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Griffin's Progress
Nov. 10th, 2012 10:51 amThe BBs appear to have rejected Griff's application. They're very much a complete unit and Griff lost all his confidence when confronted by three aggressive younger rats, one of whom is as large as he is. At the moment I'm trying him with my other group, who live in the upper half of the Ferret Kingdom cage. They are not so aggressive and he's given them a hard time in the past, but at the moment he's in the same position he was when I got him; a lone rat facing an established group.
At that time, it worked and he was adopted into a group of six. I'm hoping the same will happen now; that Griff's need for company will override his previous wish to beat people (other rats) up. So far there's a standoff: Griff is not coming into the upper cage, even now the barrier is removed and there's a ladder leading up. Nor are those rats coming into Griff's domain. This is an improvement on Griff walking in there, walking *over* senior rat Cedric and generally causing havoc, a few months ago. Time does change things with rats. A very old rat usually has the protection of age; i.e. younger males will recognise he is no longer a threat and leave him out of battles. Griff himself is also getting on a bit, so has to recognise that a young adult rat will beat the bejesus out of him.
So the group I'm now trying to mix him with consists of Cedric (3.2 yrs!) and the three juniors, about eight months old, which is young adult. Griff has settled down in his usual spot to sleep but it looks like the young rats are standing watches.
At that time, it worked and he was adopted into a group of six. I'm hoping the same will happen now; that Griff's need for company will override his previous wish to beat people (other rats) up. So far there's a standoff: Griff is not coming into the upper cage, even now the barrier is removed and there's a ladder leading up. Nor are those rats coming into Griff's domain. This is an improvement on Griff walking in there, walking *over* senior rat Cedric and generally causing havoc, a few months ago. Time does change things with rats. A very old rat usually has the protection of age; i.e. younger males will recognise he is no longer a threat and leave him out of battles. Griff himself is also getting on a bit, so has to recognise that a young adult rat will beat the bejesus out of him.
So the group I'm now trying to mix him with consists of Cedric (3.2 yrs!) and the three juniors, about eight months old, which is young adult. Griff has settled down in his usual spot to sleep but it looks like the young rats are standing watches.