Guinea Pigs Stopped Using Upper Area Of Hutch Help.

[Mummy101]

Hi all

I have 2 guinea pig brothers who are 15 months old. They have lived in a 2 storey hutch with a ramp and used both the top and bottom section for the last year with no problem.
This last 5 weeks however they won't use the upstairs area at all. I have put them up there, put food up there and treats but they go straight back down. They can use the ramp as they ran up it yesterday after I ushered them to it (basically to see if they could climb up it I tried to catch them and knew they would evade).
So why won't they use the too half any more?

They need more space to run around, they need space from each other too.

Thanks in advance

[Ringlet]

Something may have happened while they were in the top tier, that frightened them and they are now scared to be up there. Only you could judge what that might be. Is there a loose piece of wood, or could something that could have fallen and banged on the roof of the hutch to scare them? I think if they were my wee guineas I would try moving their hutch to a different location, and, as you have done, putting their food and treats in the upper section. Is it possible to close off the bottom section for a few days, so that they have no alternative but to live in the upper section? That might give them a chance to regain their confidence up there.

[TonyV]

It possible rat has been the hutch and left scent which is scaring them? I would disinfect with some Jays fluid concentrations to use are on the tin.

[fender62]

as ringlet says, something scared them, what you could try is get a cardboard box that slightly larger than the outside of cage, and cut one end to cover the top tier if you get what i mean, till they get used to going back up there, makes them feel safe, once they go back up slowly take away the box..