Jack's_Girl said:
So I brought home three baby boys yesterday. But they are very skittish. They engage in freezing behaviour whenever I am visible to them and they hide.
Now I'm stressing. I don't know what to do.
They're not bitey, just afraid. :cry:
Don't lose faith sweetie. Trust me, even those rats who are very used to humans behave that way when they arrive in a new home.
Ben and Jerry did exactly the same thing and it took me over a month before they realized that there were no threats.
Basil was as cuddly and warm as possible when I met him at the Small Angels adoption event. He cleaned my whole face and hands and rested in my lap. You would have thought that it would have been a match made in heaven... then I got him home. OY!!! :shock:
He was terrified and would not let me touch him without making a run for it. I wore an old t-shirt to bed and then stuck it in his cage to burrow in. I shared finger fulls of fat free vanilla yogurt, bananas, raisins, fresh fruit and vegetables with him and always greeted him in gentle tones.
His quarantine cage was on a dresser so I was able to open up the cage door and let him wander out on his own. After a few days he started looking for me when he came out and before I knew it, he was trying to climb across my arm to the bed.
He now follows me around the living room and will climb right up my pant leg onto my shoulder.
Once your boys determine that sounds and smells remain the same (meaning there are no predators in the house, dogs/cats/snakes/birds, etc.) they will ease up and begin to explore.
Park yourself in front of their cage, if possible, and busy yourself with something like reading, studying or doing a hobby that you enjoy. Curiosity is huge in rats and eventually they will want to taste your book ends, steal your beads, marbles, fabric pieces.
When they do come to investigate, greet them in soft tones and carefully place your hand where they can sniff it.
Don't lose faith Jack's Girl. What your boys are doing is completely normal!
Whatever you do, do
not get agitated with them. They are sensitive little souls and they will remember any upsets they have had.
Understand their situation. Life is still new to them and they have their instincts to contend with. Poor little fuzz forms... :love6:
You will be fine!!! Give them some time to acquaint themselves with you and your home and they will take off from there.
You will eventually have the pleasure of watching them peel paint off of your walls... yank the pyle out of your carpet, shred the couch covers, steal food off of your plate... mark their territory on your sheets, pillows and comforters and, above all, stick their noses into your ears to see if there is anything inside worth stealing... :laugh4: :heart: :bananas: