Seeking tips and suggestions about moving!

[Kate Monster]

So I will be moving to Illinois with the bunnies on Friday! Holy cow, I can’t believe moving day is already upon me!  The trip won’t be too bad, only two and half to three hours and they’ve handled a longer trip to visit my folks so I’m not too worried about the travel part.  It will be a bit uncomfortable as I don’t think our moving van has a back seat, so that means bunnies will probably be riding in their carrier on my lap all the way, but that’s more my problem than theirs.  I just bought a new carrier because I don’t much care for the one I have, so hopefully the new one works out.    Do you think it’s best to let them out immediately and return to regularly scheduled freedom, or keep them confined for a few days to adjust? Any general tips about travel or moving?

[Monkeybun]

If you can set up one area for them to play in when you get there, that would be best i think. You’ll be busy unpacking and moving stuff around, so bunnies underfoot would be bad. And it will be new space for them, so they will need an established Bunny Safe place.

[RabbitPam]

I think it’s better to set aside one room that is “theirs” even if temporary. Rebuild their habitat in whatever configuration they are used to, matching the placement of dishes, toys, ramps etc. so it looks just like home. Then confine them to that room while you unload and unpack. You can put things you need in there to open later, but nothing that can be harmful if chewed. Close the door. The idea is to make their transition with minimal change, get the chaos away from them and keep them out from underfoot and away from injury. You always need to bunny proof a new home, too. The cords will be running from different spots, so might require a quick run to the store for new cord protectors. Some furniture may have become more accessible with new placement. So you need to have them happily tucked in with a room for play, but give yourself time to finish the move before letting them explore.
I moved in May, so I have fresh experience of this. It turned out that Sammy refuses to step on the tile in the major livingroom space, but adores the run from “her” room down the hall into my bedroom and back. After bunny proofing and letting her out to explore, I was rewarded with weeks of binkies and bunny 500s.

[Elrohwen]

I agree about setting up an area that is theirs for a little while so you can get to unpacking everything else. When I’ve traveled with the buns I just let them out immediately, but often they’ll stay in their pen for a while on their own.

[Kokaneeandkahlua]

Confine for sure. If you can-don’t let them out of their carrier as soon as you arrive. Instead set up their area like home-bring a partially dirty ltter box with you even, put all their familiar comforts out and then let them go in their area. And keep them quiet and try to stick to routines so they can settle in. Don’t worry-they adapt

[Molzy]

I moved about the same distance with Riley a few months ago. When we got here, I put him (and my birds) in the bathroom and closed the door while we moved everything else in to the apartment – this was in January, so it was chilly in Iowa!

Once I had all the boxes and stuff in my apartment, I set up their cages first and put them into them, and kept them confined for a few days while I unpacked everything else and bunny proofed. After that, I started giving him access to his play area. I think the few days in his cage were good for him though, just to settle in and get used to his territory.

Molly

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