New cage problems

[Sophie B]

How can I encourage my boys to use the ramp in the new hutch? I am worried about going to bed and them being stuck at the bottom when the food and water is at the top

I don’t think they will have any issue because they were always climbing on top of their houses in their own cage and don’t appear to be scared of being “high up”

How can I make them feel more comfortable in their new home?
It’s like a just got them, they’re very nervous (although they will still speak to me and come to me for food- they’re jumpy)

 

[Claire W]

Could you not put food and water downstairs too? My piggies use the ramp in their cage but they have food, water and hay available on both levels

 

[Sophie B]

Will a water bowl be okay temporarily?
I can do food easily

 

[Claire W]

Yes, I'm sure that will be fine

 

[Betsy]

Take the ramp out and place it in the bottom of the hutch and let your piggies run over it and scent mark it then they will feel safe using it as it will smell right. Have you put a piece of old carpet on it for grip? My piggies were reluctant to use the ramp until I put carpet on it. Also can you pop some stuff that smells of them in the new hutch?

 

[Sophie B]

They’ve got all their old toys and things in it
It has “grips” but they’re big and very spaced out, so I’ll see what I can do tomorrow

 

[Sophie B]

Problem solved!
I had a stroke of genius and decided to put their tunnel on the bridge and now both of them are going up and down perfectly happily

 

[Sophie B]

On the first photo you can see how badly they’ve chewed it already, thanks boys

 

[Betsy]

Like that idea! Ramps in hutches are a bit steep sometimes! They were also probably reluctant to use the ramp as it doesn't have sides to it so they didn't feel safe. The ramp in my hutch had sides that were about 3"-4" high. I had to take the ramp out and divide the hutch up when Christian and Dennis fell out.

 

[Bill & Ted]

We extended our ramp by screwing another bit of wood on the bottom of our outside bunny ark, you could always place a brick underneath it to alter the angle too?

 

[Sophie B]

Like that idea! Ramps in hutches are a bit steep sometimes! They were also probably reluctant to use the ramp as it doesn't have sides to it so they didn't feel safe. The ramp in my hutch had sides that were about 3"-4" high. I had to take the ramp out and divide the hutch up when Christian and Dennis fell out.

I was quite impressed to see that at the top it has a little wooden flap that you can put down if you ever need to separate them, it will help massively for cage cleaning so I can just shut them in the top when I’m cleaning the bottom, and the other way round

 

[Bill & Ted]

A great cage! bet Smokey and Bacon love it

 

[Sophie B]

They’re still settling in, but so far they do!

 

[Betsy]

I was quite impressed to see that at the top it has a little wooden flap that you can put down if you ever need to separate them, it will help massively for cage cleaning so I can just shut them in the top when I’m cleaning the bottom, and the other way round

That's what I did before the boys had to be separated. One time I forgot to take ramp out when I was cleaning out and Betsy came up to find out what I was doing!

 

[Sophie B]

Anybody who has hutches or cages with a ramp how did you get your piggies used to it?

 

[piggieminder]

For Spike & Peanut I put a slice of cucumber half way up the ramp, once they discovered they could go up and down that was it they loved it. I think the others have just gone up by themselves.