Written by the Birdsville team. Last updated October 2026.
Birdsville offers rabbit and guinea pig boarding in Sydney at our store at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, servicing the Eastern Suburbs and Inner South Sydney. Your pet gets a roomy cage, fresh pellets, hay and greens every day, daily cleaning, regular health checks and plenty of attention from Sydney’s small animal specialists. We supply the cage, food, hay and water. You just bring your pet’s favourite toys and a hide.
Whether you’re heading off on holidays, travelling for work or just need a safe place for your rabbit or guinea pig for a while, our team will look after your pet with the same care we give our own animals. Book online through Petsville Hotel (https://petsvillehotel.com) or call us on (02) 9669 1766.
How Rabbit and Guinea Pig Boarding Works
Book your dates online, then drop your pet off during our business hours. Our team takes care of everything from there until you collect.
There’s no need to bring a cage, food or treats. We provide:
A cage measuring 95cm wide, 58cm deep and 70cm high
Small animal pellets
A mix of oaten hay and meadow hay
Fresh fruit, vegetables and leafy greens
A water bowl
Please bring your pet’s favourite enrichment toys and a hide, such as a foraging ball or a tunnel. If you’ve forgotten, you can pick some up at Birdsville when you drop off.
All boarding fees are paid upfront and in full on the first day, for the whole stay.
Bookings aren’t essential, but we strongly recommend booking ahead for school holidays and the Christmas and New Year period, as spaces fill quickly.
What’s Included in Rabbit and Guinea Pig Boarding?
Every stay includes daily cage cleaning, fresh food, hay and water, and visual health checks and interaction from our team, split into a morning and afternoon routine.
Morning
A full cage clean and disinfection with vet recommended F10.
Fresh pellets, a mix of oaten and meadow hay, and fresh water.
A visual health check and friendly interaction from our team.
Afternoon
Freshly chopped fruit, vegetables and leafy greens.
A second visual health check and more interaction.
Guinea pigs can’t make their own vitamin C, so fresh vegetables and greens every day are an important part of their stay, not just a treat.
How Big Are the Boarding Cages?
Our boarding cages are 95cm wide, 58cm deep and 70cm high. Each cage suits two mini or dwarf breed rabbits, two guinea pigs, or one large breed rabbit.
Rabbits and guinea pigs are always boarded separately. Even if they live together at home, we won’t put a rabbit and a guinea pig in the same cage. The RSPCA advises against housing them together (https://kb.rspca.org.au/knowledge-base/where-should-i-keep-my-guinea-pigs/), because rabbits can injure guinea pigs and carry diseases that guinea pigs are vulnerable to.
Every pet is given a water bowl. If your rabbit or guinea pig will only drink from a bottle, an extra cleaning fee applies.
How We Look After Boarding Rabbits and Guinea Pigs
Boarding rabbits and guinea pigs stay in a lively, social room where they can see and hear people and other animals throughout the day. Cages are kept clean and secure.
With your permission, tame pets are taken out, patted and handled by our team and animal loving volunteers, usually during cage cleaning. Your pet always has people and activity nearby, so it’s never left feeling alone.
Staff Tip From the Birdsville Team
Bring a small handful of the hay your pet eats at home. Mixing it through our hay for the first day or two helps a fussy rabbit or guinea pig keep eating while it settles in, and a rabbit or guinea pig that stops eating can go downhill fast.
What Do I Need to Bring?
Bring your pet’s favourite enrichment toys and a hide. Toys are required for every animal boarding with us. Rabbits and guinea pigs miss their owners, and a new place can be stressful, so toys and somewhere to hide help keep stress to a minimum. We won’t board a rabbit or guinea pig without them.
