starting to get frustrated..:(

[Guinea_Lover]

Hi all guinea pig lovers : )

I am starting to get a bit frustrated with my piggies, i do love them but sometimes i wish they can understand things more quicker! Anyways back to the question, I have put them in a double story hutch in the shed for the winter and they have come to terms with a new ramp(they've never used a ramp before!) so ive been trying to do anything to get them up that ramp but they go up half way and fall back down again! They dont have any felt on their ramp just wooden steps to cling onto, unless they need something else to grip onto? I have even placed a chube and parsley/grass on the ramp and still they wont go up :/
They are 1 and a half now so i presume this will take them some time?
So my question is, does anyone have any ideas how i can help them use the ramp?

Thanks x

 

[Kazz]

I stuck a cheap door mat cut into bits onto mine. And they soon started going up and down. You can use velco if you want then you can take off and wash the mat. I just replace it as was only 99p. Hope this helps.

 

[JoBo]

I have a herd of pigs that zoom up and down ramps and i also had a trio of girls that i temporarily house in a double hutch with a ramp and they absolutly refused to use it. I also have a indoor single piggy that was scared of her ramp so i have had a ramp tunnel made by cosie cavies and she now zooms up and down the ramp and gets full use out of her cage.

You could put some kind of edge on the side of the ramp so they dont fear falling down it. We use veg to train our pigs and place it all the way up the ramp.

Good luck x

 

[Guinea pig slave]

Definitely little barriers of some description as others have said, piggies don't like heights so need some security. A strip of vet bed or something secure also helps - mine love the ramps (a very mild incline) and sleep on them mallethead rolleyes

 

[BellasMummy]

You can't blame them for being wary of new things. Blocking it in at the sides and also some other grip might help but don't get frustrated with them as it must be worrying for them.

 

[Cgilchrist]

sides and a bit of old carpet/fleece on the ramp mine soon went up when I did this x

 

[LordBernieBouffant]

Yes I had 2 girls who refused point blank to go up and down it, despite using a piece of old carpet on the whole of the ramp and sides.

Now they are running up and down like mad |)

What I did:

Put the ramp down on the floor of their cage for them to run along it (with the carpet covering and sides). Mine still refused to set foot on it at first, but I put some grass and veggies on it and over a couple of days they got a bit more adventurous and touched the ramp with their feet. Next I put a tunnel on it covered in fleece - they couldn't resist that and started running on the ramp and under the fleece. I then elevated it slightly (about 3") and they were still fine with it. This took about a week.

Next I put the ramp in position up to the hayloft and hey presto 2 girl piggies shooting up and down and popcorning all over in excitement

Good luck

Jo x