Intros - Starting Cage Swapping!

[Asheka]

They're all on my facebook if anyone gets bored lol
:joy: The only real "fighting" seems to be when Tanookie or Remi run from Smeagol, as he then chases and scares them more I think.

I will be doing a couple tonight. I need to clean cages fully, so I hope they will play nice while I do so, as I don't want to put anyone in the enclosure alone and have territory issues. I, unfortunately, don't have anywhere other than my bed and Smeagol and Hoggle have been playing on my bed since I got them, so I don't think that's much of an option right now? My apartment is quite small, so yea lol and my bearded dragon is on my table hehe

 

[Asheka]

So, there's only four parts this time, but only because I was cleaning the cages at the same time so just kept pressing record when it would turn off, and I had to move the enclosure over so not as much was seen. Tonight went awesome though I think! There were a couple of scuffles in the one corner that you couldn't see, but other than that and a couple small ones in the videos, it was pretty quiet.

Now, I'm excited and so angry the camera didn't get it! While I was cleaning the temp cage I had to push the enclosure over the opposite way, so the edge of the enclosure blocked the one corner and for a good like 5min EVERYONE was sitting/laying/chilling all within touching distance. Tanookie and Remi are more cautious of the boys than Gir, but everyone was in that corner and just laying down, etc. I believe Remi came sniffing and disturbed Smeagol which slowly broke everyone up, but no fights :joy: I swapped some more, larger, items when cleaning the cages too, so hopefully it helps. Everyone is fast asleep now too :giggle:

Oh, and a side note, the FedEx guy is coming today to pick up the Ferret Nation, so hopefully I'll have the invoice from FTC to send out the right model soon!

I reviewed the videos before choosing which to post this time and cannot believe how BAD the quality is....I use to record stuff all the time and it was never that horrible...I am wondering if having it on the TV while it's on might be interfering or something weird, so will try it without it on next time...I mean, I need a new digital cam anyway, but still lol

[BBvideo 450,375:1x5wiy2x]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=215648935230826[/BBvideo:1x5wiy2x]

[BBvideo 450,375:1x5wiy2x]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=215654718563581[/BBvideo:1x5wiy2x]

[BBvideo 450,375:1x5wiy2x]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=215660375229682[/BBvideo:1x5wiy2x]

[BBvideo 450,375:1x5wiy2x]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=215665291895857[/BBvideo:1x5wiy2x]

 

[hopefloats]

In that last video I would of either a. Held him down a bit longer or b. put him in a time out. Actually, I probably would of done both. He is just a brat. He is one of thse that will bite a rat for no reason. John was kinda like that, but he was more damaging.

 

[Asheka]

It got better though, as it was a good 20min after that they were all sitting together.... How does one put a rat in a time out exactly?

 

[hopefloats]

I toss mine in a cat carrier for a bit. Just off to the side. I have a few humpers boys and boys that would just bite for no reason they lived in time out for a bit LOL

 

[Asheka]

LOL I sadly do not have a cat carrier here (they're all in Sarnia with the boy and cat lol) Will think of something, if needed.

 

[Asheka]

Tonight was a little shorter than last night, about 40min or so in total, and a few more scuffles than I was hoping for. In the last vid Tanookie and Gir started boxing in result of a fight starting with Smeagol that I had pinned him for....Is that normal? I suppose they're still ranking themselves as they hit that age? Hopefully that doesn't complicate things much more....

Oh, and FedEx jerks never showed yesterday...I am NOT impressed with how this is being handled considering it was more than likely a webtsite issue than me screwing up the order as I looked it over more...and I am so broke unless a few miracles come my way so paying the extra $100 to replace the dang thing and missing work last night because I was up ALL day waiting...yea...lets just say after this I am no longer dealing with FTC I don't think....

[BBvideo 450,375:1iydu7tr]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=216025378526515[/BBvideo:1iydu7tr]

[BBvideo 450,375:1iydu7tr]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=216026558526397[/BBvideo:1iydu7tr]

[BBvideo 450,375:1iydu7tr]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=216027508526302[/BBvideo:1iydu7tr]

[BBvideo 450,375:1iydu7tr]http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=216028675192852[/BBvideo:1iydu7tr]

 

[hopefloats]

When one of my rats fight, i can see a bout 10 run over. It can cause massive boxing matching with one fight. I have a video of a fight me pinning john, and 3 rats walking on him while i pinned him. They all want to make the ones act right or have their part in correcting them. Most of my boys who get bitten or pinned will box any rat that comes near them.

have you tried being in the pen area with them during intros? Some rats get very nervous in areas like that and can cause them to act out a bit. You being in there may help calm him a bit.

 

[jorats]

Ya, I would add myself to the intro, be part of the enclosure and see how that goes. Maybe with the real boss there they might be much better.

 

[Asheka]

"The real boss" hehe
Alrighty, sounds like a plan. I am on my way out this morning after work so will have to put intros on hold one day, but next session I will try sitting in with them. The three new boys always seem to follow me and come right over if I put my hand in for any reason, so hopefully it will help and help with their nerves to me sometimes.

 

[hopefloats]

just try to get them to play with you. I have found that helps a lot for intros. Some will but the others will usually feed off the playful mode rather than the angry mode.

 

[Asheka]

Makes a lot of sense and I was thinking of climbing in but wasn't sure if they would "claim" me...and will ahve to watch for anyone trying to use me as an escape route :giggle:

 

[jorats]

Try and get the young ones to popcorn. Happiness in rats is contagious. I would do that with my younger ones and the older ones would soon join in the fun.

 

[Asheka]

Any tips and tricks? lol Gir loves to popcorn around the cage when I open the door and stick my hand in and sort of tickle him and talk all baby voice. :giggle:

Oh, should I still keep snack and such in as well, just more off to the side maybe?

 

[jorats]

Yep, keep some yummy food in there. Add yourself and perhaps even a litter pan if you keep any in the cages.
When you play with the young ones, put your hand over their hand and tickle them. That usually sends them popcorning. Do that with the older guys too, see how they react.

 

[Asheka]

Oh yea, the smeeze boys are very well litter trained and the boys seem to get the idea so I have pans...

"hand over their hand" ?

 

[jorats]

Like how I do it here:
[BBvideo 450,375:2ve0itp1]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZ3IFY7wZSA&list=UU2GDelZV6KPVuAZYgc29kVQ&index=1&feature=plcp[/BBvideo:2ve0itp1]

 

[Asheka]

hehe That was so adorable!! I love how they kept running under the cage.
Alrighty, Gir will love that as that's how we've been playing in the cage some times.

I'm just waiting to wake up a bit and get some cleaning done and then will be doing a long session tonight as it's unfortunately been three days since our last one and I'm sure some set backs will occur.

On a couple awesome bonus notes, my 'sister' had her baby Thursday night (hence where I've been gone the last three days), and the FN Add-On made it back to FTC and I have paid the invoice to ship out the Critter Nation Add-On :joy: Hope it gets here this week. So much sleep deprivation this past week and coming :giggle:

 

[jorats]

CongRATS! on being an auntie!

 

[Asheka]

hehehe Thanks!!

I, unfortunately, found out my camera has no setting to record more than 3min so am browsing kijiji for another one that will heh and of course cleaning completely took up my entire morning, but I will be able to do two tonight as I need to clean the cages fully as well.

Oh, and FTC emailed me super early this morning and if they see my reply might be able to get the CN to me as early as tomorrow! Not holding my breath, but would be super cool lol