Lofts And Ramps

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Jen H

Jen H

Teenage Guinea Pig
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Hi,
I've got a couple of c&c questions:
1. Does a 2x1 loft need support?
2. What should I use for the ramp?
Thanks for all advice given so far everyone. I really want to get it just right. Also this helps me to put off tackling the correx for a bit longer :xd: @Julie M @PiggySmitten
Jen.
 
....should add that I want a covered tunnel. Bit nervous after an acrobatic hamster we had.
 
No, it shouldn't need support unless you're intending on putting something heavy in the top.
I personally do not like adding ramps and lofts, in case of accidents.
Guttering from wickes or B&q will work well, and add some carpet on it for grip. You could peg up some fleece over the top of the tunnel for a non-hard construction!
 
If building lofts and ramps put your health and safely hat on and think of everything a guinea pig might get up to! It is possible to pig-proof things, just take your time and secure all gaps/drops.
 
Chief Guinea Pig said:
No, it shouldn't need support unless you're intending on putting something heavy in the top.
I personally do not like adding ramps and lofts, in case of accidents.
Guttering from wickes or B&q will work well, and add some carpet on it for grip. You could peg up some fleece over the top of the tunnel for a non-hard construction!
Click to expand...
That's a good idea. Thanks for that. I think I might just get the bottom set up, and do the loft over Xmas as a break from the mince pies and Baileys. Perhaps not while enjoying the Baileys or it might end up a bit wonky ;)
 
AuntyC said:
If building lofts and ramps put your health and safely hat on and think of everything a guinea pig might get up to! It is possible to pig-proof things, just take your time and secure all gaps/drops.
Click to expand...
Thank you, that might take a while- they get up to all sorts ha ha! Mine quite like climbing on top of things so I'll definitely need to make it secure. Have you got a loft/ ramp? If so, what did you use please?
 
Do they need a loft? I only ask because it can't be counted in the overall floor space. I added lofts to mine when I first built it, they lasted a week. I hated cleaning the ramps and they weren't that easy to access for me at least. I found adding a food area downstairs easier :) xx
 
Flutterby said:
Do they need a loft? I only ask because it can't be counted in the overall floor space. I added lofts to mine when I first built it, they lasted a week. I hated cleaning the ramps and they weren't that easy to access for me at least. I found adding a food area downstairs easier :) xx
Click to expand...
Well I've got 5x2 on the bottom, which I believe is just ok for three, (though they will also have the run hutch to sleep in) but can't extend the bottom at the moment, so I ordered enough for a loft to give them more 'getting away from each other' space. They are stroppy sows! If I can make more space on the floor In the future I thought I'd then use the loft grids to extend that. We're okay for access as I've got a tiny chimney-sweep - sized daughter that I can shove in to do the Poovering !:lol:
 
Jen H said:
Well I've got 5x2 on the bottom, which I believe is just ok for three, (though they will also have the run hutch to sleep in) but can't extend the bottom at the moment, so I ordered enough for a loft to give them more 'getting away from each other' space. They are stroppy sows! If I can make more space on the floor In the future I thought I'd then use the loft grids to extend that. We're okay for access as I've got a tiny chimney-sweep - sized daughter that I can shove in to do the Poovering !:lol:
Click to expand...

Haha, ok! I know I hated mine as I can't access around the bag of my setup but they do look nice and are handy for hay etc. A 2x1 doesn't need support in the middle unless like Rachel said you are putting something heavy on it. Mine had a litter tray full of litter and a hay rack and was still very sturdy with a few pigs in. I agree though, make sure it's in no way fall-off-able... :)
 
Hi as others have said no you don't need a support for a 2x1 loft.

My ramp is actually the wooden ramp from a two tier ferplast cage with a ramp tunnel from CandE cosies on it. Their tunnels are fantastic, I'm just ordering another as I have two but the piggies love it so much they have chosen it as their weeing place.....

