Tips on moving long distance with a bonded pair?

My buns had briefly mentioned in bunny chat that their estate might be moving to the other side of the country soon.
I'm moving for school and part-time work to another place, to the tip of an island into a town with a population of roughly 12 000. The distance, by public transportation, is anything between 6:30 and 11:30hrs, depending on the bus departures, detours, ferry departures etc. The average, though, is something between 7 and 8 hours of driving, including the ferry and wait in the median station (needs two different buses to get there).
Now i'm sure that i won't be bringing my pair along the first time i move, which is this sunday. i won't have access to private transportation to take all of my and their stuff in one go, so i'll split it up into two moves, if not even three. The first (or even second one, depending on how much i need to bring along) would be just for me and my belongings-mainly clothes, digital ware and documents. I was told that i don't need to take kitchenware or bedding with me as it's provided by the rental. The second (or third one) would be happening a bit later, maybe a week or two, maybe even a month later, depending on how fast i can get adjusted to the new environment and if i can actually land the job that i've been invited to spectate.
If all goes well in my own settling and life, i was thinking of bringing buns in the first week of october- this way i can get a refund for my travel tickets- the school will cover a back-and-fro trip home once a month for us. Initial move tickets for september, bun move tickets for october. This would save me more money. Would be a tough month without buns at all, but i did survive it this march, and we're not thousands of kilometers apart, so it'll be easier on my heart. If anything, i can video with buns or hop by local pet stores and shelters if i need to see some other living beings beside humans.

I have read that other members have moved with their buns for way longer than what my trip is. (Specifically remember someone travelling almost a 1000km during their move with a huge tow of rescue buns, my way would be a little less than 400km) Still, it's not a mere 130km trip to the special vet. It's nearly 7 hours instead of the usual one and a half.
Dad could drive me to the first bigger bus station about 25min away, then i would get on a bus and drive. There would be a half-hour 'break' after that 2h40m drive as i would wait to change buses, then the thing would carry on for 2h more, then a ferry of roughly 40 min (we went in 25min but maps says 40), then drive on for another hour before finally legging the last bit of 15 minutes, or busing and walking for the same amount of time. Or i could call a cab and get it done in 5 minutes.
Long story short, this trip includes, on average, a 25min car, 2h40m bus, 30 min break, 3h30m bus and then a 15min legwork to finally get me form point a to point b.
If i'm really in luck, dad could skip the 30min car & 2h40m bus and make it a 2hr car drive from home and then i would move on with the rest of the 3h30min and on...
This is a long and quite an uncomfortable way for two buns to go cramped in a carrier together, along with the many times i would have to change vehicles and then jar them more with walking motion or the ground vibrations if i were to get the carrier wheels. I also cannot control how hot or cold the buses would be and there's nothing i can do about all the new smells buns will have to tolerate.
I believe that they would be fine and would make it, though they'd definetly be quite jarred for a while before they can get used to their new home.

Now it's finally the time when there's enough context for others to give me specific advice.

1. i know the how-to's of bun travelling- nice carrier, non-slip liner, hay in there, offer veg and water during breaks (i'd have two or three of those- waiting for bus no2 and on the ferry when bus isn't moving) and stay right by their side for maximum comfort, keep curious strangers away from their faces. Is there anything else that might come in handy on particularly long trips like mine would be?

2. what things and items would be reasonable for me to try and take along, and which are better left behind and bought again locally?

I think that since we got the nice big toilet box from the new city, i could skip dragging that along. Or i could place carrier in it when i have to start legging because the toilet came with wheels and is bigger than carrier box.
I would have to try and get toilet pellets from there coz there ain't no way that my bun luggage would include a 15kg bag, without breaking my bag or having a car.
Toilet liners are easier to bring along though- just have to tightly fold two of those reusable fabric liners and we're good.
Hay, oh hay. I think that one evening's essential could fit into carrier along with buns, but we need more... We have SO many bales here that would stay standing after i move. I would like to use those. Granny helped me make a backpack specifically for hay, i'd be able to take a fair amount comfily and it wouldn't break my back. Don't know how long it would last me for, but it's better than the tiny store bags. I could use my once-a-month-ticket-refund to get hay from home for free, at the expense of two days and being a bit dead the day after returning.
I'm sure that i could fit a few twigs and rattles in my bun luggage along with the water dish and grooming stuff and gas drops. I would definetly have to construct a new hidey-lookey house for them. Ain't no way i'm taking that along.
The biggest question would be how to take along 8 panels which are 60X90cm each and collectively weigh quite a lot? I would definetly need them to keep buns away from places they needn't be in, but the panels are super clunky and uncomfy to carry. Would i have to take one of those wheeled carcasses from those granny shopping bags and tie the panels to them? Would buses even allow luggage that is this big and heavy?

