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Why wont they use the bottom of there hutch

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sqeeker

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Ok so its been like 2 and a half months since i bout there 2 tier hutch but they still wont use there ramp and go down stairs any ideas why they wont use it?
 
What's downstairs? Is it a run or more hutch? What is the ramp made of? Are their feet able to grip? Is there anything down there making the journey worthwhile? ha Most pigs get the hang of a ramp, mine gallop up and down all day long. x
 
Do you have sides on the ramp? Mine never used theirs til I glued some on and covered it with fleece :)
 
Five of my six will use the ramp as it is but Rosie needs the tunnel on it or she won't use it. If the tunnel falls off Rosie will sit by the door and wait for me to fix it, she is scared of falling off I think.
 
Hope they get use to it soon.

I have just been given an outdoor hutch with a lower run. mmm maybe I should make a tunnel instead of the steps??
 
My Kwan coundn't do it at first.

When I bought their 4 level cage Yin was able to use the ramps right away but whenever Kwan tried she would fall down. Once fallen to the ground level she wouldn't leave and just sat in a corner.

I can't prove this but I know I saw Yin teaching Kwan how to do it. Now both of them run up and down and even play chase on the ramps.

I suppose it's just something that some guineas need to learn.
 
I was considering a double for my piggers but I was worried about their little feet on the ramps so got a bit longer hutch instead. I can't imagine my piggers using it. Maybe if you put tasty things down there like extra hay and veggies?
 
Thanks guys yeah the ramp is made of wood with little steps on it, i will try making a tunnel this weekend and see if they use it,
The bottom of the hutch is just another part of hutch they can play in and its indoors not out so should be just as warm as the top of the hutch. :)
 
well i put them on the ramp then gently persuaded them up it whilst i held them but they still dont seem to want to use it :(
 
Yeah mabe but its still really clean like no poo at all down there and no food gone out of pot thats what makes me think they aint been down there. :(
 
All my hutches are double storey with ramps. I find some pigs take to it like a duck to water whilst others are very reluctant and takes them weeks to get the hang of it. It's usually a more confident piggy here who finally persuades the reluctant user. You cannot force them and setting them on the ramp could just freak them out. Things I have tried are - veg scattered down the ramp, hay trails down the ramp, lifting piggy from the top floor to the bottom floor and leaving for a little while so they realise there is another floor with fun things going on. As others have mentioned you could try sides or a tunnel on the ramp as well.
 
When Pippa and Willow first lived in their hutch, they lived in the bottom half and seemed reluctant to go up. We tempted the with parsley and cucumber at the bottom, middle and top of the ramp to encourage them to go up. Both sussed it but were then reluctant to go back down rolleyes We tried the same trick again and it worked :))

Now there's no stopping them and both leg it up and down at full speed! Little Pixel seems to have got it straight away too (although the angle isn't as steep as the hutch in their current cage)

One thing I was initially worried abut was the distance between the 'steps' so we added extra steps in for them to give extra grip

Good luck. I'm sure they'll figure it out soon :)
 
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