2 Week Holiday Without The Guineas!

[Happydays]

Hi, I was wondering if anyone could advise? I am going on holiday over easter for 2 weeks abroad. I have a friend who will come in each day and feed my 2 quinea girls and check water etc. She will also happily sweep their pen each day, they live in a large round pen rather than a cage. They have mostly fleece and a couple of hay trays with sawdust and hay on top. My concern is I don't want to have to ask my friend to do a big clean out so was wandering about the best way to leave them so they don't get too messy and uncomfortable, I have heard about care fresh bedding would it be better to use this in terms of staying dryer?

 

[sport_billy]

Over two weeks they are really going to need a clean no matter what they are bedded on I am afraid.

 

[Merab's Slave]

Have you spoken to your friend about cleaning?
I have a lovely friend who comes in to feed mine when we’re away and will clean them out as well.
Being very gifted in the wee & poop department you can’t leave piggies for more than a few days without cleaning.

 

[Hensa]

I would talk to your friend about your normal feeding/ cleaning routine. Check that they are happy with the commitment and if they have any concerns or worries and share any you have (including your worries about overburdening them).

 

[karonus]

Leave a pile of fleeces that can be changed out every couple of days. If you have an ikea nearby there throws are ideal and usually only a couple of quid each.

 

[Happydays]

Thank you all for your replies. I am sure my friend would be happy to clean them out I just hate burdening her too much! She also has guineas so is very happy around them! I am lucky that the girls don't wee on their fleece, I change the fleece once a week now but it is always dry also the towels underneath. They seem to do all the wees in the hay trays! I think I will ask her to empty and re fill the hay trays every 2 days, obviously topping up with fresh hay daily. They are such a worry, wish I could take them with us! X

 

[Merab's Slave]

Just get your friend a nice thank you gift from your holiday then she will know that she is appreciated and you will show her how much it means to you that your piggies are being well cared for.
Where are you going?
Hope you’ll have a lovely holiday.

 

[Reenie]

My neighbour takes care of my piggies when I go away, and she says she finds it easier just to remove the fleece and shake it out into a black bag, or in the garden rather than sweep, so it's really easy just to replace it with a clean fleece once a week or so. If you have cage liners, they lift out and go back in a lot more easily than fleece on top of towels etc.

 

[anyar.dris]

We bring our piggies to my in-laws' whenever we go overseas. Hubby knows that even if they would act like complaining, he knows how fond of them with the piggies. When they are with them, we just let them use puppy pads as liners. It saves them from washing and cleaning fleece. They usually replace the puppy pads every 2 days. Just throw it straight to the bin. It makes it easier for my elderly in-laws.

 

[Happydays]

Thank you all so much for the great ideas. I was thinking of putting them into a standard cage and leaving them with my sister in law for the 2 weeks so they would have company too, but worried that they may worry about being away from our home! . merabs slave we are going to Lanzarote, will definitely be getting a lovely gift for our friend, from us and the girls! x

 

[karonus]

They wont worry about being away from home. Ours have 40 nights a year caravanning without a problem.

 

[Merab's Slave]

Have a great time in Lanzarote.
Should be warmer than here.