Guinea pigs, are ours just dim?

[threeponies]

My daughter has 3 guinea pigs (The Piggles) who have lived indoors until this week, I bought them a lovely hutch and run combo so that they can live outside and eat grass etc. There is a ramp for the piggles to go up/down but they are being very reluctant to use it, atm they will only go up it and I lift them down into the run.
Do we have thick guinea pigs or do they need a 'hand rail' eg could I put an edge on the ramp, or will they get used to it?

 

[MerrySherryRider]

They shouldn't have a problem unless its a slippery surface. have you tried putting their favourite food inside the hutch ? If they're getting a lot from the grass, they may just prefer that at the moment.
Is it the hutch itself ? Can you put something that smells of the old hutch in there ?

Sorry, just re read your post.. Yes, they will get used to the new outdoor living arrangement, they are naturally hesitant to begin with.

 

[splashgirl45]

if it is very steep they may be a bit frightened of slipping, you could tack a strip of carpet to help them grip..or they may be worried about being near the edge so your suggestion about outting an edge on the ramp may help...i was always worried that mine would fall off so i put a piece of wood along the side of the ramp..

 

[threeponies]

Thanks for replies, the ramp has a non slip covering already but it fell off yesterday so my OH is going to replace it with a wider one complete with 'safety rail'.

Hopefully that will encourage them.

 

[Penny Less]

Well I| have the same problem, got a lovely hutch with ramp, ramp has battens across, Ive made sure it isnt too steep, ive put food on it but they wont use it ! It would be nice if they could come and go as they pleased instead of me having to move them all the time.
Perhaps the hand rail is a good idea !

 

[suestowford]

I had one pair of pigs who would never go down the ramp. I always had to lift them into the run. The ramp even had pig-height sides so there was no way they could fall off it.
They would happily go up the ramp, just wouldn't go down it.