Guinea Pigs Still Have Not Used The Ramp...

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Sid and Henry

Sid and Henry

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:stu:Hi, my guinea pigs got a new hutch on friday with underfloor heating but they STILL have not used the ramp, I think it may be too steap for them :( I've tried to encourage them with treats etc. But they just won't go up or down! They are so skitzy and jump at every move I make and after the incodent of Henry jumping out from the top floor, every move they make scares me! I feel like they hate me, because they hate being touched, held of fed! And it stresses me out that I can't earn the trust from a ball of fluff...:hb: How can I make them use the ramp? It doen have those ledge things for their feet incase they slip I might ask the builders to make it half way down, thh a platform, and then up again..
I'm looking at buying one of the tunnels from cosy caviescto encourage them to run up!
Any ideas how to encourage them to use it, how to make them like me and not jump out of the hutch like a suicide attempt? It annoys me because I got them over a month ago and they still hate me and everyone :bye::mal::help:
 
Could I maybe use one of my fleece blankets to make it softer to run on and more attractive?
 
Could you post a picture of the ramp? It may help to see how steep it is and how it looks to give you advice on it. =)

Most people have bits on the side of their ramp so the guinea pigs aren't as scared to use them - think a wood banister that human stairs have. Guinea pigs don't really need higher levels because they are animals that prefer to be on the ground. I don't personally like ramps for guinea pigs because my old guinea pig (avatar) got badly hurt from running up his and jumping down from the top level over and over as a game he made up.
 
Those are the photos of the ramp, I can get better pictures if you need it tomorrow. It does look quite steep!
 
That does look a bit too steep for piggies i must admit! Is there anyway you could make it longer to help them? Not all piggies take to using ramps very quickly!

I would usually suggest putting one pig upstairs and one downstairs but i think it would be worth trying to make the ramp as long as possible first to reduce how steep it is.
 
twiams said:
That does look a bit too steep for piggies i must admit! Is there anyway you could make it longer to help them? Not all piggies take to using ramps very quickly!

I would usually suggest putting one pig upstairs and one downstairs but i think it would be worth trying to make the ramp as long as possible first to reduce how steep it is.
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Yes, I thought so too, but couldn't complain immediately as I got it bespoke, for free WITH underfloor heaing set up because I'm not an adult, I'm a child... I thought of asking for them to build something like this but made of wood ofcourse, since it is a hutch. Also, maybe I could prop a wooden hidey on the bottom to make it less steep, so when the get there they just jump down from the hidey?
 
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Something like this would be good for them to feel safer.

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Image taken from google images.
 
I have to agree, it's too steep. It sounds like they are still settling in. It really does take time. They need to feel safe. Personally I would make the ramp longer, ensure the flooring of the ramp has some grip. I use carpet secured with cable ties. Every time you approach the hutch humm a little tune or sing the same song and then leave them food. They will associate your noise with good things lie food. It won't happen overnight.
You have to be patient, it took Millie moo a year to become friends as she was a baby rescue.
 
Ok, I will try to make the ramp longer and put some fleece/carpet there to make them feel more secure :)) I will also try to associate my scent and sound eith good things like food, (not that I already do)! Thank-you for the replies!:luv:
 
I don't think the ramp is too steep, my 2 trios of piggies have ramps at least as steep & Minky who's been suffering from a head tilt goes up & down without problem. 2 things need to be done. First, put a piece of wood up the side of the ramp (like a closed in bannister) so they can't fall off. Second, add something with grip to the ramp so that they can walk up and down & not slide. I use either carpet tiles of door mats made of similar material to carpet tiles cut to size. Then place the piggies halfway up or down so they'll have to go one way or the other. They'll soon get used to it.
 
Stewybus said:
I don't think the ramp is too steep, my 2 trios of piggies have ramps at least as steep & Minky who's been suffering from a head tilt goes up & down without problem. 2 things need to be done. First, put a piece of wood up the side of the ramp (like a closed in bannister) so they can't fall off. Second, add something with grip to the ramp so that they can walk up and down & not slide. I use either carpet tiles of door mats made of similar material to carpet tiles cut to size. Then place the piggies halfway up or down so they'll have to go one way or the other. They'll soon get used to it.
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Okay, thank you so much, I will try to get that done as soon ad possible!
 
