Baxter/Quinn Intros: First night in the cage together

[Kimber]

Well, I decided that it was time to see if it was time to start intros with the boys together. It's been four weeks since Quinn was neutered and two weeks since Baxter was snipped. I decided to use the upstairs hallway because it is easy to block into a smaller area and there has NEVER been a rat up there. I put down a plate of babyfood, a plate of ensure/baby cereal mix and four quartered yogies on the floor. The way it was blocked I didn't have to sit in with them, but I could still reach in as needed. Please excuse the cruddy quality of the pics, but I figured a quick BB camera snap is better than the huge camera when I might need to move fast.

As you can see baxter was pretty puffy

It was weird...they didn't make a squeak the entire time they were out. The only low point was a TINY scuffle and a squeak that broke up before it started. I put an over mitt between them and guided them back to their corners (because they were both chattering and needed a minute) and then they were good for 10 minutes before I brought them back to their cages.

The entire intro was 30 minutes and I think it went well. I will be trying to do another oen tomorrow and am just wondering if there is anything else or different I should be doing?

 

[jorats]

Looking good. So you know that your black one is the trouble spot, he's the one you want to watch... what a puffy guy! lol
Now, don't get discouraged if tomorrow it goes worse, sometimes that happens, keep at it!

 

[Moon]

Sounds like a good first attempt to me!

 

[Kimber]

Oh yeah Jo, Baxter is the one who's more temperamental...he's also the one who's really person loving. Seems that way with most animals; the ones who are really human oriented are the ones who are whinier when it comes to their own species lol.

I know that you can have good days and bad with it, but neither of the guys are horrible and they're now neutered so we'll just take it slllooowwwwllllyyy and we'll get it eventually.

 

[hopefloats]

Aww you missed the best picture where Quinn is in the corner looking at Baxter!


Cant wait to see how it goes.

 

[Katzedecimal]

This cracks me up. You forgot the fabric softener sheets when you put them in the dryer! :lol:

 

[hopefloats]

:laugh4: that is to funny!

 

[Kimber]

lol Katz....poor Baxter. his hair is on the thin side and he has a lot of silvering in it which makes him look bald when he puffs up.

 

[mamarat]

Looks good, they look like big pompoms. lol

 

[Kimber]

Today's intros were again 30 minutes long. Quinn was much calmer today ( I think he's more worried about me than Baxter) and REALLY seems to want to be friends. He didn't puff up at all. Baxter on the other hand, lol, looked like he got out of the dryer and we didn't use a softener sheet again. There was no rat balls, no squeaks, no upsetness...Baxter did hide in the corner for a little while, but by the end he actually came out of the corner and ate some ensure/baby food mix. He just needs to realize that Quinn isn't there to hurt him and we'll be fine.

Baxter hiding in the corner.

Quinn trying to say hello

Touching each other

Baxter not so sure

Relaxed at the end

Seems to be going very well so far. I understand that we might have some setbacks, but good so far. Please feel free to let me know if I should do anything different.

 

[MMak]

Wow, love that last photo... looks like their introing very well!

 

[lilspaz68]

Last photo really tells the story :thumbup: You will get there with these 2..YAY!!! sweet Quinn! :heart:

 

[kscanuck785]

aawweeeee!!!! so glad it's going in the right direction!

 

[jorats]

Love the look on Quinn in the last photo, relaxed rat. That's what we want. If Baxter was serious in his bullying, Quinn would not feel relaxed ever near him.
You're doing great.

 

[Kimber]

Today intros were 45 minutes long. At the beginning Baxter was in hsi corner again and Quinn wandered around. Then Baxter started wandering...I swear, Baxter just irritates Quinn beyond the edge...if I was Quinn I would punch him a couple times til he got the picture. He steps on Quinn, shoves him around, pushes him....

Quinn was a model citizen...baxter would bum push him and Quinn would either let it move him, lay down, look in a different direction or sniff him aimicably. Baxter would walk away and do it all over again. At one point Baxter was starting to puff ( I think because he wasn't getting a ride out of Quinn) and stomp his feet...Quinn just laid there half ignoring him and not causing any problems.

The only low point was when Quinn finally had enough of being pushed around and there was a 1 second scuffle in which Baxter shoved Quinn into the ensure/baby food mix.... :wallbang: I broke that up only because Quinn was chattering and shaking his little hands trying to get the caked on food off. If that happens again, should I let them stand all stiff and let them work it out on their own?

After that Baxter wandered around all over the place rubbing a little on the corners and Quinn sat grooming himself. Baxter went over for a little face off, but then wandered away. at that point I packed it up for the night.

Pic as always and let me know if I should be doing anything differently.

Right before he was shoved in the ensure...

 

[jorats]

When the rat chatters it's best to separate... Chattering is high stress.
When Baxter gets puffy, try to put your hand over his full body and gently press his head towards the ground. Be careful not to get bit.

 

[Kimber]

I'll try intervening a little more tomorrow when Baxter gets puffy. Should I push him away when I push him down or should I do it right where he is? I'm not overly concerned about getting bitten by Baxter. He was puffy a few times wandering around and I pet him...seemed to de-puff him a little. I also shoved him away (gently) from myself a couple times when he was trying to rub on my shoes.

The best news is that after they came down I put Quinn out of the couch. After leaving him to calm down a bit from it all we started with head scritches before I picked him up in a towel gently and put him on my lap. He stayed there for about 15 minutes while I pet him and chatted. After I went and cleaned his cage I picked him up WITHOUT A TOWEL and carried him on my chest to his cage with him sniffing my face and being good

So we're getting better

 

[jorats]

The purpose of putting your hand over his body is to calm him down. To remind him that he doesn't need to take charge, that you will. Don't push him away at this point, just see what he does, if he calms down when you do that. Some rats don't want the alpha role but will take it if there's nobody else who will but they aren't happy about it.

 

[toeberto]

I'm so glad you're posting about this. I've never had to go through an intro before and it's fascinating to learn how they react, etc. The early pictures of Baxter all puffed up are outstanding - I didn't realize rats even did that.

I hope the intros continue going well!

Sarah
http://bentorats.blogspot.com/

 

[lilspaz68]

Bax is 2 weeks behind in hormonal reduction because his neuter was more recent, but they are both doing amazing!! I adore Quinn from afar, he's such a good relaxed boy in this intro. :heart:

I think they are doing great but yes, chattering is high stress...Rhesus gets worked up and will chatter quite quickly, so I have to calm him down when other rats are there...he switches from excited to crazy teeth chattering in milliseconds. He does calm down with the pressure from me, but I think Baxter will do even better, so try it like Jo says. :mrgreen: