Time Out: 0 So Far
Activities: Played with Cotton I Gave Them
Treats: 2 Yoggies, Mac and Cheese
Currently: Taking a Nap
--------------------------
I'd like to apologize for the time it has been since I last posted. My computer broke but my BRFF (Best Rattie Friend Forever) gave me a cord she had. Thank you Robin.
I will be posting more often from now on. Sorry.
Sunday, May 20, 2012
Friday, March 9, 2012
Sheldon and Leonard Trust Training!
Time Out: 0 (Still Trust Training)
Activities: None (Still Trust Training)
Treats: Yogurt and A solid yogurt treat for Leonard, Yogurt for Sheldon
Currently: In the cage Relaxin'
---------------------------
Hi guys,
It has been so long. So sorry! But I got my new rats and I've been busy trust training.
So, here is a step by step catch up for the days I've missed.
Day 1 - Finished the cage. Got the rats that night. I mostly left them alone, but I was in the room on my laptop all night. Any sound or movement would scare them, since they had just left their old home, smells, and 5 other brothers behind. The pic is the finished cage in my room. They are hiding in the bottom area. I have many more toys but I wanted too keep it simple for them for now.
Day 2 - Was so exited to get started. At first they would not take any treats from me and were still really nervous. I tried every kind of treats I had, but they wouldn't take it. So I let them rest a little bit. My friend Robyn came over and we sat in the room and talked. At first they were afraid of our voices, but they got used to it over a good 20 minutes. Sheldon ran on the wheel that day for a good 5 minutes, but would pause every so often to make sure i was still away on my bed. They started eating food in front of me, when they never would before. I added another rat house from Robyn on the second floor (not in pic above). They would run to the back of the cage when i opened the door. I tried yogurt on a spoon since they wouldn't take solid food or anything from my hand and after a few tries, Leonard caught on. He would lick it but stay in his spot and run if I scared him. Sheldon still wouldn't trust me.
Day 3 - Now that I knew they'd take yogurt, I tried that more often. Sometimes Leonard would take it, sometimes he wouldn't but towards the end of the day he almost always took it. I was able to put a little treat in it and he took it once. Sheldon would still not take anything, but he was eating fine out of the bowl so I just assumed he needed time. By the end of the night the farthest I got with Leonard was moving him a few inches towards me with the yogurt on the spoon. The farthest Sheldon got is that he wouldn't run while i was putting pellets in his food dish.
I also discovered that the rats could crawl under the bottom layer of fleece. I had to edge them out and tape it better. Debating whether to just remove it or not.
Day 4 (Today) - So far I got up and edged them out of the fleece once again and taped it better. Than refilled their food, cleaned up stray poops, checked the water, and left them to be since they were hiding by than. Next time I checked on them I did the yogurt again. This time Leonard took it as usual and let me lure him closer to me, but would pull away when I brought the spoon out to refill it. He also took a small solid treat out of the spoon and went and ate it happily. Sheldon took some yogurt from the spoon for the first time. He wouldn't take a treat, but that's where Leonard started and he's so far now.
Well, that's about it. I'm going to try again soon, but I'm so happy to see the progress so far!
Thanks for reading!
Activities: None (Still Trust Training)
Treats: Yogurt and A solid yogurt treat for Leonard, Yogurt for Sheldon
Currently: In the cage Relaxin'
---------------------------
Hi guys,
It has been so long. So sorry! But I got my new rats and I've been busy trust training.
So, here is a step by step catch up for the days I've missed.
Day 1 - Finished the cage. Got the rats that night. I mostly left them alone, but I was in the room on my laptop all night. Any sound or movement would scare them, since they had just left their old home, smells, and 5 other brothers behind. The pic is the finished cage in my room. They are hiding in the bottom area. I have many more toys but I wanted too keep it simple for them for now.
Day 2 - Was so exited to get started. At first they would not take any treats from me and were still really nervous. I tried every kind of treats I had, but they wouldn't take it. So I let them rest a little bit. My friend Robyn came over and we sat in the room and talked. At first they were afraid of our voices, but they got used to it over a good 20 minutes. Sheldon ran on the wheel that day for a good 5 minutes, but would pause every so often to make sure i was still away on my bed. They started eating food in front of me, when they never would before. I added another rat house from Robyn on the second floor (not in pic above). They would run to the back of the cage when i opened the door. I tried yogurt on a spoon since they wouldn't take solid food or anything from my hand and after a few tries, Leonard caught on. He would lick it but stay in his spot and run if I scared him. Sheldon still wouldn't trust me.
Day 3 - Now that I knew they'd take yogurt, I tried that more often. Sometimes Leonard would take it, sometimes he wouldn't but towards the end of the day he almost always took it. I was able to put a little treat in it and he took it once. Sheldon would still not take anything, but he was eating fine out of the bowl so I just assumed he needed time. By the end of the night the farthest I got with Leonard was moving him a few inches towards me with the yogurt on the spoon. The farthest Sheldon got is that he wouldn't run while i was putting pellets in his food dish.
I also discovered that the rats could crawl under the bottom layer of fleece. I had to edge them out and tape it better. Debating whether to just remove it or not.
Day 4 (Today) - So far I got up and edged them out of the fleece once again and taped it better. Than refilled their food, cleaned up stray poops, checked the water, and left them to be since they were hiding by than. Next time I checked on them I did the yogurt again. This time Leonard took it as usual and let me lure him closer to me, but would pull away when I brought the spoon out to refill it. He also took a small solid treat out of the spoon and went and ate it happily. Sheldon took some yogurt from the spoon for the first time. He wouldn't take a treat, but that's where Leonard started and he's so far now.
Well, that's about it. I'm going to try again soon, but I'm so happy to see the progress so far!
Thanks for reading!
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Cage WIP
Sneak Peak Cage Pic
Done:
-Shelves Cut and smoothed
-Cut the ramps, put small lines in the ramps for climbing, smoothed the ramps, and put the hooks in
-Cut the bottom of the wheel so it can be hooked in
-Made a hide house (Activia tub in the bottom)
Still Need to:
-Sew fleece for the shelves
-Cut out the get the fleece ready for the bottom
-Order a hammock
-Get a bigger tub for the litter box (Small test one can be seen to the right)
-Get new food and water dish from Robyn (though my current one will move for now if i didn't throw it out XD )
-Hook up shower hook rope thingy
-Shelves Cut and smoothed
-Cut the ramps, put small lines in the ramps for climbing, smoothed the ramps, and put the hooks in
-Cut the bottom of the wheel so it can be hooked in
-Made a hide house (Activia tub in the bottom)
Still Need to:
-Sew fleece for the shelves
-Cut out the get the fleece ready for the bottom
-Order a hammock
-Get a bigger tub for the litter box (Small test one can be seen to the right)
-Get new food and water dish from Robyn (though my current one will move for now if i didn't throw it out XD )
-Hook up shower hook rope thingy
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Sneak Peek
Here's a sneak peeks of the rat litter ill be getting my new babies from.
Ps- i saw the pic for the 1st time today as well. So cute!!
Ps- i saw the pic for the 1st time today as well. So cute!!
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Rat Food
Time Out: Still Awaiting Rats
Activities: Still Awaiting Rats
Treats: Still Awaiting Rats
Currently: Still Awaiting Rats
---------------------------
People have been talking a lot lately about what they feed their rats, mixes, and blocks. So, after yesterday's emotional blog, I think I'll calm down and just post about what I fed my rats.
Pellets (Not sure the brand) - Nutrition pellets I buy at the pet store. The bag says 2-3 a day so I hand feed them to the rats so they dont fight over the ones in the bowls. I find these give basic nutrients, as well as something to chew.
Healthy Treats - Since the pellets are basic, I give them other flavors and stuff to eat. These have no sugar, fat, or additives. Things like fruit, veggies, baby food, yoggurt, or mashed potatoes. This is every to every other day.
Chew Treats - These are treats that are harder to chew, good for their teeth. These can include pasta noodles, dog treats, or other things.
Protein Treats - I like to give them extra protein once a month, either a chicken bone to share or a boiled egg with the shell still on it.
I know it wasn't a big entry but I was tired after yesterday's, so this is the best I could come up with. Thanks!
Note: As you can see I enabled ads, each time you click one I get a small amount of change that will go towards commissioning art of my rats to post on the blog. Please click the ads and check out the stuff!
Activities: Still Awaiting Rats
Treats: Still Awaiting Rats
Currently: Still Awaiting Rats
---------------------------
People have been talking a lot lately about what they feed their rats, mixes, and blocks. So, after yesterday's emotional blog, I think I'll calm down and just post about what I fed my rats.
Pellets (Not sure the brand) - Nutrition pellets I buy at the pet store. The bag says 2-3 a day so I hand feed them to the rats so they dont fight over the ones in the bowls. I find these give basic nutrients, as well as something to chew.
Healthy Treats - Since the pellets are basic, I give them other flavors and stuff to eat. These have no sugar, fat, or additives. Things like fruit, veggies, baby food, yoggurt, or mashed potatoes. This is every to every other day.
Chew Treats - These are treats that are harder to chew, good for their teeth. These can include pasta noodles, dog treats, or other things.
Protein Treats - I like to give them extra protein once a month, either a chicken bone to share or a boiled egg with the shell still on it.
I know it wasn't a big entry but I was tired after yesterday's, so this is the best I could come up with. Thanks!
Note: As you can see I enabled ads, each time you click one I get a small amount of change that will go towards commissioning art of my rats to post on the blog. Please click the ads and check out the stuff!
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