Baxter/Quinn Intros: First night in the cage together

[Exodog]

I Nominate for RPOM! Such a success!

 

[hopefloats]

That last picture is adorable! love it.

 

[jorats]

Second that pic.

Yep, go ahead and use the spare room area. It's also a good idea to start them off on the table first.

 

[Kimber]

Ok I will do that for sure

More pics today after they're out in the spare room....This means they can be out for a little longer as last night I was too worried they're were going to fall off the table, lol.

And thanks for the RPOM

 

[Exodog]

No problem! They look like such pals there!

 

[Ollie]

Wow that is awesome!! I enjoyed reading that. Good job Kimbers! I love the pictures as well. You guys seem to be rat whisperers!! LOL

 

[Kimber]

Well, last night's intros were a little longer than expected....by about 4 hours, lol. I decided to do intros in the spare room as it is a newer place for them and a bigger area so it's actually an exercise-filled out time as well. I figure as long as they can get along well enough then I can have them out for intros and out time together because they'll get more of it.

In the spare room we have a small mattress on the floor, TV and chair in one end and then all the BF's weight bench, weights, etc in the other. We used the closet doors (taken out of the closet) to block off the end with the mattress, but they can crawl all over the weights, etc. When I first put them down, Quinn stayed in a corner nervous of the new room and Baxter went off exploring. After a bit, Baxter started staying with Quinn as he explored, but was being rather pushy; sidling up to him, pawing at his hind end and generally being annoying. Quinn ignored him for the most part and gave him a couple swipes with a front foot when he was being too much of a pest. It looked like Baxter was trying to play/excited at the whole situation, but there was no screaming, ratballs or tension so I just left them alone to sort it out.

After about 40 minutes, I was exhausted so laid down on the bed, but could still hear them and watch them.....and then fell asleep. I woke up a couple times to look over and they were just wandering about and exploring. I woke up once to a little squeak, but when I looked at them it was a grooming session and everyone was relaxed.

The BF came home about 4.5hrs after the intros had started to see me asleep and the boys curled up together sleeping under a towel I had draped over the weight bar to create a tunnel All curled up with each other. When I put them back in their cages (Quinn in the top of the FN, Baxter in the bottom) it was so sad. Quinn who never lays in plain site was laying on the bottom of his cage in the corner and Baxter was standing on the shelf...they wanted each other back to snuggle. I felt so bad, but I just couldn't stay up to watch them in together. This morning they came to say hi, and went back to being as close as they could in their different areas. So sweet. Looking forward to intros again tonight and will put them back in the exercise area again

 

[hopefloats]

aww that is so cute, i am glad it is working out so well.

The third picture they look like they are getting into stuff together.........

 

[mamarat]

Looks like it's going great! The boys are gorgeous.

 

[jorats]

Well I'd say it's pretty much a done deal with those two.
The longer the intro the better cause that's how they get to know each other and start to bond.

 

[Kimber]

Yeah, I've been talking with Eagle, Moon and Hope in chat and decided that we'll continue doing this for the week and perhaps next weekend we'll do a cage clean and cage intro next weekend where we can around to watch them. It's so sweet that they always lay in the corner to be near each other now.

 

[Kimber]

So since the update on Friday the boys have been on their schedule of turnout (lol, can you tell I'm a horse person) for anywhere from 2-5hrs a day depending on what I'm up to. They go out in the spare room together and seem to get along well. Baxter is such a pain though for poor Quinn. Quinn will explore a little, but Baxter is bouncing around, slamming into him, grooming him and pulling on his sides. It's like an annoying new puppy with the resident dog.

Last night was weird though. Baxter was roaming around as usual and kept going back to push Quinn around. He was pinning him and grooming only to zoom off around the room and then come back to annoy him. I was chatting on RSchat and the BF told me to look at Baxter....this is what I saw

Quinn didn't even touch him, but Baxter flipped himself infront of Quinn...when Quinn wouldn't touch him he slowly rolled over on his side more and slid himself toward Quinn

He stayed that way for about a minute and a half, only moving when I start poking his irresistable belly, lol. Later on after flipping Quinn a couple times, he flipped himself again and pulled himself half under Quinn and started nibbling his toes. It was s cute, but Quinn was just looking resigned to the idiot child bothering him lol. Is this just Baxter trying to play? trying to offer himself for domination....even though he's power grooming Quinn?...Jo...HELP! lol

 

[mamarat]

Hobo did that to Thomas (an older guy) during intros and when that didn't work he would lie down on top or underneath Thomas. It was so cute.

 

[jorats]

Baxter is in love. lol
I'd say it's all part of play, respect and honour. The wall will come down once Quinn grooms him and joins in the play.

 

[Kimber]

I was actually told that in chat by a certain shacker...that is Baxter was a girl "this would be him trying to get it on" :O

Would you suggest waiting to try intro-ing Ramsey until Quinn is more comfortable with Baxter or try anyway?

 

[jorats]

Not necessarily "trying to get it on"... because it's still a dominance move but in a very nice way.
I've always done my intros with the gang... throw in Ramsey.

 

[Kimber]

Well, yesterday evening the boys were out on the table socializing while I cleaned their cages. Quinn and Baxter were getting along really well so I popped them in the same empty cage (top of the FN with the doors open). Baxter was being pushy and annoying as usual, but they got along well. At one point Quinn had finally had enough of it all and a spat insued with a lot of hair pulling. They broke up easily, calmed down and then went back to wandering around. Baxter was a little downtrodden at being told off, but it was needed. I slept on the couch last night so I could listen for them and there wasn't any issues all night. This morning they were sleeping in separate hammocks and I divided them only because there was no one to be home all day. They will go back in again tonight.

Little spat

 

[hopefloats]

Yay! almost there! :dance:

 

[jorats]

It's looking good!

 

[temblabamomo]

:joy: :joy: :joy: That's great news!