They are not happy to see me :(

[Andrew743]

I have some experience with rehabbing animals but this is new to me.

i have had these 3 baby boys since they were 2.5-3 weeks old. I have been the only one to feed them and spend any time with them. My goal has always been to raise them until they are ready to be released into my backyard and so the only interaction I've had with them has been to feed,weigh, and stimulate their bowel movements (when it was necessary). I don't handle or play with them because i want to minimize human interaction. They are now about 6 weeks old, and when i went to get them for their 3rd feeding of the day, 2 of the GROWLED at me, and one even lunged. He didn't resist me when i picked up and fed just fine but i can tell he was nervous. My younger brother did enter the room and began talking and watching, could this have been the cause?

They still have a while to go before release, and i don't want to risk them biting me and causing damage once there teeth are developed. Should i be handling them more? Should i "play" with them?

I don't talk while i feed them and i keep pretty quiet. They are near a window that has a large tree next to it and i keep the blinds open. I am in the attic and so they get a wide variety of sounds to listen to, birds singing, cars passing etc.

Any suggestions?

THANKS IN ADVANCE!

~Andrew

[Sweet Simon's Mommy]

Hmmmmmmmmmmmm interesting, I have done the same with two girls who are now about 13 weeks and are outside on the porch. I did not play with them, I wanted them to rely on each other , one is going nuts wanting out out out the other is very happy in the cage but both still come to me and great me because I am momma, other people they are afraid of, I would guess it was the brother voice they weren't used to that scared them. Could be you had a different smell on you , different food smell, detergent cologne anything different can set them off.

[Andrew743]

Thank you for your quick reply! None of the obvious changes in smells on me that i can think of, i just went over to them again after giving them some time to relax and all is good again. Definitely seems like my brother got way to close and set them off. I am taking this as a good sign, as I would want them to maintain a healthy fear of humans. Id love to keep them but I know that past a certain age they don't make ideal pets.

I hope this aggression was an isolated issue, thanks again!

[SammysMom]

You are doing great! They are just sometimes a little more scary than other times. With Sammy, it seemed like he had spells of practicing being wild. Like they are testing out the growling etc. on you. Keep up the good work and always ask questions and read other's questions here. We al learn from each other here! :Welcome :Welcome :Welcome

[pappy1264]

Sometimes shortly after their eyes open, some seem to go through a bit of a fear period, for lack of a better word. Always talk to them softly before you open their cage (they don't see that great, but will know the sound of your voice), move slowly and just try to ignore it, it will pass.

[Andrew743]

Thanks :) .... I will definitely start talking to them before approaching and as i enter the room, thats definitely a great way to make them aware of my presence and avoid startling them. Thanks so much for the great advice!!

~ Andrew

[pappy1264]

I think you will see it will help. You're welcome.

[lamb57]

I have had that happen too with the little ones. I think they are testing out their defenses. :) I have 3 young ones now and one little boy will sometimes act tough and grumble at me. He especially does it to my husband and has even nipped him. But he is more used to me since I feed and all so it isn't as bad. And when he sees I have formula he is very happy to see me. :D I always talk to them when I see them. I talk silly but gently. I called one bunch my "loveys" and the last bunch my "bebes" and even though they are released I can still call them by those names and many times I will have one or more show up. They get used to my voice and that sound I think & know it is ok.