Introducing Rocko~ all 3 boys together pg 8

[Petunia]

OK the earliest I can get him in is Nov 7th.

should I continue with intros or just keep them apart til then?

I will be rat sitting in late Dec and again in late Jan and most of Feb and it turns out that the 3 rats I'll be sitting are not getting along- the owners got two neutered boys to keep their older girl company but it's not working out. so that would mean FOUR separate play times and cage areas (they are getting a second level for their CN to house the female away from the boy)
if my guys are still not together.

I really want my three together by then so I don't want to do anything that slows down that process. If keeping new guy separate til he's neutered is best, then that's what I'll do

thanks so much for all your help
can't believe I mistook the boggling at first as happy rats :roll: :lol: they apparently were extremely stressed rats

I do think they'll enjoy each other's company once the new guy is calmer.

already Dre and Norry are much more active and interested during out time. so it gave them something more to think about, at least. they did seem bored, regardless of how many new toys I got them.
Guess this is their best new toy :giggle:

 

[jorats]

You could continue table top intros since it's going to good.

Two neutered males and a female and it's not working out?!?!?! Is she on the forum? Maybe we can help her.

 

[Petunia]

oh Jo I'll mention it to them- actually I was wrong, the female rat is not quite two yrs old, but apparently the boys have too much energy for her and fight over treats etc. I believe she mentioned the female having some mobility issues as well so she wants her in a cage set up for an older rat.
I need to email them again soon anyway, so I"ll suggest they post here.

Well it's been awhile since I posted photos- I took a few of Rocko when he was out playing and need to take some of Norry and Dre soon too, but all 3 boys are so cuddly and snuggly I spend more time holding them and dont' even think about getting the camera

Norry let Rocko walk over him without flipping out. This was on the table. Norry will start to stand up and face off with Rocko but these encounters are barely a few seconds at most

they seem to be working things out a bit more each time but I'm not ready to put them back on the floor together, esp with the neuter scheduled. I don't want to risk any injuries before surgery (although I think it might be Norry and Dre who would be more likely injured, this guy is fast and a lot more athletic then they are)

anyway here are a few newer photos of Rocko, who is just going to stay Rocko since I can't come up with a name I like better :lol:

 

[dspch911]

He's a keeper! :heart: Is that what they consider high white - just trying to figure that one out?

 

[YorkieLove]

Rocko is adorable. I sure hope his neuter helps him settle down and accept his new friends. Good luck to you all!

 

[Petunia]

thanks!!
yeh he's a sweet heart, most of the time

I think he would be considered a high white, but I'm not completely sure.

 

[jorats]

How did I miss this thread!
Lovely pics... That Rocko is a doll! I bet once the neuter is done, you'll have them all together in no time.

 

[Petunia]

How did I miss this thread!
Lovely pics... That Rocko is a doll! I bet once the neuter is done, you'll have them all together in no time.

you didn't miss it, I keep changing the title to reflect the content, instead of starting a new thread

He got a bit um, weird yesterday when he was out. It seems he is trying to dominate ME, is that possible?

not only did he climb over my hand, arm and leg to pee on me, he reached up and bit my lip. (not too hard but not like a kiss either)
When I pulled back he climbed up me and started tugging on my shirt.
he seemed to be getting very worked up and it was making me nervous so I distracted him with some cheerios and got out of the play area.

Then he was jumping up trying to get out.
He seems very much like he wants to patrol the area and mark it all as his own, that's the sense I get. He marks every thing several times and any time he's near a water bottle, he tanks up so he'll have plenty of pee to do it with
:lol:

Thursday's neuter cant' come soon enough!

 

[jorats]

If he was dominating you, he would do the digging motion on you and try to hump you. What you described seems more like a boy wanting to explore. Nipping your lips is more of a curious thing, not pleasant that's for sure. I have a couple of who do that and I have to be careful with my face around them. I don't like it one bit. lol

 

[Petunia]

oh good, whew! He's really antsy to be out all the time but already he's bored in the "pen" and wants to explore the whole room.
I'd have to move a lot of things out of there first and I'm not physically able to do it right now, so he's just going to have to settle for the rat safe area for now.
He wants to climb but if he gets up high enough, he tries to jump out.

he's gonna be a handful, that's for sure!

 

[jorats]

What a bugger!

