Two tricks I recently tried and worked

[mikew]

As some of you may know about two weeks ago I got two female guinea pigs. However, they have not been drinking out of their water bottles and were not going to the second level. To remedy these two problems I came up with two solutions. Since my water bottle spout goes through the coroplast first I put a piece of their pellet food above the spout so they would have to use their teeth to get it out. As they did this they would bump the spout and water would come out. They finally learned that this little spout sticking in gave them water. For the final dilemma I found another nifty solution. Once a day I would pick the little poops out of the cage with gloves. They would get scared and freak out. So I decided before I would do that to put some fresh veggies on the second level, scoop them up and put them up their. This reduces stress for them and also is getting them used to using the second level. I just thought I would post this for anyone else who is or may have this type of trouble in the future.

[Cosmictadpole]

I was thinking about sticking the food pellet right into the spigot that dispenses the water, but that might make all of the water leak out. I think this is going to take more thought-process before I try it...

[mikew]

You may also be able to stick something on it that may have a certain scent. I would think something like peanut butter but I don't think they are allowed to have it. Maybe something else that they like that you could kind of mush on it like a piece of a banana or something that would get them interested in it. Then they would start licking whatever you put on it off and then they may realize that water comes out of it. Good luck