New rats!

[lemontwist]

We've been toying with the idea of getting rats for a while and have had a cage at the ready but been looking at breeders etc. We were suddenly given the chance to take on a group of four bucks that needed rehoming. We went to have a look and brought them home last night!
They are about 1 year old and have obviously been well loved but not handled nearly enough. The cage they came in needed a good scrub so they are in the new cage with a few bits and bobs from home to hopefully ease the transition. DH is working on fitting their old cage to the top of the new cage to make some kind of ratty mansion and the boys are all snuggled in their house refusing to come out. They are not bitey in any way, just a bit skittish. Has anyone experience & advice for taking on older rats?

[lemontwist]

Thanks for that. I've not tried to get them out for a couple of days (except for DH in excitement when we first got them home). Last night I managed to get them all to take treats out of my hands. No such luck tonight.I've been sat by the cage holding out sunflower seeds but they're not having it! There's only one been out of their house tonight in search of food and that was, surprise surprise the fatty of the bunch!
I'm not really surprised. They've come from living quietly in their own space with a middle aged couple to our house of mayhem, lots of comings & goings, two small and very noisy children etc. Will just give them a few days of the same & try to encourage them to come to me and not be impatient no no no!

[lemontwist]

Yeah I'm sure we'll get there, its still early days. They are an inquisitive bunch and I keep seeing beady eyes and little noses peeping out from their house-they're definitely all awake in there! The house is from their old cage and their little place of security. Can't wait for them to be brave and explore their lovely hammocks and climby things. It looks like such fun!

[Fuzzymum1]

One way to bond with them is to get a soft bag and put them in it and 'wear them' for a while - a bag you can reach into and fuss them is good. A friend of mine who is a rat breeder recommends, putting a dressing gown on over your clothes and popping them inside it - they feel safe as they are under cover but are on you and getting to know you. Well done for taking on some older boys - they will come around with love and patience.

[lemontwist]

Thanks for the reply Fuzzymum . So far progress is very slow. I'm pretty convinced they have been rarely handled so I'm trying to take it really slowly. My evenings tend to consist of me sitting fairly quietly by the open cage with a plate of food, trying to coax them further out by moving it further and further out each night. They are getting braver but still very skittish!
When I have had them out I've had a towel on my knee with lots of folds that they can bury into.
So far its very slow going and I'm not sure if I'm going about it the right way but the internet is full of seemingly good but contradictory advice! I am slowly getting to see individual personalities coming through but its hard to imagine these little fellas actually enjoying my company & coming to me voluntarily.

[lemontwist]

Here are some pics! Alf is sitting on my knee, faily calmly but steadfastly refusing any treats. Rolo, normally the brave one, is refusing to come anywhere near me tonight. The other two have been up and about but hiding/sleeping at the moment.

[PixieofCatan]

Ooo, how exciting!

We rehomed two 1yr old girls at the beginning of March, they are quite lovely :) It's taken two months but we can now hold both of them, one was happy to be held relatively early on but the other took six weeks to even climb out onto us. Be patient, it's so frustrating but so very worth it! And be careful to read their signs, we've both been bitten by the more social girl when she's just not been in the mood to be touched.

Your boys are gorgeous! How big are they? We have two young boys who are steadily growing and cannot wait to see how big they get!

[lemontwist]

Thanks CorusKate love the pizza story, can totally imagine that happening!
Pixie its really nice to hear of someone elses older rats coming on so well. My boys are pretty big, we've got a black one thats not pictured, he's enormous, and a little on the chubby side.
Progress is very slow but they were very brave last night, clamouring for their evening treats from inside the cage. I had them all take food from my hand & had the dish further from the cage than ever before & they all came out for treats and a little explore. I think today I might sit with the treats on my lap & see if they'll manage that.