What Size For Hole And Ramp?

[katali]

I am building a hutch for my prospective guinea pigs, but keep making design changes. My latest wish to include is a ramp off the side to the floor. The hutch base is 10-11 inches off the floor, so that is the distance down they would need to climb, it would lose no space in the hutch if I take it from the side instead of through the floor; but how big a hole do I need to cut through the side, how long should my ramp preferably be, bearing in mind my hutch is over 4 ft long and the enclosure they will be in is 6ft long, so it can't be a longer ramp than that, and how wide should the ramp be?
Thanks.

 

[katali]

No one can give me good dimensions? I read on here about people having to fill in the extra space of hole in rabbit hutches as they were too big, so I figured this was a good place to ask about how big the hole should actually be?

 

[pip]

You dont want a steep ramp. A long ramp would be better as they wont slip on it. I am thinking of using a carpet tube for a ramp when I build a c&c cage. The inside diameter is 4" and I have a piece about 12" long in the temp cage as a hide. My piggy likes going in it and hiding from us. If you go to a local carpet shop, they might gladly give you a carpet tube. I dont know if you can get any bigger. I got mine from my wife's friend who's son is a carpet fitter. As for the hole, if you have a ramp ot tube, about a 5" square or round hole should be big enough. Best to have a ramp going along the run instead of across the front of the cage.
Hope this helps.

 

[pip]

For a ramp to reach 10" up, I would say minimum would be 24" long.

 

[katali]

Thanks. Do you think a ramp with a corner would be ok? I could make it a bit longer that way. Otherwise the guinea pigs might not have enough room to get off it at the bottom! Thanks for the carpet tube tip, might not work with a corner but it's a great tip in general. May have to haunt my local carpet shop

 

[pip]

A flat ranp with a corner would be ok. You could also use some guttering. If you use a carpet tube for a ramp, cut the bottom part at 45 degrees so the longer part is on the floor. This will make the top part a bit bigger and not a hinderance for the piggy to get in.