Stewybus said:
I don't think the ramp is too steep, my 2 trios of piggies have ramps at least as steep & Minky who's been suffering from a head tilt goes up & down without problem. 2 things need to be done. First, put a piece of wood up the side of the ramp (like a closed in bannister) so they can't fall off. Second, add something with grip to the ramp so that they can walk up and down & not slide. I use either carpet tiles of door mats made of similar material to carpet tiles cut to size. Then place the piggies halfway up or down so they'll have to go one way or the other. They'll soon get used to it.
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I have tried this with my trio in a ferplast 120 double. they will not go up. I have tried a plastic tube (one of those stretchy ones attached to the wooden ramp and carpet) and then in desperation I bought some guttering and cut it as long as possible and added a material tunnel and they will still not use it :mal:

The annoying thing was when they were in my C&C they would use ramp in there. I think I am going to build a new C&C for them and put my pair in the 120 but I don't want to Waste top layer any other ideas for making them use ramp. I have tried putting halfway up they just sit there until I rescue them (didn't leave them too long only a minute as they were scared) and also tried trail of veggies :mal:
 
Maple and Pecan use to live in a two-story hutch and Pecan could go up the ramp but downright refused to go down. Maple would sort of fall down it and run up it. They live in the shed now and because it's less steep. Pecan is up and down it like a yoyo :)
 
two of them are young too approx. 6 months so they have no excuse lol. Maybe they are just too scaredy. I am going to try mrs mouse and sophie I think As sophie is younger and hopefully she'll get some use out of it
 
Briony_Y said:
two of them are young too approx. 6 months so they have no excuse lol. Maybe they are just too scaredy. I am going to try mrs mouse and sophie I think As sophie is younger and hopefully she'll get some use out of it
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Once my OH tried to "persuade" Pecan down the ramp... she fell off half way and hid underneath until he left her alone... As you can imagine not very happy he tried to traumatise her!
 
Sid and Henry said:
View attachment 6072 View attachment 6073
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Oh, you have my hutch, the Bluebell Hideaway, Right?
I had no problem with the pigs using the ramp, they most likely started to use it because when they saw me coming to get them, they could only escape to the upstairs, I would suggest trailing some vegetable upstairs. You mustn't be scared of each move, I had an incident with Lily coming out the hutch, but was caught safe and sound. You should waft your hand in the hutch, or just slowly point one finger in, and tap them and they should run to the other side of the hutch (ramp entrance). Then try to tap them on the bottom to go up the ramp? I didn't add the banister when I constructed the hutch, as I wanted to get my hand in and see where the pigs are when they attempt to go up the ramp.
 
yes I can. when I first got it I just tried with only carpet put them halfway and squeak jumped down before I could stop her, luckily she seemed ok.
 
Chief Guinea Pig said:
Oh, you have my hutch, the Bluebell Hideaway, Right?
I had no problem with the pigs using the ramp, they most likely started to use it because when they saw me coming to get them, they could only escape to the upstairs, I would suggest trailing some vegetable upstairs. You mustn't be scared of each move, I had an incident with Lily coming out the hutch, but was caught safe and sound. You should waft your hand in the hutch, or just slowly point one finger in, and tap them and they should run to the other side of the hutch (ramp entrance). Then try to tap them on the bottom to go up the ramp? I didn't add the banister when I constructed the hutch, as I wanted to get my hand in and see where the pigs are when they attempt to go up the ramp.
Click to expand...

if your asking me I have ferplast 120 double indoor cage. it was a big mistake but I'm sure the reviews were good?
 
Sid and Henry said:
Ok, I will try to make the ramp longer and put some fleece/carpet there to make them feel more secure :)) I will also try to associate my scent and sound eith good things like food, (not that I already do)! Thank-you for the replies!:luv:
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I wouldn't bother making the ramp longer, but adding some carpet/fleece is a good idea, and will help them to feel safe.
 
A possible alternative to a ramp is steps if you have space. The steps would need to be about 15cm long by 10cm high which piggies can manage easily. Some sort of carpet tile type material on the step treads.
 
Chief Guinea Pig said:
Oh, you have my hutch, the Bluebell Hideaway, Right?
I had no problem with the pigs using the ramp, they most likely started to use it because when they saw me coming to get them, they could only escape to the upstairs, I would suggest trailing some vegetable upstairs. You mustn't be scared of each move, I had an incident with Lily coming out the hutch, but was caught safe and sound. You should waft your hand in the hutch, or just slowly point one finger in, and tap them and they should run to the other side of the hutch (ramp entrance). Then try to tap them on the bottom to go up the ramp? I didn't add the banister when I constructed the hutch, as I wanted to get my hand in and see where the pigs are when they attempt to go up the ramp.
Click to expand...
Nope, but I have the bluebell hideaway hutch cover, it fits perfectly, mine is custom made by our house comsrtuction workers, I got it for free with underfloor heating
 
I have a bluebell and my girls couldn't climb the ramp. We attached a piece of runaround tunnel to it and then they had no problems getting up and down.
 
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