Ramp to lower level

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OK, this is getting really infuriating.....I moved my two sows from one double cage to another. It was necessary as the other one is higher, though the same surface area, and was needed by a rabbit. The one they were in had the ramp on the left hand side as you look at it and the one they are in now has the ramp on the right hand side as you look at the hutch. The new cage they are housed in had a slight drop through the floor hole to the ramp, unlike the other ramp which joined flush with the upper level. I moved them in there over a week ago, and would they go up and down, no they wouldn't !

They were fine in the other hutch, but will not go up and down in this one.

After a few days I unscrewed the internal sections raised the ramp as far up, (with a bit of jiggery pokery and some wooden batons) as I could and this left a few cms that it was not flush with the floor - nope, still didn't work. I have gone to them and put them up and down the ramp at intervals, they go up and down if they are placed on the ramp and manage to emerge out of the top or at the bottom. So, a few days later I did something I thought was fairly ingenious. I thought that if I got the top just about flush with the top flooring AND made it non-slippy then it coudln't fail. I unscrewed all the ramp section, deeply scored all the surface and bought 4 rubber door wedges - which neatly fit side to side at the top of the ramp and are firmly fixed ! Have they done it yet - NO they haven't !

I've tried leaving them individually at top and bottom and see if they join each other, left tasty food either top or bottom to tempt them up, I think I've tried most things that i can think of, but 1 1/2 weeks later they still won't use the ramp. Does anyone here think that they most likely will just decide one day to use it or have they developed a behaviour towards this ramp that they have reenforced ? They stand at the top and stare down, knowing there is grass, dandelions etc. down there. Eventually a while later I have to put them down the bottom.
 
OK :)p it seems nobody has any idea on how to get my guineas over this ramp-phobia and if they will just naturally revert to using it ?
 
Sorry I can't help. I have my boys in a double decker, they just used the ramp as it was from day 1. I was worried they wouldn't cos I have read so much on the forum about ramp-phobia. Good Luck. xx
 
Thanks Nutmeg, for taking the time to reply. I can't understand it, they were totally fine in the other double decker cage and my boar used the ramp jsut fine in the cage they have been moved to. I know that once they do it themselves, just ONCE they will be fine. I've jsut been down and put a large bowl of hand cut fresh grass at the bottom - see if that works >?!
 
Our baby pigs wouldn't go down for the first week or so. In the end I put them downstairs without the ramp, so they had to stay there for a little bit, then I put the ramp back in. Now they won't go upstairs much!
 
Oh goodness ! :)p I guess some guienas just don't like the idea of walking off ground level ? My grass left downstairs has just worked for one of them, so fingers crossed the other one follows suit tomorrow.
 
The ramps I make for my hutches,they are 2" off the floor this helps me clean the hutch out easier,also it make the ramp not so steep.The ramp is also covered with carpet which I think is alot easier on their little feet! rolleyes

Hope this little bit of info MAY help!rolleyes
 
i read your original post, but didn't really know what to suggest, you've tried exactly what we do to get ours using their ramps. I've never had a guinea pig that couldn't or wouldn't use a ramp eventually. We keep the hay at the top of ours so thay have to go up the ramp. Don't worry about it they'll use it when you least expect it. just make sure there is always a tasty treat at the top, so when they do go up its worth their while and pretty soon they'll be charging up and down it.
 
The upstairs bedroom in my hutch is full of fluffy toys and fleeces, the downstairs bedroom is full of Hay. They seem to like to snuggle down in the fleeces for night, and spend more daytime in the hay. Still the problem of getting them to see whats on offer though! xx
 
I think it might just take a while to get used too, when we put Spike in the hutch for the summer he always has to relearn how to use the ramp. I put trails of carrot on the little steps, and I put it his water on the bottom floor and his dinner at the top, so he has to go up and down, it worked for me :)
 
I like the carpet idea, that is great! I have rasied the bottom of the ramp by a couple of inches to make it less steep and have palced a baton under the end. I think today I will move their water down the bottom today as well. ;o)
 
my piggies have always used their ramp from as soon as they went in. Have u place them physically in the middleo f the ramp, so they have to use it?

upstairs has a little play area, which they love, and their snuggle tunnel and my ramp is lined with profleece. maybe lay treats they love up the so they go eat them.
 
I think I will line it tomorrow, they are trying to use it now but still slipping somewhat and look uncomfortable!
 
Gaile - I bought a hard wearing thin carpet tile today and cut it to fit their ramp - It has worked wonders, no more slipping and easily using the ramp ! Thanks for the idea.
 
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