Ramp for 3-legged piggy

[babyhippie]

Hi. I am a newbie here. I am in the process of building a C&C cage. (The sign shop just delivered a sheet of Coroplast this morning.) I don't have a lot of room for a large cage for my 2 boars unless I put them in a less-used room. I'd rather keep them in the family room where they will be around the family more.

I am trying to do a 2 by 3 with a 2 by 1 upper level, but my husband really wants me to keep it to 2 by 2 with a 2 by 1 upper level. We're butting heads on this, but I will try & rearrange a bit to try & make the bigger layout work.

Anyway, here is my dilemma: Woody has 3 legs (he has just 1 hind leg) and I am concerned about him using the ramp. Has anyone successfully constructed a ramp suitable for a piggy that doesn't have the best sense of balance? I don't think he realizes that he only has 3 legs as we see him try to use his non-leg to scratch himself. I am leaning towards an L-shaped ramp with a shallow slope and some sort of side to keep him from falling off.

I can't wait to get my boys in their bigger home. They are both like a couple of fat cats, much preferring to sleep than to run around. (They don't move from their spot during floor time; they just sit there like a couple of lumps. I've never had pigs that didn't take off running before.)

We also recently "adopted" a beatiful female Peruvian from a girl that my husband works with. She was going to give her away in a newspaper ad because she didn't have enough time to spend with her. I'd like to adopt a friend for her once I get the boys in a bigger cage. I have plenty of cubes to build another C&C cage for the girls too.

 

[Lyndsay]

A 2x1 cage isn't really big. But the L shape idea should work, if you can fit it into the size cage you are planning to build. Tell your husband that bigger is better, and it's for thier own health.

About the female you adopted, getting her a partner would be a good idea, and then you could move both cages into the less used room, there would be enough chitter chatter for them to keep each other company, and you wouldn't feel so bad about leaving them alone. Also moving them into the room has it's perks too, you can then build a bigger cage.

 

[babyhippie]

The smallest size I was considering is 2 by 2 with an upper level, which is still larger than what they have now. My husband did give me his blessing to make the cage larger if I put it in the other room. I should probably do that. (I was just worried about them being away from the main activity as the boys are in my kitchen now.)

 

[Lyndsay]

Thats nice of you to make them a larger cage. I'm in the process of making a 2x4 for my single boar, he lives in my room with me.. and he gets depressed and wont come out of his pigloo when we move him into the kitchen or into the basement when it is really hot. For their best intrest, it would probably be alo easier to move the cage into that room, that way they have their own space, and you don't have to worry about how loud the television is, or the stereo.

 

[carrotflavour]

2x2 wont be big enough. a 2x4 would be pefect for 2 boys, but a 2x3 will do, an upper level is a great idea.

My suggestions is to at least try a ramp with an upper level, and if your 3 legged pig has trouble then take it down. Make the ramp as big as you can and make sure there is a side bit so he cant fall. My ramp is made out of bent cubes, which provides a little barrier so my pigs cant fall. I suggest you do that. Look in my gallery for a pic, and there is also loads of other pics of the same thing in the photo galleries (under ramps).

good luck!

 

[carrotflavour]

And also, a big cage is more important then them being near people. Try and get family members to go in to the pigs a lot, say hi and give them a cuddle...if you're really concerned.

if you going to a different room then definetly go with a 2x4 or even bigger

 

[babyhippie]

And also, a big cage is more important then them being near people.

Okay, thank you! I think that solves my problem about the cage size.

 

[Slap Maxwell]

Bring the fact that you can't fit a ramp in a 2x2 unless it goes sideways, which I don't think would be manuverable for the handicapped pig.

Go with a 2x4, at least try. This is because with a handicapped pig, he may not be able to use the ramp and floor space is what he REALLY needs.

 

[amfeider]

If you really want a second level make the ramp with coroplast covered with a piece of carpet or a floor mat and make the most gradual slope on the ramp as possible for your cage. Also, I thinks its great you took in a piggie that probably wouldn't get a home due to his missing leg.

 

[Furkidsmommy]

Voodooojoint posted pictures of a ramp made with corrugated plumbing pipe https://guineapigcages.com/forum/showthread.php?t=7224&highlight=pipe I have the same thing which my hedgehog plays in. I got mine form Lowes for a few dollars.

 

[babyhippie]

I ended up using a 1/4" thick piece of 6" wide poplar and stuck a wide strip of felt up the center. That was still a bit slippery for both pigs, so I hot glued popsicle sticks every inch or so up the length for traction.

Woody actually had 4 legs when we got him, but due to an unfortunate accident (he was dropped), he suffered a bad break in his leg when he was a couple of months old. The vet did surgery & put a pin in his leg. Two days before his staples were supposed to be removed, he chewed his leg all the way down to the bone and amputation was the only option. That was 2 summers ago. He gets around very well. He has to groom using one paw at a time and he can't sit up on his haunches like Herman. Other than that, he's like a regular pig. For anyone that studies animal behavior, Herman changed his grooming habits as well: he uses one paw at a time now like his brother instead of sitting up on his haunches and suing both paws at once.

Herman is on the left; Woody is on the right:

 

[RubyPiggie2]

How adorable. Can you post full body pictures? I'm interested in seeing how a 3-legged piggy looks!

 

[Marlania]

When my parents changed out some flooring in their home, I took a big piece of their old (beyond ugly) indoor/outdoor carpet that was in the home office. It turned out to be good material for the pigs to grip. One of my pigs is blind and usually gets around wonderfully, but I was afraid that she wouldn't be able to get up the ramp well if I didn't have something that she could easily climb up and grip. So I've had luck with indoor/outdoor carpet, as ugly as it may be.

 

[babyhippie]

Here is the cage and ramp. I forgot to mention that I made 2 inch high sides on both sides of the ramp. I can see Herman hiding in the pic!

Here are links to Woody so you can see where his leg is missing:

(broken link removed)

(broken link removed)

 

[guineagurl]

Cute pig. It dosent look too happy to be held like that though.

 

[Lyndsay]

AWWW Woody is sooo cute! I think that by the looks of that ramp that there was a picture for, it even looks a little steep, maybe a L shaped on that wraps more around, and covers more area would be better, but yet, I havn't seen Woody walk/run around either.

 

[babyhippie]

I'm sure he wasn't happy to be held up in the air. (My son's hand was under his butt to support him.) Just wanted to get a quick shot for Rubypiggie2.

Thanks for the ideas & suggestions. I have extra wood & some indoor/outdoor carpeting if it seems like I need to modify the ramp. The second level is 11 inches high rather than 14 as I was worried about it being too steep.

 

[Lyndsay]

Thats extremly kind of you to take into account his disability. It might cost a bit more to house, but the reward you will get knowing that you are helping a pigger that can't really help himself is excellent. Congrats, and it's good to know caring people are really in this world.

 

[RubyPiggie2]

He is SO adorable, his face just looks like a "What are you doing to me"?! It looks odd there isn't a leg there, but otherwise he looks like any other piggy. Thanks! Great looking cage too!

 

[AngelsCavies]

Aww Wood is really cute. I was gonna tell you that just make the ramp longer not too steep. What you got there is great. Lovely cage and I am glad you went bigger. Congrats on your new C&C cage.