thing. X
 
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