Away for 1-2 nights, what to do?

Jemima

Jemima

Junior Guinea Pig
Joined
Feb 9, 2021
Messages
233
Reaction score
268
Points
370
Location
Somerset
When you go away for a night or two, what do you do with your piggies?
We want to go camping in half term for a couple of nights - and I am thinking of asking a couple of people (a neighbour who will feed the cats) and a friend (who also has piggies) to tag team and come in and feed them.
Trouble is, I poo pick a few times a day and also put them in the run, so I will feel really guilty if they don't get to go out for a couple of days (only have a minimum of a 2x4 c&c).
What do you do - do you have a trusted neighbour or is it too much to ask them to do it?
 
If your friend has piggies then I am sure he/she won’t mind poo picking. For a few days it won’t matter if they only get poo picked once a day.
It also won’t matter if they don’t get out of the cage for a few days. I know it’s hard not to feel bad when they are used to a certain routine but it won’t hurt them to not come out.

Ive just had a new shed built and it obviously meant my two had to move out of the old shed so we could knock it down in readiness for the new one to be built. This meant their hutch was put outside and they were confined to the hutch for a week. I felt bad because they are so used to having free roam of 36 sq ft and suddenly they were down to being in 12 sq ft for a week but nothing bad was going to happen to them because of it. They were just a bit confused!
 
They be fine for couple nights. . Less space. . I swop my piggies space every 2 weeks or so. . .they don't mind . . 1 piggie is happy lass space more settled. Lol.
 
I ask my neighbour to feed my piggies if it's only for a weekend, any longer than that then it's off to Aunty Lucy (guinea pig boarder). Mine are used to going in the run every day too. Your piggies won't mind a couple of duvet days.
 
They should be fine as long as someone is coming in to feed them and check that they are in good health. I'm sure you could persuade your friend to do a poo pick once a day (bribe with wine and chocolates!).

I generally don't leave my piggies at home for more than one night with someone popping in but that is just my personal choice as our friends run a small animal boarding business and i am happier if the piggies are there.
 
when I’m away I have a friend come and stay to look after my boys. I treat him with a crate of beer and a fridge full of food. If your friend is Uncomfortable with poo picking perhaps leave a new pair of marigolds and a cat litter poop scoop. Like a lot of folks here I feel terribly guilty leaving my piggies and for them not to be able to access their runs. I so look forward to getting home to see them expecting some welcome home wheeking. No such chance they are perfectly happy with my friend looking after them and don’t even notice I’m back. Piggies can be very fickle 🤪. Enjoy your break. We all deserve a holiday after the poo year we’ve had 😁
 
I'm thinking that when I go away for the weekend I will put extra hay all over the cage on top of the fleece liner, so that the poo will end up underneath it and they won't be walking or lying on it, and my friend doesn't have to pick up too much. Do you think this will work?
 
My mum actually stayed over at our house the last time I left the piggies for a weekend. She has no piggy experience so I left ready made up hay piles and veggies (for each morning and evening) for her to add in and a long list of strict instructions.
Upon my return, the mother was a very well trained piggy-slave. And the piggies had very quickly taught her how by opening the fridge door she must give into their demands...... (something I should have warned her about in hindsight) 🤦‍♀️

We don't often go on long holidays, but we often stay away at our car racing events. Mum is now great at piggy sitting, but it's the dogs I worry about now! I've already been looking into luxury doggy hotel, resorts, boarding and day care as I absolutely hate the thought of leaving them in kennels.
 
Mine have a routine and go on the floor every night but recently due to daisy been in the floor run whilst she recovered from her op they had to stay in their cage for over a week ..they were fine.. I am sure a pair of marigolds will help your friend with the poo picking...
 
Wiebke said:
Your piggies will hold for 2-3 days of some very mild neglect as long as they are being fed and watered daily.
They won't come to any harm if they are not instantly poo patrolled and don't have their run time for a few days. ;)
Click to expand...
Yes, you're right - thank you. I've booked them in for when we go away for a week to the foster carer we rescued them from. They will be treated very well there, but there was no room for half term. So I think I will speak to my neighbour who feeds the cats, and my friend, too, if we decide to pop away for a night or two.

Thank you all for your reassurance!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top