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Argent

Well-Known Member
Joined
Feb 27, 2008
Messages
1,036
Location
Liverpool, UK
Right, I've had my boys in their cage for about 24 hours-at the moment they're spending daylight hours snoozing so later when they perk up I plan on either doing the hoodie trick or just sitting with them on my bed with one of their boxes nearby...is this a good idea straight away?
They don't mind my hand in the cage but don't really like me stroking them, though Mako climbed right out onto my arm this morning :happydance: and they're quite happy to gently take treats from me. I want them to be mega-squishes and I've heard this is the best way to go-will tonight be the right time to go for it?
 
no matter how much they struggle/do fear poos? I don't want to stress them but I do want them to adjust asap...I'll try and get them out now ^^
 
I've heard a long time ago that rats forget their fear after about 20 minutes of being in their new surrounding. That's why I do the down the shirt trick. They stay in between my tshirt and sweatshirt and poop all they want. lol

Definitely do what you are comfortable with. There are so many different ways to do things and most times, it seems to work out each time.
 
Haha that was actually pretty brilliant!
I just put on an old jacket over my tshirt (my hoodie is my bf's and too precious to become a ratty playground >.<) and popped them in there, with their cardboard box nearby for reassurance and they spent a good while just milling about in my jacket getting used to me! They were nervous for about 5 minutes tops I'd say-the nervous smells soon went away and they were more interested in taking in the sights and scents of my bed :p
It was really sweet that after 20 minutes or so, they were actually RETURNING to the jacket every now and then! They're still nervous of hands trying to pet them-they try and avoid that, but they don't really mind being lifted up with the utmost gentility XD
I think we all needed that...I didn't have a clue what these guys were going to be like, but they're just curious, sniffly little boys-only test bites hehe!
 
Thanks Jo-I'm so glad you're here and know what you're doing XD
I took them out again with my mum a few hours later and despite being hard to catch in the cage, when we got them on the bed, after a bit of exploring around the bed and my mum, Mako curled up on my foot to sleep with me stroking him and Hugo spread out between us like a cat while my mum massaged his back! I think these gentle little boys really did need some hands-on attention :p
I'm hoping in a week or two they'll approach us to come out and not cower from our hands :D
 
Sounds like you're doing great. When I have some who don't like to be picked up I pick them up for a just seconds, a fast kiss and put them down again. I do this a lot and eventually they will stay longer in my hands.
 

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