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Bunny Boarding or stay at home?

ripply

Young Bun
I'm going on holiday next month and I still can't decide what's best for Gizmo. I've found two places locally that do boarding, one of which is specialised and only takes rabbits and guinea pigs. Also, my neighbour next door has always looked after my hens when I've been on holiday previously and is happy to take care of Gizmo too but I'm not sure which would be best. It's the first time I'll be leaving him and I'm just worried.

I was thinking that the boarding place would be better, since they're being paid so will be more careful with him, though that may not be true. Also, the hutches and runs they have, although large, are nowhere near the size Gizmo is used to. I have basically my whole garden rabbit and predator proofed so he is used to having lots of freedom. I'm worried he'll hate being in a smaller run. It might also stress him out being moved to a new place.

Could anyone tell me which they think would be best for him?
 
I favour boarding but I have a fantastic place to take them.
Quick plug for Hopper Holidays in Newcastle.
I always worry about someone coming in to feed them whether they accidentally
leave a door open or buns jump out or they don't do the litter trays daily.
My partner did not come away with my son and I last week but still took them
to Hopper Holidays as she works long hours.

Also my two get loads of free range time and they would get frustrated if they were at home
and not getting out.
Good Luck
 
I'm going on holiday next month and I still can't decide what's best for Gizmo. I've found two places locally that do boarding, one of which is specialised and only takes rabbits and guinea pigs. Also, my neighbour next door has always looked after my hens when I've been on holiday previously and is happy to take care of Gizmo too but I'm not sure which would be best. It's the first time I'll be leaving him and I'm just worried.

I was thinking that the boarding place would be better, since they're being paid so will be more careful with him, though that may not be true. Also, the hutches and runs they have, although large, are nowhere near the size Gizmo is used to. I have basically my whole garden rabbit and predator proofed so he is used to having lots of freedom. I'm worried he'll hate being in a smaller run. It might also stress him out being moved to a new place.

Could anyone tell me which they think would be best for him?

I think it all depends on how you feel about the people boarding him. If you feel they will give him loads of attention and playtime then he may well be better off with an exciting holiday instead of a quieter time without you at home.

I have only ever boarded my rabbits with people I know personally and would trust with my most treasured :D
 
I've boarded my buns at the same place for a few years now and just booked them in for next month.

Whilst I naturally miss them... I can honestly say when I'm on my hols I don't worry about them as I know they are really well cared for and as the owner of the bunny boarding has done it for so long and is really good with rabbits.... I am re-assured that if one of them was ill, she would notice and take them straight to her vet (which she has 24 hour access to).

My brother has offered to have my buns in the past but I would worry too much to leave them with him as he has no idea about rabbits!

You obviously pay for the privilege but I just see the cost as part of the holiday now and something I have to allow for but well worth it.

I guess you would need to be happy and trust the boarder though.... I went to view the place before I booked them in first time to get a feel of the place etc
 
I would say it depends on who you have most confidence in. If your neighbour is bunny-savvy, and will spend some time with your bun so he's not lonely, then leaving him at home could well be the less stressful option.

But if you don't have confidence that your neighbour would notice if he was ill, or if he's going to be basically alone for a week or more, then I would probably favour boarding, assuming it is a decent place.

Too many variables to give a definitive answer I guess.

We leave ours at home and have a sitter come in if we're away for up to two nights - any longer than that and we board them.
 
If we had a decent boarding place near us we would use them - as it is we only go away for one night max and MIL comes in to do them...but we worry incessently about them still which we wouldn't so much if they were in boarding with a knowledgable person looking after them.
 
I leave my bun at home and a neighbour, who I've known for 18 years, looks after him. I trust her implicitly - she is a total animal-lover and, although she's never had rabbits herself, she looks after him really well and gives him lots of fuss and love. I think he would be stressed in a strange environment and he is therefore better staying in his own familiar surroundings. She also knows what a worry-guts I am about him and I can ring her anytime if I need reassurance that he's ok!! Good luck in whatever you decide to do and have a lovely holiday!
 
Thanks everyone, I'll maybe go and have a look at the boarding place first before I make up my mind. Though, their 6x4 ft runs would seem small to Gizmo and sometimes I think I'd be boarding him more for me than for him. I'm sure he'd be happier staying at home.
 
I would say it depends on who you have most confidence in. If your neighbour is bunny-savvy, and will spend some time with your bun so he's not lonely, then leaving him at home could well be the less stressful option.

But if you don't have confidence that your neighbour would notice if he was ill, or if he's going to be basically alone for a week or more, then I would probably favour boarding, assuming it is a decent place.

Too many variables to give a definitive answer I guess.

We leave ours at home and have a sitter come in if we're away for up to two nights - any longer than that and we board them.

Exactly this! If your little one fell ill while you were away, would you have sufficient confidence in neighbour or boarder picking up on the signs and doing the right things as a consequence? If you wouldn't have confidence in neighbour being able to identify signs of a sick bunny, pick bunny up for bum checks etc, then on balance I think boarding would be better, even if it is a smaller space for a while...but of course that relies on you feeling confident that the boarder can and would do those things, too!
 
I always board mine. It is worth it for the peace of mind. And even if the space is slightly less than what they are used to at home. It is only for a week or two. Mine are never any worse off for going on holiday. In fact I use Hopper Holidays in Newcastle too and I'm pretty sure they love the huge hutch they have when they are there. 😊
 
I would say it depends on who you have most confidence in. If your neighbour is bunny-savvy, and will spend some time with your bun so he's not lonely, then leaving him at home could well be the less stressful option.

But if you don't have confidence that your neighbour would notice if he was ill, or if he's going to be basically alone for a week or more, then I would probably favour boarding, assuming it is a decent place.

Too many variables to give a definitive answer I guess.

We leave ours at home and have a sitter come in if we're away for up to two nights - any longer than that and we board them.

^^ This.

I went to Scotland on holiday back in July, normally I would have left them with my parents but it was a big family holiday so we were all going together. My neighbour would have happily look after my bunnies, but I knew they wouldn't be looked after as well as we looked after them. Although a lovely lady, she is not bunny savvy and she would probably have checked on them once a day and perhaps clean them out in the middle of the week.

As they are fed twice a day (breakfast and supper), litter cleaned daily, etc, I wanted someone who would look after them in the same way. If they had become ill in anyway my neighbour probably wouldn't have picked up on it unless it was major. So I opted for a bunny boarder. When I went to look around, I didn't just put the emphasis on space as most places wouldn't be able to offer the same level of space but also bunny knowledge, what they do in emergencies, if the boarders were genuine rabbit people or if it's just a business to them, etc. I also looked on here to see who people recommended.
 
I always board mine. It is worth it for the peace of mind. And even if the space is slightly less than what they are used to at home. It is only for a week or two. Mine are never any worse off for going on holiday. In fact I use Hopper Holidays in Newcastle too and I'm pretty sure they love the huge hutch they have when they are there. 

Amanda at Hopper Holidays loves all the buns who go and stay.
Mine looked content and happy when I collected them Monday
 
We board our bunnies with Auntie Jayne at Nutwood Bunnies. She is amazing and I really trust he. She knows rabbits so well, and I would rather our buns went to he as she would more likely recognise if there was a problem with them. I'm not sure parents or neighbours know about bunnies enough that they would pick up on a health issue. Although I do look after our neighbours bunnies myself!

I think it's whoever you feel most comfortable with.
 
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