moving guinea pigs best way?

[lu_lu]

sorry not sure where to put this?

I move to France in 2 months and have organised an animal courier to transport our pets but i'm after advise on housing them in the truck, the truck will be split off into 5 possible 6 sections, alpacas male/female take up a split compartment, then the ducks and chickens (in travelling crates) in the second compartment, in the 3 guinea pigs and rabbits, 4th our 3 mals and in the 5th lizards, snakes and all the inverts...all compartments will be sectioned off floor to ceiling,

question how are the guineas best travelling? i wasn't sure if i could buy a block of hutches for them to travel in as it can be strapped in the truck so its secure or if single hutches would be best, but is there a better way? i figured hutches would be best as it gives more room and its a long journey, ( 7 to portsmouth, 10 on the ferry and 3 the other side + custom checks, waiting to get on and off the ferry + stops for food, water etc) were going over on the same ferry as the truck and it has been pre arranged to stop every 2 hours to check on the animals, give food, water, walks etc...

also if we go with hutches whats the most absorbent bedding? should they have a water bottle (worried about leaking as there so hit and miss i find) or just watery veg (cucumber and the like?)

everything will be set up in advance for the arrival so they can go straight into there new housing, we have a exotics vet 40 mins drive away which we will be registered at ... anything else i need to consider?

all comments, advice, welcomed i'm a little stressed about the moving animals part...
cheers

 

[Mother Hubbard]

Wow that's some move you've got there.

I haven't done anything like that, but I should imagine cages would be fine as long as there is padding underneath between the cage and truck flooring to damp down the vibrations, I suspect the hutch would be the same and clearly secured. As for water bottles I would still give them bottles but perhaps put a small bowl underneath for any excessive drips and plenty of watery food as you have pointed out. Re bedding, I use equine bedding like bliss or auboise or equivalent as its good for urine soak up.

I'm no expert in animals transport of course, and besides wanting to be selfish by having my furries with me but it wouldn't necessarily be good to do the journey in their small carry cases.

Good luck.

 

[lu_lu]

Cheers for the reply, at this rate I feel I'll have a heart attack through stress before I get there! Just ordered some auboise so I can trial it before hand and ordered some hutches, I never even thought about vibrations, cheers, will scout about on eBay to see what I can come up with x