Travelling in Carrier

[Janey]

Ok, so whenever we have to use the carrier, Selwyn in particular, gets worried and buries himself underneath the little fleece liner I put in there to make it comfortable and soak any pee up. I thought he might just get used to travelling but we don’t do it unless a trip to the vets or boarder is necessary, so perhaps not regularly enough for it to become less of a big deal for him. One of my rainbow piggies, Fifi, used to like to be underneath something too, so I tried draping a tea towel over the top of the fleece and pile of hay in the carrier and that helped her, but not Selwyn! He will get underneath anything I put in there and am struggling to think of how I can make him feel safe enough, so he doesn’t feel the need to hide in there. He’s very happy out and about in the cage and floor pen, just not the carrier! Obviously the noise and movement associated with being in a car don’t help, but what else can I try? How does everyone else handle this?

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Is your carrier big enough to put a little hut/house in? That's what I did and piggy or piggies would go in there. In addition I'd drape an old cloth over the carrier.

Generally speaking my guineas didn't seem to be too bothered. I don't drive, but I've been on buses, in trains and on foot with my guineas. I've even transported them by cargo bike, and almost all were fine. I do remember babies (even with an adult) burying themselves in hay, so probably frightened.

I'm sorry it's not so easy for you and your guineas.

 

[AidaB]

I usually do 3 layers in our carriers- a little newspaper, then a fleece pad then lots of hay & a sprinkle of forage.

I always cover the outside of the carrier, I think it makes a huge difference.
Sometimes I look around at the vets & we are the only ones with our carrier covered over which surprises me.


Billy hated the carrier (& multiple vet trips poor boy) so I made him a little single layer fleece bag to travel in, as he loved to bury under the fleece too. Sometimes he stayed in it, sometimes he didn’t!

Good luck, I hope Selwyn finds a comfy way to travel- sliding about on the plastic is no fun.

 

[Mrs Tiggy Winkle]

Oh, I always had newspaper with shavings on top and them some hay. Or if I was transporting a poorly piggie, e.g. after an operation, I'd put a thick towel in instead of shavings. No slipping around on hard plastic surface.

 

[Janey]

Is your carrier big enough to put a little hut/house in? That's what I did and piggy or piggies would go in there. In addition I'd drape an old cloth over the carrier.

Generally speaking my guineas didn't seem to be too bothered. I don't drive, but I've been on buses, in trains and on foot with my guineas. I've even transported them by cargo bike, and almost all were fine. I do remember babies (even with an adult) burying themselves in hay, so probably frightened.

I'm sorry it's not so easy for you and your guineas.

Yes, I have tried that once before and they both went in - it was a fleece cosy that’s quite enclosed. When I got them out at the vets, they felt really warm, so was concerned they’d overheat, so haven’t done that again.

 

[Janey]

I usually do 3 layers in our carriers- a little newspaper, then a fleece pad then lots of hay & a sprinkle of forage.

I always cover the outside of the carrier, I think it makes a huge difference.
Sometimes I look around at the vets & we are the only ones with our carrier covered over which surprises me.


Billy hated the carrier (& multiple vet trips poor boy) so I made him a little single layer fleece bag to travel in, as he loved to bury under the fleece too. Sometimes he stayed in it, sometimes he didn’t!

Good luck, I hope Selwyn finds a comfy way to travel- sliding about on the plastic is no fun.

I haven’t tried covering the outside - but will give that a go next time! Did you notice that your piggies were a lot more settled with a cover then?

 

[AidaB]

I haven’t tried covering the outside - but will give that a go next time! Did you notice that your piggies were a lot more settled with a cover then?

I think the piggies are more settled with a cover over, it means there are no sudden changes in light/flashes as they travel.
I guess a bit like when we cover the tops of open homes, it makes our guinea pigs less scared of what they might think is a predator from above.

I use anything to hand- we have a couple of big fleece scraps- or in the summer I have used one of my dark coloured thin scarves.

 

[Merab]

I use an old bath towel folded as a base in my carrier, with a pile of hay to hide under.
They still wriggle under the towel!
Adding a cover over the top is a good idea

 

[Janey]

I think the piggies are more settled with a cover over, it means there are no sudden changes in light/flashes as they travel.
I guess a bit like when we cover the tops of open homes, it makes our guinea pigs less scared of what they might think is a predator from above.

I use anything to hand- we have a couple of big fleece scraps- or in the summer I have used one of my dark coloured thin scarves.

Great, thanks! I have just the thing in mind to use - will definitely try this

 

[Janey]

I use an old bath towel folded as a base in my carrier, with a pile of hay to hide under.
They still wriggle under the towel!
Adding a cover over the top is a good idea

You have me thinking now that using a large towel folded over a few times with hay ‘inside one of the folds’ might also be an option. That way, I can place them underneath part of the towel, with the hay and hopefully they won’t get as warm as they did with the fleece cosy I tried before.