Rocket99
Well-Known Member
The fact that you can give her treats is amazing in itself. Give her her space and continue to interact with her as best you can. She will be fine. She needs hers mates though for sure, she will always be a bit different.
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M
MeineRatten
Guest
Well, thought I'd shoot a wee update.
we've got some changes, significant or not - you decide.
A few days ago we took the whole trio out for playtime and Ingrid was taken out with the box she decided to hide in (she wasn't sleeping) and she actually went out of the basket eventually, panicked (jumped the wall a bit) then ran to me and decided it wasn't right so hid in an open carrier and sat there with movement. It was quite funny to see her figure it all out. No, she didn't come out of the carrier, and I brought her back to the cage in it, but she kept on shifting while sitting in it and kind of testing if we'll attack or not.
Yesterday we cleaned their cage and moved it (no picking up of Ingrid). We switched them to the bottom of the cage removed all inclosed hides. There is a top on that half, so it kind of creates a giant shelter for the hammocks and the Sputnik. Not we're operating on the same protocol as with our other shy lassie Lila. This tactic might already have some good results. Ingrid was out yesterday and about while we sat on the couch watching a movie and she even forged a peanut off the line (we hang them for the rats to find). It seems that peanuts are her kryptonite. This morning I was giving out some treats (a hand-fed breakfast, just a summer thing) and gave Ingrid a few cuddles and started to passively teach her to be picked up. Just putting a hand where she would be usually be picked up and lifting just enough that her body weight is on your fingers. This is similar to horse training desensitisation technique, we also already used it on Lila, so I don't see why it won't work on Ingrid (maybe just be a bit slower). We also put custom cut wooden pallets between the levels, so no one is getting to no one
Overall, it seems to be a bit more chill in our kingdom.
we've got some changes, significant or not - you decide.
A few days ago we took the whole trio out for playtime and Ingrid was taken out with the box she decided to hide in (she wasn't sleeping) and she actually went out of the basket eventually, panicked (jumped the wall a bit) then ran to me and decided it wasn't right so hid in an open carrier and sat there with movement. It was quite funny to see her figure it all out. No, she didn't come out of the carrier, and I brought her back to the cage in it, but she kept on shifting while sitting in it and kind of testing if we'll attack or not.
Yesterday we cleaned their cage and moved it (no picking up of Ingrid). We switched them to the bottom of the cage removed all inclosed hides. There is a top on that half, so it kind of creates a giant shelter for the hammocks and the Sputnik. Not we're operating on the same protocol as with our other shy lassie Lila. This tactic might already have some good results. Ingrid was out yesterday and about while we sat on the couch watching a movie and she even forged a peanut off the line (we hang them for the rats to find). It seems that peanuts are her kryptonite. This morning I was giving out some treats (a hand-fed breakfast, just a summer thing) and gave Ingrid a few cuddles and started to passively teach her to be picked up. Just putting a hand where she would be usually be picked up and lifting just enough that her body weight is on your fingers. This is similar to horse training desensitisation technique, we also already used it on Lila, so I don't see why it won't work on Ingrid (maybe just be a bit slower). We also put custom cut wooden pallets between the levels, so no one is getting to no one
Overall, it seems to be a bit more chill in our kingdom.
Last edited by a moderator:
Rocket99
Well-Known Member
Pallets? Why?
Rocket99
Well-Known Member
Wait, as a divider? You know you can use the shelves to divide cages, right?
M
MeineRatten
Guest
It’s Savic not a cn, there is only one full pan, so no, you can’t use the shelves to separate the cages... beside, we almost got a hole in the pan from doing that, so nah, but cheers..
Rocket99
Well-Known Member
Oh wow. Ok then. I've never had any issues other than rats thinking they could squeeze through a crack on the sides of the pan to get to the other setion of the cage.
