a bit of advice to start off on the right foot please

[niky257]

Hi

Firstly, hello! I'm Niky and now have 2 male guinea pigs - they've been with us only since Sunday. We have an outdoor cage with a ramp - I read loads of stuff about cages and min. size etc and thought a 2 tier was a good idea - as yet the piggies are yet to use the ramp, so I 'm already worrying I've made the wrong choice. Anyway, I have also bought a run as I really want them to have as much space as possible whenever they can - of course it was lovely here yesterday, but today I was hoping to put them in the run and it's damp onthe grass, so no go. Really, I think my question(s) are: I havent held the pigs yet as I wanted tehm to settle - I've been chatting to them and they are definitely less nervous, but I would still say very wary. Should I be holding them now? Also, re: the cage, should I continue to coax them down the ramp, or put them in the bottom - will this confuse them? And lastly, re: the run, if it's too damp outside I was wondering abut bringong them into the conservatory to let them a have a run round - again, is it too early and will this confuse them? I dont want them to get bored, but at the same time don't want to overwhelm them.

Many thanks

Niky

PS - I have read loads of posts and got loads of advice already, so thank you.

 

[neuroticmum]

Hi Niky, welcome!

I also have 2 boys who live in an outside 2 tier hutch. They manage their ramp just fine but I have read about putting material on the ramp to stop them slipping inbetween the wooden slats.

I wouldn't worry about yours not having used it yet, if you've only had them a few days they'll still be settling in and getting used to their surroundings, I'd just let them explore when they feel ready.

On my bottom tier I have a carboard box stuffed with hay to act as a hidey in case someone feels scared, and a hay rack, i also "hide" bit of veg down there for them too, a few green beans or carrot slices, they seem to enjoy foraging around for it.

If I can't get my boys outside in their run I let them run around on my kitchen floor and most of the time they pee on a piece of newspaper that I put behind the kitchen bin, again I give them a few places to hide such as a newspaper tent or tunnel and they seem to like that.

HTH
Carolyn x

 

[twiams]

Welcome to the forum !

If your having problems with a ramp and them using it i found the best method, when i got my new cage, was to put one piggy upstairs and one piggy downstairs, they soon called to each other and worked it out and before long they would be zipping up and down.
If all else fails some people use carpet tiles as they have some good grip and can be attached to the ramp.
Also, another option is something called ramp tunnels which some people use, they're a cosy type of tunnel that help the piggy feel a little more secure when using the ramp, if it doesn't have sides etc. however i've never used this so wouldn't know where to start with them !
Don't worry though it does take piggies a while to get used to knew surroundings and a new cage is a big change for little piggies !

Most people recommend to start handling after a 24 hour settling in period. The more you handle the quicker the taming process will be, although it is still a slow process due to them being prey animals they will always be quite nervous and wary of things just as it's in there nature. So don't be alarmed if they run away from you, mine still do and i've nearly had them a year now.

With the run, you can put it wherever you like ! It won't confuse them it will just give them somewhere new to explore, set out maybe a fleece blanket, or i use a plastic waterproof tablecloth on the floor with a fleece on top and just allow the piggies to have a run around although they're pretty lazy and don't do much running and tend to stay in the hidey houses or under the foot stool !
With the run on the grass though be careful about how much time you allow them on the grass, as they may not have been exposed to it, you should always start with small periods of time on the grass as it's very rich and being exposed to alot of it could make them ill form eating too much so slowly increase how much time they spend out eating grass.

Hope thats helped you a little bit.

 

[niky257]

thanks

Hi - that has helped a lot - think I need to start to handle them a bit - have been talking to them a lot and have just fed them some carrot today from my hands, they are definitely a bit calmer, just didn't want to freak them out by picking them up if it wasn't the right thing to do.

Thanks very much both of you - I have had 2 children - and I seem more worried about doing wrong by the gunieas!

Niky