Introductions

[ratmomx5]

Today is the day I have planned to try and introduce my boys to my new little boy. I am not sure how it will go. My older boys are about 6 months old and my baby is 6 1/2 weeks. Any suggestions? I have only ever done one introduction and that was with my old mischief a long time ago and that ended very badly so any advice will help! Thank you very much!!!

 

[hopefloats]

you need to wait till the baby is 8 to 10 weeks old. the older boys are at the age of hormones so they could kill the baby with one bite. always make sure that you start on unfamiliar grounds when you do start but wait till he is closer to 10'weeks old to.be safe.

 

[glitchiq]

Hopefloats is right! Waiting until the baby is a little bit older will give him a fighting chance if either of your older boys decides to get nippy (or worse). Sometimes intros can go amazingly; a lot of older rats are great with little ones! But with two six month old boys and a baby like yours I wouldn't risk it just yet.

 

[ratmomx5]

okay i can definitely wait till till the beginning of April then i'll have my other two boys who are on hold and they will be 8 weeks when I pick them up i've heard baby to baby introductions normally go over very well. Harvey will be 8 1/2 weeks when I pick up the other 2 boys hopefully everything will go well. Right now they are divided in a double critter nation.

 

[jorats]

The babies should go smoothly, but still do a proper neutral ground intro with them. And then with the older boys, you'll need a very neutral ground like the bath tub or table top for an intro.

 

[SQ]

Please see this information on introducing rats .... it discusses the established, gradual introduction steps http://www.ratshackforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32368