3.1 Considering that i'll have this specific apartment initially for three months (maybe more, can't say for sure yet), would it even be wise to bring buns along until i can know for sure that i'll have this apartment for longer?
It would be painful if i'd bring buns in, get them settled and then have to move them all over again. I struggled so hard to find this pets-okay apartment that can somehow fit my budget, but if i would need to move into a more expensive one, i don't know if i could make it, considering that my main focus would still have to be school, at least the first half-year when i'll have to figure out if this profession is matching my interests and skills or if i'll swap to full-time work instead. In the case that this doesn't seem to be the thing that i want, i'd most likely stick with the job and then move in early summer, to the city where the good bunny vets are at, to try the art school there one more time, and to find a part-time there. If stuff turns sour and sustainability becomes more important/very hard to get by with what the school+practice+part-time can get me, i'd be willing to drop school+practice earlier, but i hope it won't come to that unless i decide that it just doesn't quite match what i want.

3.2 I have yet to assess the savvyness of the vets in that county. According to maps, there are two in that town and one more roughly 20min drive away. According to a bunny village that we visited nearby, the vets are good enough to deal with bunnies' vaccination and minor issues. If they couldn't handle more serious stuff and/or emergencies (haven't fully looked into the opening hours yet) then the closest stuff would be, oh boy, 7, 6, 5 hours away. Way worse than what we have right now, which is 4, 3, 2.5 hrs (all rough estimates in public transport). Though there is a 40-minute flight that goes from the new city into the capital, once a morning and once a evening, which would make the closest asap vet roughly two hours away (need to check-in an hour earlier, vet isn't right nearby the airport). If the accident happens to come at the right time, or is something that won't kill overnight, that is. Then there would also be the question if this flight allowed pets at all, and where we would stay if i had to make it to the evening flight. I'd just have to hope it won't ever come to that. In that regard, buns staying with parents would be a safer option, but then again, they might not be able to tell if something is off and buns' diet would be better and more stable with me, i also need them for emotional support.
I don't even know what exactly i'm asking with this point, but feel free to leave any suggestions regarding anything.

Bly me, trying to become a real, responsible adult is harder than anyone warned me of.

Catlyn said:

3.1 Considering that i'll have this specific apartment initially for three months (maybe more, can't say for sure yet), would it even be wise to bring buns along until i can know for sure that i'll have this apartment for longer?
It would be painful if i'd bring buns in, get them settled and then have to move them all over again. I struggled so hard to find this pets-okay apartment that can somehow fit my budget, but if i would need to move into a more expensive one, i don't know if i could make it, considering that my main focus would still have to be school, at least the first half-year when i'll have to figure out if this profession is matching my interests and skills or if i'll swap to full-time work instead. In the case that this doesn't seem to be the thing that i want, i'd most likely stick with the job and then move in early summer, to the city where the good bunny vets are at, to try the art school there one more time, and to find a part-time there. If stuff turns sour and sustainability becomes more important/very hard to get by with what the school+practice+part-time can get me, i'd be willing to drop school+practice earlier, but i hope it won't come to that unless i decide that it just doesn't quite match what i want.

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It sounds like it would be an enormous enterprise to transport the rabbits via the method you describe. If the initial apartment may only be used for 3 months, it seems more prudent (and infinitely easier) to just leave them home for that time.

Once you've settled and decided whether you will be staying there or moving to a different apt, then that would be the time to consider bringing the rabbits to where you are. That would be my suggestion anyway.

I'm assuming you don't have a license or otherwise can't rent a car, since that would be my first suggestion! We have traveled regularly with up to 5 bunnies for trips up to 10 hours, but no way would I want to do that via public transport! That makes everything more difficult.

My second suggestion would be wheels, wheels, wheels — the more stuff you can wheel around, the easier. I purchased a cheap second-hand baby stroller that was collapsible and modified it to put a bunny carrier where the baby seat was, and supplies underneath. It made it much easier to do the frequent trips to a distant specialty vet that we had to do with one bunny. But again, with public transport, that would be an extra item to take.

I would prioritize what to take based on expense and availability of reaquiring. The xpen panels are not cheap (at least not here), and if you have so much hay, you should definitely bring some every month. We have panels too, and I use zip ties to make them into a compact package, attach a handle to the top, and drape a black garbage bag over it, cutting a hole for the handle (the large garbage bags here fit exactly). It is still heavy to carry, but we stay at hotels where we can get a luggage trolly to help. For you, somehow getting that package on wheels would help, so your idea of tying it to something with wheels is good! We have a Magna Cart we use for lots of stuff, don't know if you can find something like that where you are: https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Personal-Capacity-Aluminum-Folding/dp/B000HVVSDU?th=1. It is very compact and lightweight when collapsed, but strong when unfolded.