Good options include the Dark Wooden Curved Roof House (https://petsville.com.au/products/natural-timber-house-hide-small-animal), Coco Fiber Balls (https://petsville.com.au/products/rosewood-naturals-coco-fiber-ball-2-pack), the Trio of Fun Balls (https://petsville.com.au/products/rosewood-trio-of-fun-balls-medium), the Bunny Fun Tree (https://petsville.com.au/products/rosewood-bunny-fun-tree) or a Woven Play Tunnel (https://petsville.com.au/products/rosewood-woven-play-tunnel-m). All of these, and plenty more, are available in-store at Birdsville.
How Much Does Rabbit and Guinea Pig Boarding Cost?
Rates depend on the animal and the level of care it needs. Current pricing and availability are on Petsville Hotel (https://petsvillehotel.com), where you can book online. All fees are paid in full on the first day.
Rabbit and Guinea Pig Boarding Policies
Sick Pets
We can’t board a rabbit or guinea pig with a known disease or illness, because of the risk of infection to other animals in our care. As prey animals, rabbits and guinea pigs hide illness and injury for as long as they can. We aren’t vets, so please tell us about any health concerns before your pet’s stay so we can make the right call together.
Pets Sharing a Cage
Pets that live together at home can usually board together, as long as they’re the same species and fit our cage size. Occasionally, cage mates become territorial in a new place. If we see bullying or aggression, we’ll separate them, let you know, and charge for the extra space.
Health Risks in Small Animals
Boarding carries some risk of stress for any small animal, simply because it’s somewhere new. Rabbits and guinea pigs, guinea pigs in particular, can be fragile. Stress, worms, mites, lice, fleas, gut bacteria, urinary infections, respiratory problems, abscesses, tumours, heart failure and overgrown teeth can all cause sudden weight loss, illness or death.
Our team ranges from junior to senior staff, with backgrounds in animal welfare, including the RSPCA, zoos and vet nursing, and we’re committed to giving your pet the best possible care.
Early Collection, Late Collection and Abandoned Animals
Just like a hotel, if you collect your pet early, unused boarding days aren’t refunded or credited. If you collect late, you’ll pay a late fee for every day you’re late, plus the normal daily boarding fee on top. A pet left more than 7 days past its paid boarding period is considered abandoned and will be rehomed, and this can’t be reversed. Please call us on (02) 9669 1766 as early as possible if you’re running late.
By booking a stay, you agree to our Terms and Conditions [Terms and Conditions link].
When Can’t I Drop Off or Collect My Pet?
Birdsville is closed to the public on the dates below, so drop offs and collections need to happen the day before or after. A team member is still on site caring for every boarding animal, and you’ll be charged for the day if your pet is still with us.
New Year’s Day, 1 January
Australia Day, 26 January
Good Friday
Easter Saturday
Easter Sunday
Easter Monday
Anzac Day, 25 April
King’s Birthday, second Monday in June
Labour Day, first Monday in October
Christmas Eve, 24 December
Christmas Day, 25 December
Boxing Day, 26 December
New Year’s Eve, 31 December
Sydney Seasonal Tip: Summer Heat
Rabbits and guinea pigs handle heat badly. Guinea pigs are most comfortable between 18°C and 23°C, and both species can suffer deadly heatstroke on a hot Sydney summer day, especially in a backyard hutch. If you’re going away over summer, boarding is far safer than a neighbour checking in once a day. At home on hot days, bring your pet into the coolest room, keep it out of direct sun, and give it a frozen water bottle wrapped in a towel to lie against.
Frequently Asked Questions About Rabbit and Guinea Pig Boarding
How much does rabbit and guinea pig boarding cost in Sydney?
Rabbit and guinea pig boarding rates at Birdsville depend on the animal and the level of care it needs. Current prices are listed on Petsville Hotel, where you can check availability and book online. All boarding fees are paid upfront and in full on the first day, for the whole length of your pet’s stay.
How do I book rabbit or guinea pig boarding at Birdsville?
Book online through Petsville Hotel, choose your dates, then drop your pet off during our business hours at 684 Botany Road, Alexandria. Bookings aren’t essential, but we strongly recommend booking ahead for school holidays, Christmas and New Year, when spaces fill fast. You can also call our team on (02) 9669 1766.