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
You are doing so well with her! Keep it up!
maddiescoobs
Member
I’ve been quietly following this thread and just wanted to chime in and say yay for you guys and Ingrid! Sounds like you’re doing everything right
M
MeineRatten
Guest
Oh, guys! Thank you so much for the words of encouragement! I am coming with another (possibly last) update.
Ingrid is doing better (or so we think). Right now she is on my back under a hoodie (she's feisty and won't sit with me otherwise lol). As you can conclude she does (kind of) let me handle her, be it calmly only for a few seconds and then with some struggle.
I have also learned to handle her better and she now even knows how to let me know when to back off (I can't see well, which makes visual cues difficult, so we had to find a way for us to communicate that with light nibbles. 2 nibbles means to get away from me, 1- I am no thrilled, but keep going). The way I handle here now is with both hands keeping her legs in one hand so she can't scratch because those are talons and not claws, and with the other holding her hands a bit closer to her. Ingrid did not try to bite yet, so feels like we are doing good. Then again, when I took her out of the hoodie when she almost ripped my armpit apart an hour ago we enjoyed some squeals and a couple of quiet hisses (she does that even to other rats, so I am not fussed too much), but I think right now she is having a wee nap on my back. She is proving herself to be a very sweet and gentle rat, so here's hoping that we'll manage to get a bit closer over time. Maybe our scary rat Lila can help her with that too as Ingrid is approximately as timid now as Lila once was.
She played with us on the couch for a couple and sadly, unlike everyone else, she likes the floor, so when she went from under the blanket, she purposefully (but without much panic) went on the floor and just went off running on her marry way. We had to catch her of course and she almost climbed up the cage over the section of our other couple. To be honest, terrified both of us as we thought they'd attack, but all is good, they were more interested in me Not the best experience for everyone, so we decided to work on rat-proofing the whole lounge in the future so that the girls will have a hell of a playground.
We are starting with intros tomorrow, with the same agenda as planned, so wish us luck, and I hope Ingrid doesn't make it more difficult then it needs to be. But hey, she now takes treats, lets you pick her up (kind of) and you don't need to wear gloves while doing any of it. I'll take it as a win!
Ingrid is doing better (or so we think). Right now she is on my back under a hoodie (she's feisty and won't sit with me otherwise lol). As you can conclude she does (kind of) let me handle her, be it calmly only for a few seconds and then with some struggle.
I have also learned to handle her better and she now even knows how to let me know when to back off (I can't see well, which makes visual cues difficult, so we had to find a way for us to communicate that with light nibbles. 2 nibbles means to get away from me, 1- I am no thrilled, but keep going). The way I handle here now is with both hands keeping her legs in one hand so she can't scratch because those are talons and not claws, and with the other holding her hands a bit closer to her. Ingrid did not try to bite yet, so feels like we are doing good. Then again, when I took her out of the hoodie when she almost ripped my armpit apart an hour ago we enjoyed some squeals and a couple of quiet hisses (she does that even to other rats, so I am not fussed too much), but I think right now she is having a wee nap on my back. She is proving herself to be a very sweet and gentle rat, so here's hoping that we'll manage to get a bit closer over time. Maybe our scary rat Lila can help her with that too as Ingrid is approximately as timid now as Lila once was.
She played with us on the couch for a couple and sadly, unlike everyone else, she likes the floor, so when she went from under the blanket, she purposefully (but without much panic) went on the floor and just went off running on her marry way. We had to catch her of course and she almost climbed up the cage over the section of our other couple. To be honest, terrified both of us as we thought they'd attack, but all is good, they were more interested in me Not the best experience for everyone, so we decided to work on rat-proofing the whole lounge in the future so that the girls will have a hell of a playground.
We are starting with intros tomorrow, with the same agenda as planned, so wish us luck, and I hope Ingrid doesn't make it more difficult then it needs to be. But hey, she now takes treats, lets you pick her up (kind of) and you don't need to wear gloves while doing any of it. I'll take it as a win!
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
This is really great news. You are doing so wonderfully with your sweeties.
