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Transporting our buns from one end of the country to the other

bunnylover177

Alpha Buck
Hi. I am looking for advice really. We are moving from London to Northumberland next spring/summer with 13 rabbits, 2 Guinea pigs and 3 degus. Tricky! Finding somewhere which will let us rent should be interesting. My question is, has anyone used any animal taxi services? We probably will end up getting them all into our two cars for the 6 hour journey + stops but I am just exploring alternatives.
 
Hi. I am looking for advice really. We are moving from London to Northumberland next spring/summer with 13 rabbits, 2 Guinea pigs and 3 degus. Tricky! Finding somewhere which will let us rent should be interesting. My question is, has anyone used any animal taxi services? We probably will end up getting them all into our two cars for the 6 hour journey + stops but I am just exploring alternatives.

I have used an Exotics Pet Specialist Courier a couple of times. Derbyshire to London. They were excellent. The Rabbits had sole occupancy, the vehicle was air conditioned, water and hay provided and regular updates given on progress of journey. Stops would be made en-route if deemed necessary. A bit pricey, but worth it IMO
 
Oooh where are you moving to? We are from Northumberland, living in Sussex, going home next year too!! I was having the same debate, altho we only have two bunnies. My plan is to take the back seat out of car (we have a Picasso) and send them with removal men, then get the biggest 'indoor' rabbit cage I can find, and set that up like a mini hutch in the car wth water, litter tray, hay, and pellet ball, so they have plenty space to hop around (5 and half hour journey on a good day).
 
Northumberland is beautiful (I grew up there :)), enjoy. No experience of transporting rabbits though I'm afraid! I would agree with the 5 and a half hour on a good day estimate - it has taken me 7 hours in the past, Newcastle to Hampshire, and Alnwick is another hour north!
 
I have used the Phantom Flyer (listed on the link below) to transport various small furries. He normally collects and returns racing pigeons but does other small animals. He only comes as far North as West Yorkshire, though. I'm sure there will be other transport services, although it is difficult to find appropriate ones now - some are not set up for the species / insurance / distance / too expensive. etc.

It might be worth ringing round a few possibles, or asking at kennels, airports, RSPCA etc who they might recommend or use themselves.

http://www.rpra.org/racing-handbook/pigeon-courier-services/
 
I have transported rabbits in their carriers with just hay and grass (water tends to spill, cucumber could be useful) for hours and hours by train, bus and car. No problems at all. They just settled down and seemed quite unperturbed.

Have done it with three separate pairs of rabbits. They just cuddled together and waited it out. I did make sure that the carriers were covered (had a cotton scarf/shawl thing to put over one end) so that they felt secure.
 
Thanks everyone - this is reassuring. Nearly all my anxiety round the move is about where to find to rent before we buy which will accept animals and how on earth to get them all up there. We are going to have to pay for a bigger rental than we need just to get our animal family accommodated- flats don't come with outbuildings. Good to know buns cope ok with travel.
The worst journey ever up to Alnwick was 16 hours. They closed the M1 and sent the traffic on to the A1. They then closed two lanes of the A1 due to flooding.... No bunnies involved luckily.
 
Eeek that is a long journey! Our longest was 10 and we then didn't go back up for 3 years cos we couldn't face it again! Last time we went up for a day (to view a house, see goddaughter on her birthday) and it took 5 and a half each way, and we had about 6 hours there, it was great!
Good luck!
 
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