Or make something similar out of the panels, since they are pretty strong. You could even make a large cart out of the panels, like the picture below, making it foldable and tying things together with zip ties (cable ties). It could be collapsed to go on the bus, then unfolded and heaped up with stuff when you have to travel on foot. The larger, more rubbery wheels travel the best over rough terrain.

How much luggage you can take on these public transport options will determine what you can do, so I'd start with some research there! Most people I know who move great distances and have a lot of stuff to bring have the stuff shipped separately.

And if there's any way to let the bunnies out to stretch their legs a bit, I'd recommend that, maybe tie some grids together to make a larger cage around their carrier, like the c&c bunny condos. The bunnies get pretty stiff sitting in a confined space, just like we do!

Blue eyes said:

It sounds like it would be an enormous enterprise to transport the rabbits via the method you describe. If the initial apartment may only be used for 3 months, it seems more prudent (and infinitely easier) to just leave them home for that time.

Once you've settled and decided whether you will be staying there or moving to a different apt, then that would be the time to consider bringing the rabbits to where you are. That would be my suggestion anyway.

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I think i'll do just that. Until i can get the details from the landlord-ish person, buns will have to stay somewhere that they can feel stable in. I'm a bit terrified as to what mum might feed them in the meantime, especially since she can't get gas drops in them, and also a bit worried about the bond between me and buns that might suffer, but i think that once i'm stable enough on my own, i'll have plenty of time to make it up to the royal pair. I'm just feeling a bit down on their precious time i'm going to miss out on.

rabbit_friend said:

I'm assuming you don't have a license or otherwise can't rent a car, since that would be my first suggestion! We have traveled regularly with up to 5 bunnies for trips up to 10 hours, but no way would I want to do that via public transport! That makes everything more difficult.

My second suggestion would be wheels, wheels, wheels — the more stuff you can wheel around, the easier. I purchased a cheap second-hand baby stroller that was collapsible and modified it to put a bunny carrier where the baby seat was, and supplies underneath. It made it much easier to do the frequent trips to a distant specialty vet that we had to do with one bunny. But again, with public transport, that would be an extra item to take.

I would prioritize what to take based on expense and availability of reaquiring. The xpen panels are not cheap (at least not here), and if you have so much hay, you should definitely bring some every month. We have panels too, and I use zip ties to make them into a compact package, attach a handle to the top, and drape a black garbage bag over it, cutting a hole for the handle (the large garbage bags here fit exactly). It is still heavy to carry, but we stay at hotels where we can get a luggage trolly to help. For you, somehow getting that package on wheels would help, so your idea of tying it to something with wheels is good! We have a Magna Cart we use for lots of stuff, don't know if you can find something like that where you are: https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Personal-Capacity-Aluminum-Folding/dp/B000HVVSDU?th=1. It is very compact and lightweight when collapsed, but strong when unfolded.

Or make something similar out of the panels, since they are pretty strong. You could even make a large cart out of the panels, like the picture below, making it foldable and tying things together with zip ties (cable ties). It could be collapsed to go on the bus, then unfolded and heaped up with stuff when you have to travel on foot. The larger, more rubbery wheels travel the best over rough terrain.

How much luggage you can take on these public transport options will determine what you can do, so I'd start with some research there! Most people I know who move great distances and have a lot of stuff to bring have the stuff shipped separately.

And if there's any way to let the bunnies out to stretch their legs a bit, I'd recommend that, maybe tie some grids together to make a larger cage around their carrier, like the c&c bunny condos. The bunnies get pretty stiff sitting in a confined space, just like we do!

Click to expand...

I do not have a liscense yet, had been meaning to get one quite a while ago but conditions weren't favourable for it. I wouldn't ever be able to get thru car school in russian if i can barely get by in its daily vocabulary, and for some reason our region is just 80%more russian than estonian. Even though it's Estonia. Other places that did have estonian programmes, were too far away and at the wrong times for public transport. That meant no car school for me until i leave this area. Hoping to scrape all the cents from underneath the furniture and bliss in adapting&time management because i'm really gonna need the liscenses soon if i ever want to get buns to me more peacefully. If even i'm toast after just watching during the car ride, i couldn't imagine what an arduous experience it would be for buns to go in the buses.

The panel cart seems to be a great idea. Though mine are of the extra high variety. I had to choose between 60 or 90cm height (either 2 or 3ft high) which were 60cm/2ft wide, and since i knew big boi could just easily poke his head over the 2ft one i had to get the 3ft one. Now 8 panels of 2*3ft accumulate a mass, so i don't know if these could effectively be made into a strolley/cart type thing. But it is a neat suggestion indeed!

