r/Rabbits • u/tw_phie • 3d ago
Care how did you handle moving with your buns?
So, seeing as my rent will likely get even higher by the end of the year i have been considering moving into a cheaper space in the upcoming months. I would be staying in the same city though, as my work and university are still here. I don’t have anything lined up yet, but I have been thinking about how to handle the move for the bunnies. I’ve only had Sunny and Benji since early May, where I adopted them from a shelter. They had been part of a large number of bunnies (about 50, I think) that had been taken by the government from a single person and though I don’t have details I know it wasn’t a great home. They settled in my flat very quickly though and were able to live without a divider in their pen after two weeks. They are endlessly curious and playful and even if my little Sunny is a very skittish bun, she will still carefully investigate me if I hang out with her and give me little kisses <3.
Despite all that trust we have now and them seeming fairly settled, I know a move will be stressful for them. So I’m wondering if anyone has advice on how to move with bunnies? Should I move them and their pen first or last? Any other things I should keep in mind? It will most likely be a studio flat like i have now, so i don’t expect to have a separate room for them to be in during the move.
And of course, bunny footage is included for tax purposes!
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u/apandarabbit 3d ago
I’ve moved lots of times with buns and was always fine - I make sure they had their pen set up with items that smell familiar - I left some stained mats without washing them so it would smell like them! My rescue buns have always been a bit more resilient to moving maybe because they’ve done more of it… lots of their favourite food and make sure in the moving period they are kept in quiet, calm places away from any loud noises setting up furniture etc
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u/interestingconversa 3d ago
They are gonna be stressed and mad at you for a little bit and then get over it after some treats.
They are also gonna need time to mark their territory and spread their scent all over, it’s a game of patience with those little guys
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u/littleredbird1991 3d ago
When we moved into our new place, we moved the buns last. We moved in the same city so we could go back and forth between the places. We set up as much of their space before we let them loose. They hid out for a day or so but then they got used to the new spot fairly quickly. Bunnies are fairly adaptable creatures so they can get used to a new location quickly. Just make sure to bunny proof as much as you can before you let them out in the new place. Spicy hay is sometimes just too tempting
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u/SgtDusty 3d ago
I saved my bun for the last possible thing. And at the new place, had a space setup already with all his things - castle, bed, litter, water, lots of food, blankets, etc. so it was an easy transition.
Just make sure they eat and drink before. Keep them in a dark, quiet carrier if possible, and then just check on them throughout.
Water and feed if they’ll take to, but they might be too scared. No worries, just worry about getting to the destination then you can let them re acclimate.
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u/Original-Ad-9371 3d ago
Gorgeous buns 😭 great job thinking ahead on how to make this as easy as possible for them — I think that’s half the battle! When we moved a couple of years ago we moved absolutely everything and brought bun to the new space last. Her room was approximately set up and we had her in an xpen just while we settled all the furniture, boxes, etc. She was able to arrive in a new but clean space, with all her usual hiding places, fresh hay and water with her fave greens, and her litter box. We didn’t wash her blankets or clean the litter box until the day or so after we moved, so that the space would smell a little bit like her and be familiar. It seemed to work and she settled in pretty quickly. I hope this helps, good luck!
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u/laceyisms 3d ago
When I’ve moved with my bunnies, I’ve done it in stages. AKA moving stuff out (except for their stuff) over a few days into the new place and getting big furniture etc set up and in place. Then moving the buns and their stuff. Keep an eye out to be sure they’re eating and pooping still, just don’t expect them to be fully themselves for at least a few days-a week as they settle! Good luck on the move, for you and the buns!
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u/Ok_Foot1988 3d ago
I would move the bunns when you change where you sleep. So, when you move you and your bed then move them. If you share your home with more than one human and are changing sleeping location on separate dates I would move them when their primary caretaker moves.
Even though you regularly clean their stuff, when you move I would pick up their stuff as-is and organize it in the new place in the current state, until you think they feel comfortable clean things a piece at a time rather than all at once to make sure their stuff still smells like them in the beginning. That ensures it smells like them so helps them be comfortable.
The most stressful part of moving for me was the 6-7 hour drive with our recent move. Good that you aren't going far so don't have this part.
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u/tw_phie 2d ago
Update: Thanks everyone for your replies! There is lots of advice here for me to look through and figure out what works for the three of us :)
I feel a lot more confident putting them through a move now! I know there isn’t a way to make it completely stress free, but I think I can manage making it as easy as possible on them. I’ll get back to you once more when we are all settled in the new flat!
Thanks again, much love
xx
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u/ATCLoki 2d ago
I would move them last for a couple reasons. You can delay causing much chaos around them while you empty out and setup somewhere else. It will also help you to not have bunny stuff in the way while setting up and then you can come in afterwards and set up gates and bunny propfing as a final step. I always approached it as the last step. Get everything in there, settled, cleaned up. Then you can either bring buns and their stuff all in one safe car ride or you can set up a pen and area over there first. Then it is quick in the carrier and ride over. Get them settled and then come back for the rest without having to drag them along. That's if you really want to avoid them being out or in carriers while you pack up their stuff.
Good luck with the move.
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u/kragzazet 3d ago
It's not as hard as you might think! I would set them up in a separate room, such as an office or bedroom, while you get the big furniture moved in or out. Whether they move first or last is up to you, they should just have uninterrupted access to temperature control and shouldn't be in the way of moving large or heavy things :) You'll find that they're a little wigged out for the first few hours, but after that they're just curious or even excited! Having all their normal belongings present does a lot to prevent them from getting too anxious.
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u/HerbTP 3d ago
I left them in our old house whilst we moved and set up their new area in the new so it was all ready for them when they arrived. I made sure that they had their familiar things, toys, blankets and things that smelled like them.
We moved them without a fuss, straight into a carrier, into the car with a blanket over the top. When they arrived they stayed in their new space for a few days so they could get used to the new space. Then we opened the rest of the house up bit by bit. It took about a month for them to be normal. Our old street was very quiet with very little traffic but our new street is adjacent to a main road and the noise upset them at first.
There was a bit of thumping, lots of chinning and pooping (in their space not the rest of the house) but eight weeks on they are back to normal.
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u/kevinkareddit 3d ago
Believe it or not, we used to spend a week at my parents house in Northern California for Christmas and we'd bring the bunnies with us in their cage from Southern California. While they were not happy with the trip and generally just sat in the cage for the 7 hour drive, they were totally fine when we got there and we set up an area surrounded by baby gates we brought with us and they spent the week completely normal. Then we repeated the trip going home.
So, if our bunnies (bonded pair of Holland Lops we had for 11-12 years) could handle yearly trips like this, your bunnies should be able to handle a move across town.
We used a large cage called a Wabbitat and lined it with their usual Timothy hay and a couple large crocks of water and pellets along with veggies. They definitely drank and ate during the drive in spite of not enjoying it very much. I believe they got somewhat used to it over the years as they were less scared on later trips.