Ramps

[auburnmare5]

I am building a new cage for my pig next week.(As many of you probably know.)

It wil have a second level and I will need a ramp.

I have questions about it.

How long does it have to be so that it is comfortable for my pig?

How wide?

Should there be something over the coro?

Can a grid be bent to make walls on the sides of it?

Should it be enclosed?

Also, any other suggestions/advice/tips are gladly accepted.

I have never built a C+C Cage before so any other advice on making the cage is general would be helpful too!

Thank You for Reading.

 

[newpiggiemommy]

How long does it have to be so that it is comfortable for my pig?

How wide?

Should there be something over the coro?

Can a grid be bent to make walls on the sides of it?

Should it be enclosed?

1. My ramp is a little longer than one and a half grids long. I bent two grids (the key to bending them is SLOW AND EASY) and I overlapped them by 4 squares. I zip-tied (cable ties) the two grids together, and zip-tied the ramp with 5 zip-ties to the upper level.
(My piggies love running up and down their ramp!)

2. I bent my grids into a L-shape. 1/2 the grid is the ramp and 1/2 the grid is the safety guard.

3. I didn't use coro on my ramp. I zip-tied cardboard to the ramp and I use a terry cloth towel (clamped on) for traction.

4/5. Should be answered in the previous answers!

I hope this helps. If you have more questions please ask.

 

[auburnmare5]

Thank You newpiggiemommy!

That was very helpful.

Can I attach a long piece of coroplast to the piece for the loft?

Again, Thank You!

 

[pigsforlife]

Check out the photo galleries and do a search of the forums for more ideas.

 

[Feylin]

You can see my cage here: www.flickr.com/feylin (I was having trouble uploading pics here)

For the coroplast on ramps question: I punched holes through the ends of my coroplast and zip tied those to the ends of my ramps to keep the coroplast from sliding down. I lay towels over it and make sure that the ends extend beyond the ramps under the fleece. This seems to keep the towels from slipping when the piggies race up and down. You have to put something over the coroplast or the little piggy feet can't get any traction!
I have one steep (1 bent grid to go 1/2 grid up by 1 grid long) and one shallow ramp (2 grids to go 1/2 grid up by2 grids long) and the piggies treat them both the same. They dont' seem to mind so long as the ramps lead to food!
I put all the food and hay up in the kitchen loft to encourage them to go up and down. It REALLY keeps the mess on the fleece down to a minimum. I love it.

 

[Hershey's Mom]

Cute pictures of your boys Feylin! And of Lois too!

 

[Newpiggiemom]

I used a bent grid, turned sideways and attached to the side of the cage so it's enclosed. I cable tied the coroplast to it and then glued the rubberish non-slip stuff (I know, real technical names!) that you use in the kitchen to open jars or line your shelves with so they wouldn't slip. It has worked great. I used bent fiddlesticks as the stairway at the bottom of the ramp for two of my pigs. The other side of the divided cage has a bent grid ramp also but with a platform made out of one grid connected at the corner of the cage. This way he can go under it and hide and get on it to go up.
I still can't figure out how to post pictures in here so I upoloaded them to the ramps Photo galleries if you want to see mine.

 

[Feylin]

Thanks, Hershey's Mom! Lois is kind of having middle child syndrome- She's been the only pet for 10 years or more. We're still adapting to having small mammals around!

 

[auburnmare5]

Thanks to all of you guys for your responses.

They are all appreciated!