Bunnies moving house? How to do it?

[kt6382]

Hi, my husband & I have a new house that we are gradually moving into over the next week. I'd planned to move the buns in when we actually properly live there (next weekend). I'm not sure yet whether I'm going to move their old shed or invest in a new one... Both for looks (for my husband!!) and for quality. Obviously keeping them in their old shed would probably be better.. I am planning on moving everything from their old shed anyway including the Lino! So they should feel at home.

Do rabbits get stressed out by a move? The travel is not a problemas it's literally 5 minutes down the road. Should I keep them in their run for a while? Or even inside their shed!?? As I've read that people confine the space at first? But I think they'll hate that!

 

[tulsi]

If it was me I would just put them straight in to their shed and watch them. You could always block of the run for a bit if they start scrapping. I would also take the old shed and get a new one!!! Cant have too much space

Some rabbits get stressed by moving but I reakon that as you are giving them their familiar stuff that will be fine.

Good luck with the move. :wave:

 

[nessar]

Taking them once you are already moved in is a good idea. I don't think changing the shed would stress them too much more, as it will have all their stuff in it. It will smell different but if you are thinking of replacing it soon anyway you might as well do it now, get it over and done with and it will be easier to set up when you haven't got the bunnies there to think about.

Confining to a small area at first helps with litter training and can help if they start squabbling over dominance, but it's not essential. If they are used to a larger area and you feel that confining them would stress them out, then go straight for the bigger area.

What I find helps is to take their litter tray with them, uncleaned. Put the dirty litter tray where you want it and it will help with litter training and also help them see the area as 'theirs' because it has their scent in it.

 

[tulsi]

Taking them once you are already moved in is a good idea. I don't think changing the shed would stress them too much more, as it will have all their stuff in it. It will smell different but if you are thinking of replacing it soon anyway you might as well do it now, get it over and done with and it will be easier to set up when you haven't got the bunnies there to think about.

Confining to a small area at first helps with litter training and can help if they start squabbling over dominance, but it's not essential. If they are used to a larger area and you feel that confining them would stress them out, then go straight for the bigger area.

What I find helps is to take their litter tray with them, uncleaned. Put the dirty litter tray where you want it and it will help with litter training and also help them see the area as 'theirs' because it has their scent in it.

Good point. Thats what I did when mine first went out to their shed as a newly bonded quad.

 

[kt6382]

Thank for all your responses, sounds like what I'm planning on doing is ok. My boys don't seem to get stressed much so hoping they take it in their stride. We're not moving them until next weekend but are planning to build a new run for them today/over this week. Trouble is my husband wants to use half of the wire and wood from the old run to make the new one!? But the buns still need somewhere to live for a week!!

Litter tray idea is a good one, I did that when I had to bring them inside due to the storms damaging their shed and they were fine.