Why are my guinea pigs being like this?

Question

i got my guinea pigs yesterday have been handling for ages and are fine with me and just sit on me and dont move but when i put them in the top hutch they stay there and dont bother to move to go get there food we have a three story outside hutch for them both and are only living in the top i have tryed leaving a trail down the ladder for them half it worked then they came back up again. i had to bring them in today and make sure they had been fed it took an hour to make them full. will they notice that downstairs is for them and there food is down there? they need to eat. do they just need to get used to the size of the hutch

Answer 1

Guinea pigs generally do not like to climb and tiered hutches can be dangerous as they can fall and break their backs.

a standard large hutch is better plus access to a run at least 5 hours a day.

you will find them more confident in a standard hutch.

Answer 2

why don't you try blocking the top part off and placing them further down? Then they'll get used to it and after a while you can let them back in to the top part.

Answer 3

They usually don't use ramps or upper levels.

Have you seen http://www.guineapigcages.com ?

Answer 4

Guinea pigs don't usually prefer to have multiple levels to their cage. They like to have large floor areas to run back and forth. Hutches are never suitable housing for guinea pigs.

Check out this website to find out how to build a large, cheap, and awesome cage for your guinea pigs. They'll love it.

http://www.cavycages.com

Answer 5

I think if you only got your guinea pigs yesterday, they are just nervous of their new surroundings and you. The keeping still and not moving around much will also account for this. Be patient with them, its a stressful time for them. When i got mine it took a few days for them to build up their confidence before coming out into the run etc.. Keep talking to them, stroking them etc.. and eventually they will be brave enough to venture into their new world and run around lots and lots and lots!!!

I agree with the others, that guinea pigs are not keen on tiered hutches.. and can easily fall from a short height and break their fragile bones.