Moving cross country

[Regan713]

At the end of the month, my partner and I are moving from central Kansas to Seattle, WA. I'm obviously going to be taking my two boys with us. I was hoping to get some advice from the chinny community on moving my chins. I've been talking to them about how we are all going to a new home and that we will be going on a long trip to get there. I figured it couldn't hurt to try and 'tell' them what will happen. We are driving so they will be in the car with us so I can keep an eye on them. I have plenty of there food so I won't have to change that on the trip and I planned on bring a couple gallons of the water they are used to getting.

So this brings me to my questions.. what would be the best pet carrier to use for them? They are almost two years old so I know the are almost full grown.

This will be about a three day drive for all of us so should I try to carry on there routine of play time? I was thinking I could let them run around the hotels bathroom with the door shut so they aren't stuck in the carrier the whole time.

Any advise is welcome, I just want this to be as easy as possible for my little ones..

 

[wrightbrotherchins]

Maybe you could find a dog crate with very narrow bars??

 

[Basket_of_Chinchillas]

I moved across the country this past summer and used a dog/cat carrier, covering the inside with fleece, and making sure hay and pellets were available, with water stops Everything went smoothly and upon arrival at the hotel there was a supervised bathroom playtime. I also made sure that the car was the appropriate temperature before loading everyone up (moved with cats too). If you're moving multiple chins I would get them each their own carrier, or at least have a spare one on hand, in case any bickering erupts during the trip.

 

[Caroline]

Looking forward to another chinny lover in the Seattle area. Hope you will have time to come to the show in Bellevue at the end of April. Where will you be living?

 

[Regan713]

Thanks for the tips! I think I will have to go with a pet carrier as I'm having some trouble finding any kennels with small bar spacing. At least chinchilla small..

Caroline, I didn't know there was a show so soon in Seattle! I would love to check it out since I've never been to one before. What day is it?

 

[Caroline]

Thanks for the tips! I think I will have to go with a pet carrier as I'm having some trouble finding any kennels with small bar spacing. At least chinchilla small..

Caroline, I didn't know there was a show so soon in Seattle! I would love to check it out since I've never been to one before. What day is it?

It will be April 27th at the Red Lion Inn in Bellevue. The Red Lion Inn is very easy to find as it is just off of 405. I believe it is exit 12.
What city will you be living in?

 

[seachin]

Welcome! You'll love it here in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. We have ocean and mountains! Hope you can make the show.

 

[seachin]

Just to add, make sure you don't put a heavy dish inside the carrier as a sudden stop or turn could injur them

 

[Caroline]

Btw Regan, Ryan at Seachin has very nice Chinchillas. There are several good breeders in the PNW.

 

[Jenn]

Welcome to the area from another Pacific Northwesterner! I'm just a bit closer to the Canadian border.

Keep the temperature in the car cooler, so they don't overheat. Maybe keep plenty of hay available. Just stop frequently to check on them, but they'll probably just sleep most of the way. Have a safe trip!

 

[seachin]

Thanks Caroline!

 

[Zoaea]

I moved from Florida to Seattle last year with my chinny girl and she did fine (she did hate it though). I used a cage like this:

But with a larger side opening door. It was only about 20$ so you could easily pick up two from a pet shop. The plastic bottom shouldn't be an issue over 3 days (esp they can't do much in the moving car) and it fits well between the seats on the floor of a car. I think it was labeled as a mouse or rat cage... Also, I reuse it now as a carrier and for the one time I isolated my girl to count her poops. So it can be a long term investment if you find a good one.

The things I learned during the trip included, water bottles and moving cars don't work. Every time we took a stop for a stretch and a break I would hook up the bottle for my girl to drink, we'd give her (and us) at least 30 min in a chunk of time. Also, sawdust + moving cars + darting chins = a big mess. I would buy some cheap fleece scraps, or use you're cage's fleece if you have it. It would have been better traction for my chin's feet too while the car was moving.

Don't bother with a dish, it will spill and might flop around and hurt the chin if you have to swerve or stop suddenly, I gave my girl a ton of loose hay on the bottom of her cage while in the car, and a dish with pellets during the night at the hotel.

I let her stretch for an hour in the hotel, but I made sure she didn't chew on anything... you don't want to pay damages and who knows what they spray the walls with!!

GL, and hope to see you at the show in April too. ;D