Guinea-pigs won't use one of their hutches

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Alicia

Alicia

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Sasha, Edie and Marmalade have a 4ft hutch and a 3ft hutch which are attached together:

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They also have a 6ft run attached to the hutches. They only seem to use the 3ft hutch, they can use the other hutch because they used to use it before, and they have no problem with the ramp. The 4ft hutch has a run underneath, and sometimes the guinea-pigs sit in there but they never use the upstairs, and they can use the ramp but they don't use it. I'd really like them to use it because the 3ft hutch is smaller, and it needs cleaning loads because its so small and there's more guinea-pigs in it. They have a hole in the side of the 3ft hutch that leads into the 4ft hutch, which they can all get through and I don't understand why they won't go upstairs in the 4ft hutch.

DSCN1448.jpg


I've tried putting hay and food upstairs but they don't go up there much. I've seen Sasha upstairs twice, and apart from that none of them go there. How else can I try and get them to use the upstairs of the hutch? I think they just use the 3ft hutch because its easier to get to the run from that hutch.
 
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I dont really know what to suggest, sorry. If they dont want to go up there you cant force them. Maybe when you have them out for a cuddle put them up there when you put them back in. If they are happy running around downstairs then let them be. Just pop some hay up the top maybe and make sure they have a bed/hidy too, so if they do decide to go up they feel safe and secure and have something to munch on.

x.
 
That join is not very piggy friendly, it looks as though they have to climb over the bottom rail to get in - is that the case?

If so then no they won't use it much as guineas are not very good at climbing like that.

I would suggest a better join using a piece of piping or similar than allows them to feel more secure.

To be very honest I would give up with that set up and buy a bigger hutch, they aren't expensive at the moment, the way the door shuts on the 3ft hutch is most definitely not fox proof I am afraid (I can get one open very easily with a bit of brute force, and I am not a hungry fox) and neither is that little heart shaped catch on the bigger one :{
 
That's an old photo, the 3ft hutch has bolts on it now, and my Dad said he's going to get some more bolts for the 4ft hutch.
I can't get another hutch, and they were living in the 4ft hutch, but I had the spare 3ft hutch so I attached them together so they could have more space.
They don't have to jump over a bar or anything, they just have to get onto the ramp, which normally they do. Maybe they just don't want to use the upstairs then :)
 
My guinea pigs had a double hutch like that one and had no problem jumping over the rail thing to get out into their run that was attached. So I'm sure yours can too.

Basically I think guinea pigs are lazy :)) and will just stay in one place if that's easier. But maybe if you put all their food, veggies and hay upstairs, then they'd have to go up there, but maybe just a hay rack downstairs too so they have hay. And put them up there a lot so that they know the veggies are up there and they get used to going down the ramp and all.

But honestly I think they might just keep using the small hutch because it's more convenient for them, silly piggies rolleyes

You could think about selling the hutches and buying one bigger new one with the money. I had two smaller versions of that double hutch, that I sold for €50 each, on a website where you sell things. They were about a year old and in good condition, but a bit chewed, and I powerwashed them out so they looked pretty good. And I got about 15 phone calls about them, so it is easy to sell them! So that's something to think about. :)

Or maybe if you just used the 2 storey hutch, and joined the run onto that. I know you want to give them more space, but they would use the space they have more then if you did that. I know 4 foot is meant to be the size for two guinea pigs, but seeing as they have the run too, it would be pretty good. :) They'd probably be using more space than they are now anyway :)

Because when I had my 2 storey hutch joined onto a run, they used the upstairs, downstairs and run all the time. I gave them their veggies out in the run aswell to get them to run around more :)
 
Oh I just saw your post saying you can't get a new one.

Well would you think about just joining the 2 storey hutch to the run, without using the 3ft hutch at all? I'm sure they'd use the upstairs then :)
 
I could do that, but I'd be worried about them not having enough space, do you think it would be ok for the tree of them?
 
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