Slippery ramp

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Hobie

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Help! Ive just bought the Chartwell from Home & Roost for my guinea pigs to have more space as they are quite big males but the ramp is too slippery for them. They cannot get up or down it without skidding and falling and I'm worried they will hurt themselves. They are now refusing to go near it. How can I make it non slip for them? Sand Paper? But how to get it on as cant use glue in the cage. Please has anyone else had this problem?
 
Claire W said:
I have a ramp in my cage and have a fleece ramp tunnel. You can however cover the ramp with carpet (I brought a cheap doormat from ikea and cut to size)
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What did you use to stick it? I've bought a carpet door mat and glued it to ramp with superspray adhesive. I don't like using chemicals in hutch but only thing I could do. I've used white spirit to get any excess glue off. Just waiting for it to dry now before testing it. Hope it works as really stuck otherwise.
 
You could try using stapler gun. My vet suggested sandpaper but I was relutant to use it as I thought it would be too rough for their feet. I too have a Chartwell Hutch but I used the ramp from the old hutch as they were used to that one and it fitted OK. I still have the new ramp in the garage in case I ever need to use it.
 
Might a coir doormat be better for a compulsive nibbler? I have 8 weeks to Piggle-proof my own new cage ramp so this is really useful! I thought I might buy a new Rosewood carrot house to prop it on to decrease the slope, everyone can climb onto a carrot house and the tasty topping is quite non-slip :)
 
Hobie said:
What did you use to stick it? I've bought a carpet door mat and glued it to ramp with superspray adhesive. I don't like using chemicals in hutch but only thing I could do. I've used white spirit to get any excess glue off. Just waiting for it to dry now before testing it. Hope it works as really stuck otherwise.
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I just used double sided tape :)
 
Just had a light bulb moment! You could use velcro tape that is sticky on one side.
 
I've got a hutch from home and roost. I've cut a carpet tile to size and nailed it to the ramp.

Make sure the nails are not sticking up.

My pig pigs have been using it a lot and have had no problems! I've also propped the bottom of the ramp up a couple of inches so it's not quite so steep.
 
Thanks for the advice. I've propped the ramp up on a brick so not as steep. Gpigs are reluctant to use it but hopefully will get use to it. Just hope the glue holds as they have to really scramble to get up it. Such an expensive hutch too. Very disappointed.
 
I’ve stuck fleece tunnels on mine with Velcro
 

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Hobie said:
Thanks for the advice. I've propped the ramp up on a brick so not as steep. Gpigs are reluctant to use it but hopefully will get use to it. Just hope the glue holds as they have to really scramble to get up it. Such an expensive hutch too. Very disappointed.
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Don’t be disappointed. It had taken all my piggies a while to get used to the ramp
 
Piggies follow scent spores so you could try taking off the ramp, and putting the piggies downstairs with the ramp to run along and scent mark for a few days and nights then put the ramp back. It took mine about 5 around 6 months to use it properly. Don't be disappointed. They don't know what it's for. They'll be running up and down it in no time I'm sure. GPs are naturally suspicious of things they don't know being prey animals. Last year when I put a new log hidey in the run they ignored it for a bit, then they ran up to it and ran off and when it didn't chase them they cautiously sniffed it and when they realised it wasn't going to hurt/kill/chase after them they were fine with it.
 
I'm going to try coir matting and then I think we're all going to practice using ramps in the playpen to climb onto cardboard boxes until we get our new big cage out (human daddy made us pack it away until after Theo's had his plum fairy op, because it was blocking access to the kitchen/beer fridge when he got home from work and it was too big to move to the pet room without dismantling it anyway!)
 
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