So I am planning on setting up a small, small animal boarding business this summer. (Rabbits/guinea pigs outside, and other small animals such as mice/hamsters inside)
I'm planning on keeping things small-one set up is going to be a 7x3 bike shed that we have, which we are going to convert into two 7x3 hutches, which can even be converted to a multi-story one, for larger groups, and then a double 5*2 hutch. Being in london, I am planning on charging around £7.00 per rabbit per day, and £10 per day for 2...and £2 per day per extra rabbit (slightly less than others in my area!) I am planning on asking people to bring along their own pellets, because I won't be able to stock all kinds of food! I will be providing greens and hay etc. There will be a run allocated to each hutch as well. Sadly I won't be able to provide indoor accommodation due to the inside of our house basically due to not having enough space. I have chosen the insurance policy I will be getting..On drop off I would take note of the rabbits usual veg etc, and stick to this...as well as any allergies, or little things that tick them off (e.g. my two seriously love flip-flops!)
This is just a rough plan...
I would however, like some suggestions on:
Bedding for the hutches. My own rabbits absolutely HATE straw/hay as bedding, and refuse to go inside their shed unless there are only flat sheets of newspaper on the floor. But their shed is heated/insulated, so this isn't a problem. What would you suggest using for other peoples rabbits? I know some people use sawdust...but I wouldn't want to for obvious reasons.
My own rabbits-they free range in the garden all day-how do you think they'll cope with seeing other rabbits in runs in their garden? obviously their needs come first...but I won't be able to partition the garden due to me being 18 and living with my parents still!!
Feeding bowls/bottles. How would you go about disinfecting/properly cleaning the bottles/bowls/hutches between each guest?
I am planning on just providing disposable toys-wood chews, digging boxes, toilet roll tubes etc.
Advertising. I will have a website up and coming, but how else would I get people to want to use my services? I was thinking about vets offices etc, but since we only recently moved into the area, we don't really know our vet too well so I'm not sure that would work.
The runs-I would want wire on the bottom just to be extra safe-but what if little toes get stuck?! I would constantly be worrying...the runs would be on concrete too to allow for proper disinfecting.
If, god forbid, a rabbit dies in my care, or becomes ill, or escapes (from padlocked hutches! mine have never, ever escaped but I would worry!!) how would I go about telling the owner? I will have a boarding contract written up, and terms and conditions etc. Also I will get emergency contact numbers, and their vets details too. I can just imagine how I would feel...
Any other suggestions?
Thanks so much for reading by the way!!! :wave:
I'm planning on keeping things small-one set up is going to be a 7x3 bike shed that we have, which we are going to convert into two 7x3 hutches, which can even be converted to a multi-story one, for larger groups, and then a double 5*2 hutch. Being in london, I am planning on charging around £7.00 per rabbit per day, and £10 per day for 2...and £2 per day per extra rabbit (slightly less than others in my area!) I am planning on asking people to bring along their own pellets, because I won't be able to stock all kinds of food! I will be providing greens and hay etc. There will be a run allocated to each hutch as well. Sadly I won't be able to provide indoor accommodation due to the inside of our house basically due to not having enough space. I have chosen the insurance policy I will be getting..On drop off I would take note of the rabbits usual veg etc, and stick to this...as well as any allergies, or little things that tick them off (e.g. my two seriously love flip-flops!)
This is just a rough plan...
I would however, like some suggestions on:
Bedding for the hutches. My own rabbits absolutely HATE straw/hay as bedding, and refuse to go inside their shed unless there are only flat sheets of newspaper on the floor. But their shed is heated/insulated, so this isn't a problem. What would you suggest using for other peoples rabbits? I know some people use sawdust...but I wouldn't want to for obvious reasons.
My own rabbits-they free range in the garden all day-how do you think they'll cope with seeing other rabbits in runs in their garden? obviously their needs come first...but I won't be able to partition the garden due to me being 18 and living with my parents still!!
Feeding bowls/bottles. How would you go about disinfecting/properly cleaning the bottles/bowls/hutches between each guest?
I am planning on just providing disposable toys-wood chews, digging boxes, toilet roll tubes etc.
Advertising. I will have a website up and coming, but how else would I get people to want to use my services? I was thinking about vets offices etc, but since we only recently moved into the area, we don't really know our vet too well so I'm not sure that would work.
The runs-I would want wire on the bottom just to be extra safe-but what if little toes get stuck?! I would constantly be worrying...the runs would be on concrete too to allow for proper disinfecting.
If, god forbid, a rabbit dies in my care, or becomes ill, or escapes (from padlocked hutches! mine have never, ever escaped but I would worry!!) how would I go about telling the owner? I will have a boarding contract written up, and terms and conditions etc. Also I will get emergency contact numbers, and their vets details too. I can just imagine how I would feel...
Any other suggestions?
Thanks so much for reading by the way!!! :wave: