Moving with Rabbits

[Ellie F.]

I’m moving into an apartment this Saturday (rabbit friendly), and I have a pair of bonded rabbits. There’s going to be a lot of packing and unpacking that day, since friends are coming over to help me move my furniture to the new place. I’ve never had a big move before, especially not with rabbits. Does anyone have any tips? When should I pack them and their toys/playpen/supplies? Should I get them set up in the apartment as soon as possible, or wait until all the furniture is in place? 

[Mikey]

I would wait until the furniture is moved in before moving in your bunnies. If theyre going to have their own area, i would make sure thats as unpacked and straightened out as possible before moving them in so it causes less stress for them while they are getting used to the new place

[Vienna Blue in France]

Rabbit friendly apartment ! – YAY !
A pair of bonded rabbits ! Doube YAY YAY !

I agree with Mikey – anywhere you could pop them for a day?
“First out, last in” would be a good thing I think. Or atleast set up / block off one room they could be in and explore while you’re getting the rest in place.

And really scrummy irresistible food / special treats for the first day or two so they don’t miss out on their meal times.

Good luck with the move !

[Azerane]

I moved twice with Bandit. I have a smaller travel cage that I use (not a carrier). I set up the travel cage the day before with litter tray, hay and water and a blanket etc and put him in it on the morning of moving day so that his cage could be cleaned out etc. Then he would stay in his travel cage (in an out of the way spot) while all the furniture and his cage was being move over. After everything else was moved to the new place, I would take Bandit over in his travel cage, set up his proper cage and put him inside.

By moving him last, my theory was that all the scary stuff happened in a place he was familiar with (so it wasn’t as scary, he didn’t care at all), and when he gets to the new environment, there’s no more carting large furniture past him, noisy things etc going on and it’s just a calm environment that he can settle into.

[OliverBun]

Well my advice is not the same as everyone else’s. However, I’ve moved 5 times with Olive. Every time I’ve disassembled his cage in to smaller cages. He then spends the day in a cage the size of the kind you can get at a pet store. But he’s got his litter box, his hidey house and everything familiar to him. He’s then last loaded. He gets his own car so he gets to be in a calm place while he is transported. He’s always the first in to the new place. I set him in a corner where there will be the least amount of movement. The room his cage will be in is always set up immediately (which is a ton of work for one day). As I set that room up I allow him out to explore.
He’s always handled it like a champ. Never any issues but he’s always been a tough and brave bun.

[Author]

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