Wanted: Pictures & Views About Ramps , Tunnels & 2 Tier Cages

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I am going to put together information that has recently been posted on this forum about ramps and tunnels - and put it on one thread - so would be grateful if anyone has any views . If anyone has any pictures that they would like added to the thread, pleas either pm me - or post on this thread.


Please either pm me - or post on this thread.


Does anyone know of anyone who makes ramp tunnels ? ( unfortunately Cosy Cavies isn't at time of writing this - and I haven't yet had a response from C&E Cosies ).


I would also like everyone's opinion on how to estimate how many guinea pigs can live in 2 tier accommodation.
 
Bump ! I'm still interested to hear from people.


NB - since I 1st posted this - C&E cosies have posted on the forum - so I have their contact details and information.
 
I've recently bought a 2 tier hutch and run. I'm going to be covering the ramp in carpet and making a railing for it on Sunday. If it's helpful I can take step by step pictures as I do it for you
 
Dindypig said:
In case you haven't seen these posts. @PiggyOwner

Their new pen has arrived

2 Tier cage

Anyone using a Essegi Rodent Cage Baffy 120 2-storey?

We can chat at the Cavycorner show on April 10th if you want.
Click to expand...

Thank you . That would be great ! I am a 2 tier hutch owner myself so have "absorbed " a lot of information over my years of guinea pig ownership. Now I have started to write things down, I am very conscious that most of my "knowledge" is anecdotal . I want to make sure my facts are right before posting my final version !
 
Namaah said:
I've recently bought a 2 tier hutch and run. I'm going to be covering the ramp in carpet and making a railing for it on Sunday. If it's helpful I can take step by step pictures as I do it for you
Click to expand...


Oh yes - that would be VERY helpful.

I want as many pictures as possible of ramps and tunnels in use.
 
As promised here is my cage. It's a double tier ferplast rabbit 120.

To make the ramp safer, I have modified it by resting the ramp on a clean heavy wooden block to make it less steep as I think a lot of ramps in double tier cages / hutches are too steep for guinea pigs and rabbits.

I have covered the actual ramp with carpet from a cheap door mat I brought from ikea to allow more padding and grip. I also use ramp tunnels brought from CandE cosies. This allows the guinea pigs to feel secure and stops them from falling off the sides which could result in a nasty injury. All my guinea pigs have had no problems in using the ramp including my cataract girl.

I originally had four guinea pigs living in this cage, 1 boar and 3 sows. I must admit, it could be a bit of a squeeze at times when all four of them were all on the same level.

Due to sad losses, I now only have 2 sows living in it and feel the cage is more suitable for 2 - 3 guinea pigs. Either 1 boar and 1 sow OR 2 sows OR 3 sows OR 2 sows and 1 boar OR 2 boars.

I personally don't have a problem with double tier cages / hutches and think they are a great space saver for those who have a lack of room but I do think that the ramps need modifying to make them more practical and safer for guinea pigs and rabbits.

image.webp image.webp
 
I used to use a rabbit hutch & attached run for my pigs and I didn't want them to have to jump in and out so I made a ramp for them, It had sides on it so they didn't fall off. Sorry about the silly caption, I made that for something else and now I can't work out how to get rid of it :). I forgot, the lines on the ramp are garden sticks fixed to give them a bit of grip.
caption.jpg
 
Sue and Smartie said:
I used to use a rabbit hutch & attached run for my pigs and I didn't want them to have to jump in and out so I made a ramp for them, It had sides on it so they didn't fall off. Sorry about the silly caption, I made that for something else and now I can't work out how to get rid of it :). I forgot, the lines on the ramp are garden sticks fixed to give them a bit of grip.
caption.jpg
Click to expand...

Brilliant ! Thank You - and I LOVE the caption !
 
I have a 2 tier hutch with a wooden ramp.
The ramp has wooden baton across it to help with grip.
One side of the ramp is against the back wall of the cage and the other side is open.
The ramp is 16cm wide.
I have 3 10 week old guinea pigs, and this was their first time in a 2 tiered enclosure.
Within 4 days of coming home they had all worked out how to use the ramp.
Two of the pigs pop up and down it continually throughout the day, and the third pig uses it on a regular basis, just not running up and down repeatedly like the other 2 sometimes do!
When calculating how many pigs would fit into a two tiered cage I still only used one level, so the bottom level is just a 'bonus' space I guess. The top floor fulfills the space requirement for 3 pigs.
What I do like about them having a living area and a separate play space is that downstairs I only have a stick tunnel, a food bowl and water bottle, and huge piles of hay, which gives them lots more open and uncluttered space, that they wouldn't have without a second tier.
 
Sue and Smartie said:
I used to use a rabbit hutch & attached run for my pigs and I didn't want them to have to jump in and out so I made a ramp for them, It had sides on it so they didn't fall off. Sorry about the silly caption, I made that for something else and now I can't work out how to get rid of it :). I forgot, the lines on the ramp are garden sticks fixed to give them a bit of grip.
caption.jpg
Click to expand...