Can a rabbit and a guinea pig board together?
No. We always board rabbits and guinea pigs in separate cages, even if they live together at home. Rabbits can injure guinea pigs and carry diseases they’re vulnerable to. Two mini or dwarf rabbits, two guinea pigs, or one large rabbit can share one of our 95cm boarding cages.
What do I need to bring for my rabbit or guinea pig’s stay?
Bring your pet’s favourite enrichment toys and a hide, such as a foraging ball, tunnel or wooden house. Toys are required for every stay because they reduce stress. We supply the cage, pellets, hay, fresh vegetables, greens and a water bowl, and you can buy toys in-store when you drop off.
Do you provide food and hay during boarding?
Yes. We feed small animal pellets, a mix of oaten and meadow hay, and freshly chopped fruit, vegetables and leafy greens every day, so there’s no need to bring food. If your rabbit or guinea pig has special dietary needs, tell our team before drop off so we can plan around them.
Will my rabbit or guinea pig be lonely while boarding?
No. Boarding rabbits and guinea pigs stay in an active, social room with people and other animals nearby throughout the day. With your permission, tame pets are taken out, patted and handled by our team during cage cleaning, so they get plenty of company and attention while you’re away.
What happens if my rabbit or guinea pig gets sick while boarding?
Our team checks every pet twice a day and will contact you if we notice any change in behaviour. We can’t board pets with a known illness, since we’re not a vet clinic and can’t treat on site. Rabbits and guinea pigs hide illness well, so please tell us about any concerns before the stay.
What happens if I’m late picking up my pet?
You’ll pay a late fee for every day you’re late, plus the normal daily boarding fee on top. A rabbit or guinea pig left more than 7 days past its paid boarding period is treated as abandoned and rehomed, which can’t be undone. If you’re running late, call us on (02) 9669 1766 as soon as possible.
Can I drop off or collect my pet on a public holiday?
No. On public holidays and our other listed closure dates, our team is on site caring for boarding animals, but we can’t take drop offs or collections. Please bring your pet in, or collect it, the day before or after, and remember the day is charged if your pet is still with us.
Keep Your Rabbit or Guinea Pig Eating Well at Home
Want to keep your pet on a quality diet at home? Birdsville Blends Rabbit and Guinea Pig Pellets (https://petsville.com.au/products/birdsville-blends-rabbit-guinea-pig-pellets-4kg) are mixed and bagged fresh on site with no cheap filler, and buying direct from the people who make them means better value. Pair them with plenty of good hay, such as Peters Timothy Hay (https://petsville.com.au/products/peters-timothy-hay-1kg). Order online through Petsville for delivery Australia-wide, or pick them up in-store.
For full care advice, read our How to Care for Rabbits guide (https://birdsville.net.au/pet-care-guides/how-to-care-for-pet-rabbits/) and How to Care for Guinea Pigs guide (https://birdsville.net.au/pet-care-guides/how-to-care-for-guinea-pigs/).
Visit Birdsville
We’re a small business that does things in a big way. With no one telling us how to run things, we keep our care and our products the best of the best. Find us at Birdsville, 684 Botany Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, on the corner of Gardeners Road, with parking out the front and on the street. Visit us or call (02) 9669 1766 to talk about your pet’s stay.
We also board birds, rats and mice. See our Bird Boarding in Sydney page (https://birdsville.net.au/parrot-bird-boarding-sydney/) and Rat Boarding in Sydney page [Rat Boarding link]. Looking to rehome a rabbit or guinea pig instead? See Rabbit Rescue Sydney (https://birdsville.net.au/rabbit-rescue-sydney/) and Guinea Pig Rescue Sydney (https://birdsville.net.au/guinea-pig-rescue-sydney/).
For live updates and photos from the store, follow us on TikTok [TikTok link], Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/BirdsvilleRosebery/) and Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/petsvillesydney/).
