Integrating new rats with existing rats

[Olivia21]

Hi I have two 1.5 year old female rats and have recently bought two 6 month old female rats and would like to introduce them to each other and get them living together. I have tried swapping things in both their cages, having all of them in a neutral space. The younger rats seem to be dominating the existing ones and causing them to squeak and one has been bitten.

Any advice please?

Thanks!

 

[Dena]

Have you looked at www.joinrats.com for info? They have lots of good advice for socializing, and introducing new rats. Make sure you're doing intros in a neutral place, like a tub with a blanket (that none of them use) in it. Small scuffle and bites and squeaking is normal. As long as none of the rats seems to be in distress, and no blood is drawn, short intros can be done over several days, until the rats are comfortable with each other. Then slowly intro in the cage (supervised) for a little bit at a time, slowly increasing time. They have to establish dominance, and their hierarchy. Hope that helps some.

 

[SQ]

Please see joinrats.com and https://www.ratshackforum.com/threads/introducing-new-rats.34842/#post-491257