I've heard of many using bent c&c grids to make their ramp. I can see that would be nice and safe and has, for me, a hygiene attraction over a wooden ramp that the wee may end up on. You'd obvioysly need to cover the grids though.
 
Flutterby said:
Haha, ok! I know I hated mine as I can't access around the bag of my setup but they do look nice and are handy for hay etc. A 2x1 doesn't need support in the middle unless like Rachel said you are putting something heavy on it. Mine had a litter tray full of litter and a hay rack and was still very sturdy with a few pigs in. I agree though, make sure it's in no way fall-off-able... :)
Click to expand...
Cheers! I WOULD like an eating area 'downstairs ' like yours- it looks great. I want Flo to have room to zoom though- she hasn't done much since coming indoors (even when I've made the indoor run bigger). What was your original ramp made of?
 
I bent a grid of C&C into a right angle and used that as a base and side, but I had a wall for the other side. You could always bend two, or us gutter pipe? I bought cheap doormats and cut them and fit them to size, excellent for grip :)
 
PiggySmitten said:
Hi as others have said no you don't need a support for a 2x1 loft.

My ramp is actually the wooden ramp from a two tier ferplast cage with a ramp tunnel from CandE cosies on it. Their tunnels are fantastic, I'm just ordering another as I have two but the piggies love it so much they have chosen it as their weeing place.....

I've heard of many using bent c&c grids to make their ramp. I can see that would be nice and safe and has, for me, a hygiene attraction over a wooden ramp that the wee may end up on. You'd obvioysly need to cover the grids though.
Click to expand...
Aah Cand E cosies... thanks, I'd forgotten where they came from. Does the ramp go through the tunnel or does it tie on top?
 
Flutterby said:
I bent a grid of C&C into a right angle and used that as a base and side, but I had a wall for the other side. You could always bend two, or us gutter pipe? I bought cheap doormats and cut them and fit them to size, excellent for grip :)
Click to expand...
Thanks, I'll have a think about that. I'll have a trip to a DIY store and look at gutter pipe. Cheers for the advice again xx
 
Jen H said:
Aah Cand E cosies... thanks, I'd forgotten where they came from. Does the ramp go through the tunnel or does it tie on top?
Click to expand...
The tunnel is fixed on top of the ramp. There are three lots of Velcro (top, middle and bottom of the tunnel) on the underside which you wrap round whatever ramp you're using.

I've threaded the top Velcro through the grid which is the "floor" of the loft as this seems to keep it in place nicely.

I then bulldog clip the top of the tunnel to the vertically placed grid of the loft.

Based on my experiences, and thinking about what others have wisely said in this thread, if you're using a ramp tunnel on a flat ramp like I have, The bit to think carefully about is at the top of the ramp. I have had no falling piggies but I worry a bit about the side of the tunnel at the top that I haven't managed to bulldog clip. I think it might be better to extend the tunnel further into the loft than I've done and then just bulldog clip one side to the vertical side grid.

I'll take some pics to show you what I mean once my 2 yo finally gives in and goes to sleep!

While I think about it, one thing that ridiculously stumped me when building our loft was that the ramp is less wide than one grid so there is a need to block off the rest of the gap at the top. I'd put the ramp up to the other vertical grid so the ramp was in the middle of the set up. I stupidly hdnt realised that the spare grid i had been sent was supposed to be used to cover the gap.
 
Jen H said:
Thanks, I'll have a think about that. I'll have a trip to a DIY store and look at gutter pipe. Cheers for the advice again xx
Click to expand...
Not quite sure how you'd attach a ramp tunnel if you choose a ramp with sides like guttering but don't let that put you off it - you can create a tunnel still by putting fabric over the top.
 
PiggySmitten said:
The tunnel is fixed on top of the ramp. There are three lots of Velcro (top, middle and bottom of the tunnel) on the underside which you wrap round whatever ramp you're using.