 

[mamarat]

Your post made me laugh. Sorry. Good luck with your boy.

 

[Petunia]

yeh he can be funny but last night I was giving him a nice shoulder rub, and he went totally limp and was loving it
but then when he got up, he ran up the front of me and tried to grab my shirt sleeve but ended up biting me arm (didn't break the skin but it hurt anyway)

what's up wiht that? does he just not know how to be gentle because he was always alone?
like, no other rats to teach him how to behave?

I'm still doing table top intros and he's not pounced on any one but I keep the sessions short because it seems to stress out my gentle smeeze boys a lot

 

[mamarat]

I had a rat who would run after me and lunge at me and bite wherever he could. Ouch!
After his neuter Rogue became the sweetest little kisser. And he was a dumbo smeeze. lol

 

[Unepuce]

Yeah, I too was thinking it's all hormone driven. Those poor boys really lose all common sense when those bad hormones hit - Pollux was my painful proof! :giggle:

I already love Rocko from afar... he will keep you well entertained, that's for sure! :cheeky:

 

[Petunia]

:giggle:

yes he's something, just not sure what yet :lol:

he can be really sweet but then it's like a demon has possessed him and he gets this look and I"m not gonna lie, it scares me a bit.

we're still getting to know each other. His previous moms have not replied to any of my emails, they requested a hammock for their rabbit and it's been finished and waiting for some time now (not prepaid, when will I ever learn??)
but they've dropped off the face of the earth it seems.
I wanted to ask what he likes for petting- I found out totally by accident that he likes to be held a certain way, he goes limp when I put my index fingers under his chest, he just lays there and THEN he'll let me rub his shoulders in circles like I'm giving him a little message .
most other times he doesn't want to be touched. I think maybe it overstimulates him.

I must remember to get new photos of the 3 of them together, will try fo r that tonight :wink:

 

[SarahA]

That great your getting to bond with your naughty fella, he sounds like a bit a character with a split personality! I'm sure with your patience, love and care he'll come around keep up the good work. :thumbup:
Thats a bummer about his previous owners they couldn't have cared from him that much if they aren't bothering to stay in contact, i bet the whole rabbit hammock thing was a way of buttering you up to take him some people these days.
Well heres hoping once your little monster man is neutered on Thursday and had plenty of time to recover he'll not have such an attitude and get on with your lovely gentle Dre and Norry.
You and he will be in my thoughts for Thursday. :hugs:

 

[Petunia]

oh wow it's been a while since I've updated this

well, intro's seem to have stalled. I'm still doing table top intro's but my two gentle boys Dre and Norry still seem very afraid of Rocko.

they mostly just huddle up together and stay still and Rocko runs around eating the treats and trying to find a way off the table.

he's doing a lot less of the cheek nipping he'd done before, and he climbs over both boys and pees on them but for the most part ignores them.

I'm not sure what to do next.
any suggestions?

Rocko has definitely calmed down, so much so that when he has his play time, he'll run around and then when he decides he's checked the place out well enough (I"m thinking I should have named him Patrol, cuz he loves to patrol the whole area lol) then he quickly jumps up and climbs the single CN to his cage which sits on top of it, climbs on in and settles in his hammock, looking mighty proud of himself :giggle:

he's very licky now, gives my entire hand a good washing and goes limp when he's being petted

very sweet guy, at least with me. I think he made such a strong negative impression on my gentle boys that they are afraid to trust him.

Think I'll try a different table top today and see if that helps

 

[Petunia]

OK I may be risking my life right now :lol: but I've got all three boys in a bonding scarf around my neck

I took them out and put them a different table in a room they are seldom in, and three boys came and huddled under my chin (I was resting my elbows on the table)

so, I threw caution to the wind and tucked them all inside the bonding pouch

so far I hear someone chattering/bruxxing away, probably nervous?

they all are such scared little guys!

How do you get them to stop avoiding each other when they are out?
it pretty much goes the same way each time they're out- the sniff each other, Rocko sniffs and pecks at the other two and pees on them
and then he's off exploring while my shy guys huddle together and don't move

this seems like it will take forever at this rate!! :lol:

I hope what I"m doing now will speed things up a bit.

 

[GrayLightNewDay]

Oooo how are they doing in there now? I am scared for your neck!