WHY

[littlecritters]

Heres hoping someone has some can help, everytime I try and get Cheeky out of her cage I have to catch her as she runs around everywhere until I finally get hold of her.

But when she out she loves it, and then when its time to go back into her cage she doe'snt want to, like she wont go back willinlyI have to put her right at the back of the cage give her a little nudge to get of my hand.

So if she likes it so much out of her cage, why we have this little chase around the cage first.


Cheers

L.C.

[nattyrat]

L.C. I'm not sure if I am going to be any help, but my babys always liked to play that game
Although I only have Little Girl now (Roxy passed away on Sat)..L.G is missing Roxy so she just lets me grab her now for lots of cuddles and brushes..Rats are amazing little creatures

[ceara]

lol, I've had that one before!

I've addressed it by having the cage door open and sitting there with food rewards - I reward the rats when they come out onto me. It works very well.

My boys will quite happily leap out onto me now (or lazily meander is probably more accurate actually).

The girls are a bit more hesitant, but they'll come up to say hello and don't struggle if I grab them. Our youngest (and best-socialized) girl will happily run out of the cage, right up my arm to my shoulder!

It's all about teaching them - shape their behaviour by rewarding any behaviour that's anything like what you're after, and keep rewarding as they start to do more and more what you want.

I <3 operant conditioning principals *Psychology nut*

[sarah]

Is this behaviour more prevalent with girls than boys?
The first two posters were to do with girl rats - I've only ever had boys, but not really had that problem, maybe it is just the ratties personalities?

With boys I have had in the past sometimes they don't want to come out and sometimes they don't want to go back in! It is definitely playing games time in their opinion.

[ceara]

I think there is some influence of gender there. I've had both girls and boys and have found most of my girls to be less keen to be picked up than most of my girls. This isn't always the case as every rat is different!

My girls love being out of the cage, but two of them aren't keen on being picked up. None of them try to run away too much though. They've realized it doesn't work

[wulfyskingdom]

Feb 4, 2009 17:17:49 GMT 10 ceara said:

I've had both girls and boys and have found most of my girls to be less keen to be picked up than most of my girls.

Lol, is that your girls are less keen to be picked up than most ur boys??

[ceara]

Ooops! I shouldn't spend time on forums after work, my brain's usually not working

Yup, I find the girls less keen to be picked up than the boys. My boys are terribly snuggly and lazy.

Just a few minutes ago, Biscuit was sitting on my lap cleaning himself and he managed to lose his balance and fall on the floor, the lazy clutz! He ended up under the cage wondering around, but got quite excited when he figured out where I keep the lab blocks (on the wire shelf under my ferret kingdom cage).

[jorjeee]

Yeah, possum was like that too.
She eventully got over it, cos I'd just offer her bits of avocado or banana, so she'd let me take her out as she ate.
Eventually, she'd see me opening the cage, and she'd come out sniffing to investigate if I had treats or not.
then she'd just come out anyway, whether it was simply me opening her cage to fill her food/water dishes or to play.
She was a lovable little moof =]

[maesie]

I've never had that trouble. If my girls are up and about, they run to me when it 'looks' like I'm going to open the door, and if they are asleep, they jump out of bed as soon as they hear me open the door. Offering small treats would be a good idea I think.

[Lioness (Zoey)]

My Pepper is the same way. Runs away from me when I try to pick her up, but loves being out. I think it's similar to, say, us humans taking medicine. Well, me, anyway. I always think "eewwww, this is gonna be awful!" but then when it's done, it's not that bad.
I hope that makes sense, I'm half asleep.

[mariposa0283]

Jan 19, 2009 18:30:26 GMT 10 ceara said:

lol, I've had that one before!

I've addressed it by having the cage door open and sitting there with food rewards - I reward the rats when they come out onto me. It works very well.

My boys will quite happily leap out onto me now (or lazily meander is probably more accurate actually).

The girls are a bit more hesitant, but they'll come up to say hello and don't struggle if I grab them. Our youngest (and best-socialized) girl will happily run out of the cage, right up my arm to my shoulder!

It's all about teaching them - shape their behaviour by rewarding any behaviour that's anything like what you're after, and keep rewarding as they start to do more and more what you want.

I <3 operant conditioning principals *Psychology nut*

some very good ideas, i hadnt thought of using food rewards as a way to train my rats into coming out onto my hand.

[ninjamidget]

my girl Sox is like this... Pip and CC will quite happily climb onto you or get picked up to come out of the cage, but Sox has to make a big deal out of it and run away from the scary giant hand coming into the cage usually depends on the time of day... if she is sleepy, she doesn't care, if she is wide awake and playful...

I think maybe she thinks its a game haha

[rune]

My girl Zuri loves to get out of her cage as soon as i open the cage door. Zuri is off trying every way to get out of that cage and on top of the cage to go exploring.. she always comes back though. When she is put away I always receive a glare as if saying 'I don't want to be back in here YET' but i push her away from the door so i don't squash her nose and close it before she can get out again.
My boys aren't as bad.. they are too lazy however when Zeus is awake hes right there at the door. If u open it he is off scurrying across the floor. hiding under my bed or under the cupboard. he comes back and happily goes back in to rest unlike Zuri.