I don't think i'd have the time to let buns out, unless i booked tickets for other times, maybe increase the wait times between two connecting buses so that i could seek out a quieter space and maybe pop up a few panels sideways.
Or i could just forego all that, sign myself up for car school classes, scrape up all my savings, go minimalist and somehow make a living until i can get the liscenses and survive the first half-year of school+work. Then the transport ordeal wouldn't be such a bjg ordeal anymore.

Thanks for all the amazing suggestions!

I have secured myself a part-time job and am also in the process of applying for 'financial sustenance support'- directly translated, it comes out as that, though a more proper way to describe it would be a small amount of money given to people who can prove that they need financial aid to continue their education.
Seeing that i am now a separate single-person household from my parents and that they (according to official financing documents) don't have many resources to support me with, and after explaining my general situation to the person who will eventually go through all the applications, they said that i'm very likely to get that support. My part-time would be plenty enough to cover for rent and buns' expenses, and with the aid from the school (and maybe even the local governing agents, if i'm lucky) i'd be able to get by with my own food expenses. I'm actually working in a grocery store, thus i'm let in on the workers' discount and sweet deals, slightly reducing my costs. 10% off from any food item even if it's already discounted will eventually add up to a good amount of money saved.
Once i get a taste of what school's going to be like, i'd have the possibility to take on a slightly bigger chunk of work, making my life a bit easier.
I still have my savings and parents have stepped up to help me with some costs if need be, so i think that i'm now stable on the money front.

Now that this update of a prelude has been told, i have still decided to go on ahead and bring buns to me. Since i have a complete gap of four days, i'm headed home tomorrow and back on saturday, hoping to take the trip back with buns in tow.
My apartment is more bun-friendlier than i initially thought- no silly nooks or loose wallpaper, no crumbly baseboards, not a huge amount of wires. Only for my portable cooktop that i can unplug and lift away, lamp that i can lift away, and fridge cord that can be hidden by the wall.
The bathroom is actually sized like one, has a heated floor and the tiles aren't too slick, the main room is just a rectangle, so there shouldn't be a problem if i scoot my meagre selection of furniture around. If need be, i can even let buns explore in a odd-shaped, empty ´divider´ room between my room and the exit door hallway (if that made sense? Like-front door, then two sets of dividing double doors that separate 2 and 2 rooms, and then my own door). Long story short, though it won't be a heaven in terms of space, it won't exactly be cramped either.

I was thinking on trying to make the trip the shortest possible, most likely i'd avoid a longer waiting gap in the connecting bus station, and hopefully let buns roam a bit in the ferry- it's 25mins ride after all, and there is a special pet room on board, i don't think that the crew would mind two buns for a bit. Though i may decide against it after all because the pet room might also have other pets, especially dogs. I don't think the crew could be bothered enough to make special exceptions for us, but it mightn't hurt to ask either. Or i could forego trying to find buns a 'stretching' break since it might egg their nerves more, and just hurry to the apartment to let them settle down. My bathroom is safe and warm, and i don't need to do any protecting for it until i can get the rest set up for my guys.

I'll leave out the question of how readily parents will let me take my folks along, but i need them for my own well-being and likewise. I could just skip them the travel stress and start over here with a completely new bun, but i don't think that would be fair to anyone either.

But i'm still unsure of how i can reduce their anxiety during the trip beside what i already know of bun-travels of keeping them cool, occasionally prodding them with hay or favourite treat, getting a watering syringe, keeping curious noses out their faces, and just being there for my guys. Did i miss anything?

My bunnies have fleece and towels and a stuffy at home, and all of those come along on travels so they have something cuddly that smells like home. Also, extra fleece or cut sheets to drape over their carriers to block out sunlight, drafts, moving trees outside the window, etc. I also always take alfalfa hay, because if a bunny goes off their food from stress (like one did on his first trip with us—poor guy's previous trip in a car was to get dumped in a neighborhood), they can usually be tempted to eat with alfalfa. Gas drops (in a general first aid kit) for if their tummies get upset.

Also, luggage labels on carriers with their names and address, plus their vet's name and phone number, just in case we get somehow separated from them (heaven forbid, but stuff happens). Vaccination records also, if that is required to cross into any areas bringing pets or livestock. There are battery powered fans that can help them keep cool in warm weather.

I usually take an extra empty carrier in case the bunnies get on each other's nerves, or to give them an extra space to hop into (or for me to put them into) while I replace their bedding with fresh ones (which means taking clean towels and pee pads and a garbage and laundry bag. Since we travel by minivan, they usually play “musical chairs” with the carriers anyway!

There are some herbs that supposedly can be used to calm them. In the U.S. we have things like Bach's Remedy, don't know if you can find something similar in your country.

I am sure you are filled with excitement, nervousness, eagerness, and all sorts of other feelings. The most important thing to give the bunnies during the trip is a calm, confident, unfrazzled presence, so take good care of yourself as you make your preparations!