My girls don't seem to like going into the run

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Gemma McD

Gemma McD

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My two girls don't like going downstairs into their run! I got them about 3 weeks ago, and they were indoor piggies. I keep them outside in my old rabbit's hutch which is 2 storey with a ramp from the bedroom area down into the run. Initially they were kept in the bedroom area to get used to their new home, living outside and their new owner. I let them have access to the run yesterday, put tubes down there, toilet rolls stuffed with treats, another food bowl and another water bottle. When I first put them in the run they just ran straight back up the ramp, so I tried again and closed the trapdoor between the storeys, they just ran up the ramp and nudged it open again :(|) I tried again, but weighted the trapdoor down and they had a brief explore, ate the greens out the toilet roll but went up to bed the minute the trapdoor was opened. My question is, are they likely to get used to it and just need time to adjust or have I got piggies with agoraphobia!
Thanks all
Gemma, Ginny and Saffy
 
They'll probably get used to it. My 3 were like this initially but are now going up and down the ramp like crazy. I do put different foods on the top and bottom so they have to go up and down to get it.
 
Thanks for that, very reassuring! Best to leave them to it rather than force the issue and keep leaving the tastiest treats in the run.
 
Hi

My boys were exactly the same and have lived outside in a two storey hutch since I have had them.

The didn't go up and down for ages until I added a ramp tunnel from cosy cavies. It helped them feel more secure and they were soon flying up and down!

HTH

x
 
claire8234 said:
Hi

My boys were exactly the same and have lived outside in a two storey hutch since I have had them.

The didn't go up and down for ages until I added a ramp tunnel from cosy cavies. It helped them feel more secure and they were soon flying up and down!

HTH

x
Click to expand...

Thanks for this, sounds like a really good idea! Will have to check out Cosy Cavies website, although I suspect I could end up spending a fortune :(|)
 
My girls are daft little scaredy cats that like to hide in their top floor as the big wide world of their run is just too much for them! This morning I put a bowl of fruit and veg in their run and then brough them downstairs to tuck in and hopefully play. Ginny snatched a piece of fruit then ran back upstairs, Saffy tucked into the cucumber then went back upstairs as well! I will have to try the ramp tunnel and perhaps try to make their run more inviting.
 
I know this defeats the object of a run but could you put a bit of fleece or something down there at the bottom of the ramp? It could be that they are wary of the texture of the grass? I know when I put mine somewhere different they needed something familiar first - ie wooden floors they stuck to the fleece or newspaper. Worth a try? I am sure they will soon be enjoying the green spaghetti (a Glynis-ism for grass!) x
 
Open new spaces frighten most guinea pigs. Dot hideys around (cardboard boxes etc. are fine), within easy reach of each other, so they can explore from a safe basis. You can also peg a beach towel or old sheet over part of the run to give them a feeling of protection.
 
Having a bit more success today. I brought them down into the run this morning after moving it onto better grass and they stayed and nibbled at it before shooting back off upstairs, and have brought them down again this afternoon and they are happily tucking into the grass. I have cheated again though and weighed the trap door down to get them to stay down and enjoy their freedom. They have 2 cardboard tubes in the run to allow them somewhere safe to hide in. Don't think they'd ever been outside as they were indoor pigs in a tower block, so I'm introducing them to lots of different things. Going to try and sort out a ramp tunnel as although they easily use it to get back upstairs I'm not sure they've realised they can go down as well!
 
Give them time to get used to their new life.
 
Hoping we have cracked it! Hubby raised the ramp a little bit so it's not as steep, and we left the pigloo in the run part. They went up and down the ramp a few times, hopping in and out of the pigloo. Think they will now start getting used to it and enjoy their freedom and space :))
 
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