I've threaded the top Velcro through the grid which is the "floor" of the loft as this seems to keep it in place nicely.

I then bulldog clip the top of the tunnel to the vertically placed grid of the loft.

Based on my experiences, and thinking about what others have wisely said in this thread, if you're using a ramp tunnel on a flat ramp like I have, The bit to think carefully about is at the top of the ramp. I have had no falling piggies but I worry a bit about the side of the tunnel at the top that I haven't managed to bulldog clip. I think it might be better to extend the tunnel further into the loft than I've done and then just bulldog clip one side to the vertical side grid.

I'll take some pics to show you what I mean once my 2 yo finally gives in and goes to sleep!

While I think about it, one thing that ridiculously stumped me when building our loft was that the ramp is less wide than one grid so there is a need to block off the rest of the gap at the top. I'd put the ramp up to the other vertical grid so the ramp was in the middle of the set up. I stupidly hdnt realised that the spare grid i had been sent was supposed to be used to cover the gap.
Click to expand...
Aah that sounds good (using the top of the tunnel to secure). If you wouldn't mind showing a pic that would be great thanks- no rush as I won't be doing it till at least the weekend (hopefully your 2yr old will be asleep by then ha ha! Bet You're not laughing though! ) I hadn't thought about the spare grid- I've put it at the side.
Thank you!
 
PiggySmitten said:
Not quite sure how you'd attach a ramp tunnel if you choose a ramp with sides like guttering but don't let that put you off it - you can create a tunnel still by putting fabric over the top.
Click to expand...
Hmmm yes. I think the tunnel seems more secure. Thanks.
 
Jen H said:
Cheers! I WOULD like an eating area 'downstairs ' like yours- it looks great. I want Flo to have room to zoom though- she hasn't done much since coming indoors (even when I've made the indoor run bigger). What was your original ramp made of?
Click to expand...
Look at @TheFurryGodmother's video of beer using his ramp. You will see how much a pig can enjoy a ramp and loft then.
 
Pics of my ramp tunnel.

This pic shows you the loft and how the "spare" grid overlaps to make the gap only as wide as your ramp. You can see on the left as you look at this photo my "problem" area.
image.webp

In this next photo you can see I've added a spare bit of correx to provide a bit of a barrier at the top of the ramp (sorry pic is sideways!)
image.webp


This is a view of the top of the tunnel which shows how I've bulldog clipped it on.
image.webp

This pic was to show you how the ramp tunnel is velcroed on.
image.webp


This pic is just a different view of it all - it's veggie time!
image.webp
Happy to send any more pics that might be helpful.
 
PiggySmitten said:
Pics of my ramp tunnel.

This pic shows you the loft and how the "spare" grid overlaps to make the gap only as wide as your ramp. You can see on the left as you look at this photo my "problem" area.
View attachment 19524

In this next photo you can see I've added a spare bit of correx to provide a bit of a barrier at the top of the ramp (sorry pic is sideways!)
View attachment 19529


This is a view of the top of the tunnel which shows how I've bulldog clipped it on.
View attachment 19525

This pic was to show you how the ramp tunnel is velcroed on.
View attachment 19530


This pic is just a different view of it all - it's veggie time!
View attachment 19531
Happy to send any more pics that might be helpful.
Click to expand...
That's so helpful- really appreciate you taking the time to do that, thank you. I've a very clear idea now of what I need to do, and feel a bit more confident about planning it. Yours looks very securely fastened at the top, and I should have quite a bit of correx left over to fill gaps in as you have. Maybe a whole sheet of correx if I cut it wrong ha ha! Like your red spotty fleece by the way.
 
You're welcome and quite right I had bits left over because I didn't cut it right ha ha. Ended up ok though. I did think that it could be my practice sheet and I'd get round to doing it again properly but, surprise surprise, I havent. I bought a bundle of 3 sheets of correx and the other two are now sitting in the garage with me hoping the mouse in there doesn't decide to chew them!
 
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