setting up a rabbit/ guinea pig boarding business

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maisydaisystar

Hi guys,
earlier this year, my oh and i looked into opening a rabbit/guinea pig boarding business, we called it Lazy Days,we did all the homework,phoned the council, set up a website, looked at insurance,made up leaflets etc: we even bought our first hutches from ebay.At that point we could only offer outdoor accomodation, and I really didn't think it would work at that stage because I had no indoor facilities, so I decided not to go through with it, (hubby was not impressed).Sold the hutches on again.
Well I've been having second thoughts, and maybe I should look into getting some indoor accomodation sorted and start again. I know this is something I would enjoy doing.
I have been thinking about looking for a job lately too,as my son is off to uni, and any extra cash will help out.
and this would mean I could be at home.
Any of you guys have any idea how popular this could be? Should I go for it?
Any help would be great
Thanks x
 
I dont know myself, but I think piggybaker on here does it? You could ask her :)
 
Hiya,

It could work but it may be seasonal? Also look around and see if there is one in your area and see what they charge. Indoor sheds sounds good! :)

Sorry I'm not much help, having done it I wouldn't know if it could work! :)

Good luck,

Louise
:)
 
there are none in my area, but i have checked other boarding facilities on the net to get price ideas.
 
I think its a great idea and would love to have a go.There is a place in Hellesdon near Norwich that does small animal boarding and I was told it gets pretty busy,so there is possibilities.
 
Well if its something you would like to do, why not!

It would be really rewarding, providing a positive service etc

Me personally, I would worry about someones boars fighting while they are away, if I got lice from the hay, my vet being away and something happening, chasing for payments, the tax man...

I think it probs is pretty seasonal, but yeah, you should talk to PB about it! It would be a really good thing to do! I dont know anyone thats used one, but thats pretty much because they know another piggy lover ,or have someone that will stop in a couple of times a day for £10 ;D....would be worth researching in YOUR area though, as figures might not be the same elsewhere O0

Keep us updated!
 
Um, well it depends on:

Location
Price
Accomodation
Experience
Local vet

For me, personally, I would only board my pigs with a company that provided a minimum of 4x2' indoor cage space for 2 pigs, provided pre-approved bedding, adhered my my pigs diet and was close to a cavy-competent vet.
I wouldn't pay more than £8 a day for 2 pigs, and I would not travel further than 10 miles from Guildford (cos that's where I live - but it gives you an idea of a catchment area for advertising.)

Hope that helps.
 
Try emailing Anna, she does rescue and boarding and she would probably be able to help you with your questions. http://www.freewebs.com/cavylover1/

Sorry I don't do boarding. I'm not sure how much money you would make from it though and dealing with jo public can be a nightmare, last minute cancellations just an example. If it's something you would like to do though I would give it a try in a very small way, advertise at the vets etc. Perhaps you could do a bit of rescue too ! Good luck anyway.
 
If I were to go on holiday, I would HAVE to use one. As piggytoefluff rightly says, I couldnt travel for miles and miles, so if there are none in your area, it could be good. Again, I would imagine you would have more boarders in the summer than the winter but people may need boarding for other reasons...eg moving house, being ill etc.
Approved sized hutches/cages, approved bedding, local piggy vet etc are all considerations as well as possible collection of piggies from a railway station as not everyone drives.
Lots to consider, but if its something you really want to do, then go for it!
 
We have decided to give the boarding a go.
We have continued where we left off at the beginning of the year, Gaz is building us a website, we will be buying a large shed for indoor accomodation. We will also be on the lookout for bargain hutches and runs for outdoors.
We are hoping you guys might post some guinea/rabbit photos to decorate our website with.
I have made contact with Anna,as reccomended by summerleaze, and she has given me her phone number so I can get any info I need from her.
Will keep you updated.x
 
I think its an excellent idea, you should go for it.
When we use to have ribbits we always wished for someone to be able to look after them, we always in the end had to leave it with my nan lol.
Just make sure you advertise yourself well by putting leaflets in your local libaries, shops, vets, pet shops and zoo (if you have one). also your lcoal news paper.

I wish you the very best, it ust be so exciting. I think £10 a day is reasonable, but then if someone is on holiday for 2 weeks, that could seem quite pricey, not sure about prices though, but I really hope it turns out well, be sure to post up some pics of your setup.

Where do you live by the way?
 
I would use it if I were close. Lol, I always worry my family will do something stupid! (Like this year my sister got bit by putting the boars in the same run, and grabbing Merry too quickly! ;)
 
Congratulations and i wish you all the best :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: :smitten: , i sooo wish you were here in OZ :-\ :-\ :-\ we could so do with people like you :) :) :) :)

I'm sure once you have things up and running that you'll have lots of little paws pattering around in your runs :smitten: :smitten: :smitten:
 
Thanks, We won't be up and running for a while yet, we have purchased a huge shed off ebay which should be ideal to use. Will keep you all informed on our progress.
 
Do you know anyone that would use the service? None of us seem to be anywhere near you! Typical eh ::) ;D
 
has there ever been any more news on this?
 
eva said:
has there ever been any more news on this?
Click to expand...

If you look at the profile of the person who started this thread 4yrs ago you'll see she hasn't been on here since last August (8months ago) - so i'd go with no more news :))
 
I haven't read all the replies, so sorry if I'm covering something already said. It's an excellent idea. What may be something to think on is to get a shed and build in hutches, this way you have indoor accomodation, but the animals aren't in your house. You can keep it simple like that, with a shiplap shed (better than overlap that can let water in) and also insulate the shed. You could then even add heating and aircon if wanted too, dehumidifiers work in them too.

Also, if you wanted to bring more money in, you could of course offer boarding to other types of animals too. There is nowhere locally to me that offers small animal boarding, I board animals homed from my rescue occassionally because of this. If there isn't anyone your way that offers that sort of service, then you're sure to do well, providing you have the right publicity. Probably putting an ad in the yellow pages would be a great thing for your buissness.
 
opps was just having a scan about did not see when it was from lol
 
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