My to new dumbo rats are very skittish.

Hello! I just recently bought two babies from a breeder. I believe that the breeder didn't really take the time to handle them enough. They get very scared easily and I know they will adjust, but I have a few questions about what I should be doing to help them. Muck is the most skittish, and I got lucky once when he came to the cage door to take some chicken from me. Dumbo will come to me he just won't let me touch him. Should I even try to slowly pet them? I also took their whole hammock out of the cage to bring them into their playpen (because I didn't want to stress them out). After that Dumbo now sleeps in the litter box (I don't know if that has something to do with it). Should I have done that? Is it too early for the playpen? I'm trying to figure out the best way for them to get comfortable with me without me being bit.

The way I got mine use to me and not skittish is mostly just opening the cage door and laying food out on my hand so they realize that the hand wont hurt them or just pick them up . I also just went over to the cage and greeted my rats daily and opened the door just to show them I was harmless to them and if they came up to greet me I gave them a treat or something they really enjoy. With my rats one loves fruit well the other will spit it up so try and find what your rats really and use that to make them realize your not a threat. It could also just be them getting use to their new place it took my rats a few months but not all rats are the same. All I got to say is just try going near the cage for a while with goodies and give them it and just open the cage door and stand near it. I know there is some youtubers that can help if you look up on youtube .

Check out www.joinrats.com for some good info on socializing and such. Also, how long have you had them? How old are they? Remember, they just got plucked away from their family, so they will be scared, and not trusting for a bit. Don't push it. Use a box to transport if need be, but I'd wait until they are more trusting of you, before I put them in the play area. Just give them lots of toys and in cage stimulation for now.