By Pandora Allen

Flying: When you make your reservation make sure to let the reservation clerk know you are flying with bunnies. 

The cages we use for flying are the same ones we take to the shows.  We have our cages made by Donald Sheets who lives in Danville, Virginia.  I have cages that are over 10 years old.  

We use a water bottle sold by Morton Jones in California they are 8oz bottle top fill.   We attach our water bottles to the outside of the care by 2 electrician ties in a nice color.  We fill each bottle with water mixed with a solution of 4-Way Acid Pack.  We put a small amount of hay in the cage along the solid divider and a water soaked carrot.  We only use a small amount of hay so the hay won’t get on the floor of the airport or airliner.   

We use a piece of acrylic on the top of the cage.  My husband cuts it with a roto-zip to size of the cage it is covering.  You can take your measurements to the home store and they will cut it for you.   This material is good to use because it is light.  I spray paint it in a color I like and put the painted side down on top of the cage.  A large label is attached with our name, address, and phone.  I put cage labels for each rabbit being shown on the carrier.  The label has the bunnies name, ear number, class and sex.  This will help you remember who is going to the show in the early morning hours.  I attach luggage tags to the cage handles on each cage just in case something gets lost.   

The cage pan is covered with a hospital bed liner with an extra one underneath for the return trip.  I also spray a little Odor-Ban (Sam’s Club) to keep things smelling good. 

I hook 2 cages together with cage locks from Morton Jones.  I use 2 on each side (long side) making a total on 4.  The airline considers 2 cages hooked together as 1 kennel.   

If the bunnies are traveling as excess baggage on Delta you don’t need a vet certificate. Check with the airport you will be flying out of being the city they are in my require one.  If a vet certificate is required you can save some money if you can get a vet to use a livestock form being you can put more then 1 animals on it. 

Make sure to get and use a kennel cart it is the most valuable tool you will take with you.  Put a luggage tag on it in 2 places.  If it has a metal handle don’t be afraid to ask the sky cap to strap the handle to the cart when the bunnies are unloaded and give him 2 electrician tie. 

Get to the airport 2 hours earlier then your flight.  If you have never been to the airport you are flying out of go by there to make sure there is no problems.  Take your catalog with you it may be needed at the airport in case they need the kennel rate, which is listed.  When you pay for your kennels pay round trip.  They must accept them on the returning flight.  If you sell your bunnies and the kennel is empty they will refund your fees.  Leave the airline tags from the last flight on them.  This shows you have flown before with the kennels (carriers) being used.  

If you have any empty holes in the carrier you can put the bunny supplies in them like feed cups, feed, munches and grooming supplies. 

We have been flying with bunnies for over 20 years.  In all that time we only had one cage damaged and the airline replaced it with not problems.  The bunnies were fine. 

Driving:  When we drive to convention it just like going to an overnight show.  We pack our carriers the same as flying only with more hay and we don’t use the acrylic covers.  I still use the cage lock to keep the cages from moving and pan liners and Odor-Ban. 

We don’t put feed cups in until we stop for the night. 

Convention:  Make a card you can keep in your pocket to with a list of bunnies you brought with you.  It should have the ear numbers, class and color and a place for the all-important “coop number”.  It is real easy to forget a bunny.  Mark your cage with something so it will stand out.  This will help with locating your bunnies.  Every breeder has their own system for this it can be a piece of plastic chain to signs.   

Once you have your coop numbers put them on the cage labels on the carriers it will make putting them up and leaving much easier.  Coop your bunnies make sure you have them in the right cage.  Verify ear numbers and coop numbers.  Feed and water them as soon as possible and let them rest.  Bring some feed from home if not flying just in case your brand has not arrived on time, this does happen.  Put an electrician tie on the door to keep your bunny from pushing it open.  Make sure to bring something to cut the ties I use cat claw clippers.  Find out were you can store your carriers make sure they have some type of identification on them.  It will help when you have hundreds of cages being stored in the same area.  I always put my cages on my cart and strap them together.  I haven’t lost any yet. 

The host club will provide you with metal cups for feed.  They are large and have sharp edges.  I use plastic cup that KW Cages carries in attaches to the cage and I use the water bottles that are on the carriers.  Make sure to feed and water your bunnies, because no one else is going to do it.  You will need to bring something to clean the cages out.  A small dustpan and broom or a putty scraper works really good.  I use the hospital bed liners in my cages under my wire raisers. 

Always bring a first aid kit for you and the bunnies any special munchies you might want to feed.   Make sure to take your confirmation paper work, pedigrees for animals that you take to sell.   

Suggested Items to take: Pliers, wire cutter (coop repair), staple gun (replacing coop cards), business cards, box cutters, plastic putty knife (cleaning cages), carpet square, sharpie pens, grooming supplies.

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