This is hilarious.
Is it ok if I print it out for my kids.
 
Hi, been ill so not got round to posting this before now. Feel free to do what you want with any of it

Covering a ramp in carpet and adding a railing

Things needed
  • flat head screwdriver (only if your ramp has treads)
  • hammer (only if your ramp has treads)
  • Stanley blade or craft knife
  • glue (I used PVA)
  • an old card to spread the glue
  • piece of carpet (I used a carpet tile from B&M for £2)
  • wood for railings ( I used a garden trellis and wooden seed sticks both from pound land)
Picture 011.webp
If your ramp already has treads (wooden bits going across the ramp) then those will need to be removed first. Mine were glued on and then stapled into place. I gently pushed the edge of the flat screwdriver under the edge and tapped the end of the screwdriver with the hammer to prise them off. A couple came off in a few pieces but you don't need them again anyway.
Picture 016.webp
Cut your piece of carpet to size. I just used the ramp as a template and ruler to cut a straight line the width of the ramp. I had to cut two strips to cover my ramp as one wasn't long enough. Squirt a generous amount of glue onto your wood and spread out using an old store care of something similar. Work quickly or the glue will dry before you get the carpet stuck down. Stick the carpet to the ramp making sure to press down firmly all over the ramp. Wipe any excess glue that squeezes out the edges. Leave it to dry, depnding on what you used it might take a long time, my carpet tile had a hard plastic back to it so it took about 3 hours sitting on the radiator to dry.
Picture 0351.webp Picture 036.webp Picture 0371.webp
Cut your seed sticks to the height you want your railing. carefully dismantle your trellis, you should be able to gently pull it apart, remove any nails left in the wood. Lay out the long strips (trellis) and place the short sticks across (seed label sticks). Once it is all layed out glue the short sticks to the longs sticks one at a time and wipe any excess glue. Don't move it until it is dry or it will fall apart.
Picture 021.webp
Once it is fully dry then glue the railing to the edge of the ramp and leave to dry again. Then screw back into your cage and tempt your guinea pig up the ramp with something tasty. I waited until morning until I put the ramp on because I wanted to be around to make sure he could go up and down happily before leaving him. I didn't want him trapped upstairs with his water downstairs or something
Picture 040.webp Picture 038.webp Picture 039.webp
 
Namaah said:
Hi, been ill so not got round to posting this before now. Feel free to do what you want with any of it

[you]Covering a ramp in carpet and adding a railing[/you]

Things needed
  • flat head screwdriver (only if your ramp has treads)
  • hammer (only if your ramp has treads)
  • Stanley blade or craft knife
  • glue (I used PVA)
  • an old card to spread the glue
  • piece of carpet (I used a carpet tile from B&M for £2)
  • wood for railings ( I used a garden trellis and wooden seed sticks both from pound land)
View attachment 44941
If your ramp already has treads (wooden bits going across the ramp) then those will need to be removed first. Mine were glued on and then stapled into place. I gently pushed the edge of the flat screwdriver under the edge and tapped the end of the screwdriver with the hammer to prise them off. A couple came off in a few pieces but you don't need them again anyway.
View attachment 44942
Cut your piece of carpet to size. I just used the ramp as a template and ruler to cut a straight line the width of the ramp. I had to cut two strips to cover my ramp as one wasn't long enough. Squirt a generous amount of glue onto your wood and spread out using an old store care of something similar. Work quickly or the glue will dry before you get the carpet stuck down. Stick the carpet to the ramp making sure to press down firmly all over the ramp. Wipe any excess glue that squeezes out the edges. Leave it to dry, depnding on what you used it might take a long time, my carpet tile had a hard plastic back to it so it took about 3 hours sitting on the radiator to dry.
View attachment 44943 View attachment 44945 View attachment 44944
Cut your seed sticks to the height you want your railing. carefully dismantle your trellis, you should be able to gently pull it apart, remove any nails left in the wood. Lay out the long strips (trellis) and place the short sticks across (seed label sticks). Once it is all layed out glue the short sticks to the longs sticks one at a time and wipe any excess glue. Don't move it until it is dry or it will fall apart.
View attachment 44946
Once it is fully dry then glue the railing to the edge of the ramp and leave to dry again. Then screw back into your cage and tempt your guinea pig up the ramp with something tasty. I waited until morning until I put the ramp on because I wanted to be around to make sure he could go up and down happily before leaving him. I didn't want him trapped upstairs with his water downstairs or something
View attachment 44947 View attachment 44948 View attachment 44949
Click to expand...


Great ! Thank You for posting this !
 
We now have the standard correx ramp supplied with C&C cages.
Would if be helpful for me to post photos and a description of this?
 
Swissgreys said:
We now have the standard correx ramp supplied with C&C cages.
Would if be helpful for me to post photos and a description of this?
Click to expand...

Would you be happy to pm me with details ? I am intending to collate all the photos and post them on an information thread.
 
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