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Post by Aftershock on Nov 29, 2017 10:04:48 GMT -5
Actually, I'm trying to breed for temperment vs trust train. So neato thing- their temperaments are passed on genetically. This means bad as well as good. Lots of handling to achieve tameness is considered trust training and completely unnecessary. If I breed correctly I will NEVER have to touch any babies to make them floppy, squishy, outgoing, and easily adaptable. Trust training really only covers up the bad temperaments- I don't see an issue with doing it with an oops litter because you never plan on breeding them, but my breeding is going to be an ongoing process. So what I will be doing is leaving them alone for the most part, and doing temperament testing (annoying them, loud noises, new spaces, new people, the works) around 4-5 weeks. I will then choose the best to continue on Saffron's line. It's a work in progress.
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Post by Sherry on Nov 29, 2017 12:00:07 GMT -5
I am assuming the pet line you plan on starting will come from the ones with the genetic predisposition for good temperment?
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 29, 2017 13:21:54 GMT -5
You are correct! I have a few rules for myself before I will allow pet placement- 1) I need to be at least five generations in This will allow me to practice on temperaments, and figure out health and colors. This also allows for a pedigree. (So I'm looking at about a year an a half before pet placing) 2) They need to be excited to see me (no hiding), no squeaking/screaming/biting when I touch them, they need to be confident with strange humans and rats (no biting, avoidance, fighting/aggressive behavior of any kind), when being picked up they should be completely 'squishy' and mellow (no attempts to escape or thrashing), no thrashing at being scruffed (here's that thing of needing this to medicate easily ), they need to be confident in new places and adapt easily (there should be little to no transition time), if they do startle, they should have fast recovery time, and when stressed by anything, they should not get sick. Coat colors and textures (since I happen to have rex gene which makes their hair wavy) are completely second to these standards. I personally feel as if every single one of my rats, feeders and pets, should be held to this standard. This completely ensures the safety of me, anyone who comes in contact with them, and any other rats they may come in contact with. So far, Thyme is winning out in good traits. She is outgoing, fairly brave in new places, and recovers from being frightened decently. Weighing her is a TOTAL pain because she wants to investigate the whole counter. -.- she scurries out of the bowl the moment I put her in it. I actually got a bit frustrated with her last night because I couldn't grab her tail fast enough to try to put her back in the tub and she was scurrying all over my hands so I ended up scruffing her to put her back in. Talk about bugging out eyes :rotfl: she thrashed for about .5 seconds and hung limp after. Didn't even freak out when I put her back in. That's the first time I've scruffed her. I still don't feel like I know Pepper all that well because she is so skiddish. Saffron is pretty mellow, but she got aggressive right before having her babies (this is a negative mark for me because it puts my other rats and my hands at risk). (Touch wood Thyme and Pepper don't do the same) Humphrey also doesn't have the best temperament, but he isn't AWFUL. Fun news! Four of Saffron's pups have curly whiskers so they will probably have wavy coats! babies got weighed today- everyone is 12-15 grams❤
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 29, 2017 13:27:27 GMT -5
The babies!
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Post by runningdog on Nov 29, 2017 14:29:13 GMT -5
If Thyme doesn’t have that litter soon, she’s going to explode!
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LexiH
New member
Posts: 30
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Post by LexiH on Nov 29, 2017 20:29:00 GMT -5
That’s very interesting about the trust training vs. genetics. You learn something new everyday😀 The babies are adorable with those little curly whiskers!
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 29, 2017 23:24:02 GMT -5
Runningdog- Right?! She is starting to get more of that U shape vs V in the pelvis. I expect babies sooooooon. I have offered fleece and paper strips as extra bedding. Pregnant rat is over the moon❤
Lexih- As simple as ratties seem there is SO much to learn about them. I feel like I learn something new each day! Especially with coat and color patterns x.x
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Post by Aftershock on Dec 1, 2017 20:39:49 GMT -5
Guess who had her babies today?! Congratulations Thyme! 12 little squeaker and I got to watch them all be born! Saffron's babies are a little over a week now and adorable as ever!
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Post by Sherry on Dec 2, 2017 10:20:36 GMT -5
Precious wee mites
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Post by Aftershock on Dec 5, 2017 22:48:02 GMT -5
Pepper had her litter today! She had 14 babies (I culled to ten. Ten seems to be my happy number)!
So, I did have a bit of a mishap with Saffron's litter. I had Humphrey in with Thyme and her babies and they seemed to be getting along okay, and I didn't want Pepper (who was still pregnant at the time) to be alone so I moved her in with Saffron and sat and watched them for like 40 minutes. No bickering, everything seemed to be going well. I walk away for .5 seconds and I hear tiny screams. I still have no idea if Pepper attacked the babies on purpose, or if they were fighting over them and they got hurt, but I lost two from Saffron's litter. 😭😭😭😭😭😭 I still feel absolutely horrid over this. I will learn from my mistake and this will never happen again.
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Post by Aftershock on Dec 8, 2017 23:21:10 GMT -5
Guuuuuuysssssss- Saffron's litter is two weeks old and they are cruising around the tub! Some eyes are opening and I watched one eat a piece of grain mix last night 😍😍😍😍😍 they are so adorable it hurts! Thyme and Pepper's babies are doing fabulous as well❤ Not much to report over here!
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Post by Sherry on Dec 9, 2017 11:33:46 GMT -5
Sounds like the program to breed for the ferrets is off to a rousing success!
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Post by Aftershock on Dec 21, 2017 21:39:54 GMT -5
Quick update- Saffron's litter is 4 weeks old today! I did temperament testing today and picked three glorious winners! Thyme's litter has opened their eyes, climbs on the mesh, drinks from the water bottle, and has begun to eat solids (they like the nest in the food trough 😂) we have some super adorable albinos in this litter. They are three weeks old❤ Pepper's litter is two and a half weeks and everyone has open eyes as well. First picture is from Pepper's litter- look at those little standard ears! The rest are Thyme's smooth coated albinos! I couldn't help myself, that little boy I tool pictures of on his own was super chill, cleaning his face while I held him with the other two, and started licking my hand, so we got a tiny photo shoot in❤
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Post by Aftershock on Dec 21, 2017 23:36:21 GMT -5
And here are the hold backs from Saffron's litter- They are still nameless And I'm over here dying
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Dec 22, 2017 7:49:24 GMT -5
They r darlings:) and soo, soo cute.
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