New piggie owner advice please

[Newmum]

Hi one and all.

I have been having a quick read through some of the topics in this section with much interest and have a few questions.

My two little girls have been with us for about a month now and are outside in a two storey hutch. They have loads of hay in there and tunnels and one of the plastc igloos which we put plenty of hay into each night so they can snuggle in together. They are growing fast and seem happy enough. One of them, Smudge is bolder than her sister, Patches.

Every day we put them into their run and in there they have a log pile shelter and we put the igloo with some fresh hay in there as well. They love spending the time out munching grass and are not at all phased by the cats looking at them.

It is really wet at the moment and I am wondering whether it is better to leave them in the hutch when it is a wet day or to still put them out into the run and they can choose whether to come out or stay in the igloo.

Also I was reading in other posts about putting in the head pads, fleece etc. I haven't done this yet but think I will. Do you find they don't chew the fabric. I am guessing that they don't. What about keeping the fleece and fabric tunnels clean? Do you wash them every day or once hey look a bit grubby.

Finally as I said they have a two storey run with a ramp up to the top floor but so far they haven't used the ramp. My friends piggie used to live with a bunny pal and followed the bunny up and down the ramp no problem. How do I get mine to go up and down?

Sorry if these are obvious questions but I would be really grateful for the advice.

Thanks

Lynda
Smudge and Patches

 

[hayls<3]

Hi and welcome,

I wouldn't recommend putting piggies on grass when it's wet as piggies are low slung, causing it to wet their bellies, little bits and feet so it can cause alot of URI's.
Is there anyway you could put the run you have inside? if you lay a waterproof sheet and some newspaper or a fleece, they will be able to run around indoors.

Fleece can be easily washed and my piggies don't trying to chew it. If your worried about your washing machine getting clogged with hay/hair, then you can always use a wash bag. Some people change the fleece when it starts to smell as fleece rather than how it looks as it does begin to look messy anyway especially with hay getting all stuck to it.
Heres a really helpful thread on fleece/vetbed:
http://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=29854&highlight=fleece

As for the ramp, if it is too steep your piggies will be nervous to try it, but placing down fleece/vet bed/carpet gives them something to grip their little claws into so they can feel more confident to get up them. You could use the chew cubes which you can get cable tied around the ramp through the bottom, or add sides to the ramp using correx and it will give them abit more stability when going up the ramp.
Give them time, they will learn to use it.

Hope some of that helps.

 

[Newmum]

Thanks. I found the thread you linked after I posted the message. Very useful. I think I will have to go shopping. The run is too big. 6ft x 4ft to bring indoors. I like the idea of putting the fleece down the ramp. Think I will do that at the weekend. At least then on a wet day they will hopefully use both levels.

 

[Glynis]

Hi you've had some fab info from our lovely Hayls<3
One thing when whee put a ramp into our girls house, i put some treats up the top but also guided them up and down a few times so they knew the territory
Would love to see some pigtures of your babies, whee have a stories/photo's section.
Lynda you've asked some great questions! If you have a look up the top of each section you'll find some very helpful threads/stickies. And please feel welcome to join in the chatter too!

Glynis, Velvet and Onyx x

 

[Newmum]

I have put some pics in the photos section.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[Glynis]

yay...................scoots off to see x)

 

[hayls<3]

Thanks. I found the thread you linked after I posted the message. Very useful. I think I will have to go shopping. The run is too big. 6ft x 4ft to bring indoors. I like the idea of putting the fleece down the ramp. Think I will do that at the weekend. At least then on a wet day they will hopefully use both levels.

I use this indoors for my piggies
http://www.zooplus.co.uk/shop/small_pets/runs_fencing/73280/8_sided/14543

I bought two lots when it was on offer at £10.
I've currently have it attached to my indoor cage to make it bigger for them. I just use a waterproof sheet underneath, a towel and then the fleece and my piggies love to explore in it.

 

[sweetdove]

I got some of them colour playpen to i brought 2 lots from amozon put together and made it their home when my laptops back i will show you how it looks. I,m very pleased with it, more importently Jack and Bob love it to

 

[Wiebke]

Thanks. I found the thread you linked after I posted the message. Very useful. I think I will have to go shopping. The run is too big. 6ft x 4ft to bring indoors. I like the idea of putting the fleece down the ramp. Think I will do that at the weekend. At least then on a wet day they will hopefully use both levels.

I use cheap indoors doormats (available in a supermarket) for my own ramps; they give a better grip, and they are as cheap to replace whenever they go grotty.