What Should My Piggies Travel With?

[Luke]

Hello guys.

Most of you may know that tomorrow my two boys are going to a new home, where they can be themselves and have better care etc.


I just want to find out what will 2 guinea pig boars need in a 1 hour car journey... we're setting off tomorrow and I dunno what to put. They will be in separate boxes as I can't go and buy a travel cage or anything now.

Will boxes be okay?

What stuff shall I put in it?

Thanks all! x

 

[Wiebke]

Hi! Wishing you and your boys all the best!

Piggies keep well for an hour or even longer. Boxes are fine, as long as you put a some plastic in the bottom with an old towel on top or something leap-proof underneath the boxes. \

You can add some soft hay for them to nibble on (no stalks in case of sudden breaks). If you wish, let them have a bit of grass before you set out, so you don't have to worry about them or about dehydration until they have got their bearings in their new home. Most piggies won't eat much when travelling.
Here are more travelling tips: https://www.theguineapigforum.co.uk/threads/travelling-with-guinea-pigs.109071/

Make sure that you take pics with your boys before they leave and brace yourself that you may feel much more upset that you expect. It happened to me.

 

[Goth Mummy]

Honestly they will be fine. My teddy girls travelled much further and were ok. They were not very impressed but they were ok
Mine travelled in a cat carrier stuffed with hay and cucumber and a water bottle. X

 

[LeahsPiggies]

How come they will be in different boxes? They will be much more stressed if you are to split them up, but I agree that so long as you offer soft hay and watery veg they will be just fine for the journey . Cat carriers are ideal and if the new owners have at least one you could tell them to bring it with them. Good luck x

 

[Pebble]

Hi Luke
The biggest risk in transporting pigs in cardboard boxes is overheating, causing stress and subsequent URI's. Ventilation and proper "littering" of the box is key....and you need to take account of the "hairiness" of the pig as texels/teddy's/aby's/perus and rex's are more prone to overheating.

I do long distance rescue runs and if I prepare the boxes myself, the pigs can go at least 3hours without discomfort. I have however picked up "pre-packed" pigs that even after 1hr have overheated and been in considerable distress.

Whatever the journey time, for anything over 15mins, each box should be a minimum of 12" x 8" floor space for a single adult piggy....and bigger if a pair or more. The external bottom of the box should be double taped down the centre and around the edges otherwise it gets soggy and collapses. (Pigs always wee in the corners!) Ventilation holes of approx 1cm diameter should be punctured at 6cm intervals round the sides of the box, staggered at both top and in the middle.

Inside, the box should be lined with something absorbent - either newspaper or puppy pads on the bottom; followed by e.g. shavings, megasorb or carefresh...and lastly a SMALL amount of hay (too much hay = overheating)

Do NOT attach water bottles - they will soak the box/litter. Hydration can be maintained by putting in a couple of slices of cucumber/wet lettuce.....and topping this up every 2hrs of journey time from a tupperware container.

If you are traveling on a sunny day - bring a white/light-coloured sheet to cover the boxes from the sun......air conditioning is also helpful (Most of my runs have been done with me shivering in double pullovers/coat and gloves)

For an hour's journey you should be fine - as long as you have reasonable size and properly littered and ventilated boxes.

Lastly - if the boys are not strongly bonded - I would recommend you split them for the journey. There is nothing worse than a fight breaking out in a confined space whilst you are tanking it up the motorway!

HTH
x

 

[Luke]

How come they will be in different boxes? They will be much more stressed if you are to split them up, but I agree that so long as you offer soft hay and watery veg they will be just fine for the journey . Cat carriers are ideal and if the new owners have at least one you could tell them to bring it with them. Good luck x

My boys have been not getting on at the moment so they're separated in the cages, there going to a great home tomorrow which is around 40mins from me.
They hopefully will be reintroduced but if not she's got a lot more guinea pigs. Read all my threads please so you get a nice understanding.


Guys. I'll be transporting them in 2 same sized cardboard boxes which they'd have a few sheets of newspaper underneath and in the cage.
I'd put a bit of hay in there for them to nibble on to prevent frustration/bordem & I'll put some cucumber in there for them.

I'm going to keep the top of the box open so I can stroke them/hold them in the car so they don't get lonely etc..

I'll slightly open the window to prevent over-heating so it's all fine.

Thanks all.

 

[Pebble]

Sounds good Luke.

Hope tomorrow goes OK for all of you. Not easy I know.

x