Fantastic job, balego. What a lucky little momma rattie to have found you.

Yuck, yuck, yuck, yuck, yuck. I saw a picture of a squirrel infested with warbles, DISGUSTING.

Awww, that's so sweet. The girl is probably realizing how nice her life is since you took her in.

No unroasted peanuts though! they contain antinutrients, cause red blood cell clumping (note: the peanuts that you buy in stores are almost always roasted so are okay.... )

Jorats, although there would be no rabbit burrows in my yard itself, just outside the back fence and hedges is a 10 acre space that for the most part is wildflower fields and some trees. Our end of that field is in the process of being developed, but the rest would be loaded with rabbit burrows, as I quite often have rabbits run through my yard. Directly behind the fence, even though new homes are there now, there is still about a 10 foot wide row of the old growth along the back perimeter of the developement, where they havent yet leveled for sod and topsoil. So again, a lot of potential rabbit burrows, and places for Hobo to hide out. Wherever he is hiding out, it is either right in my yard (possibly under one of my pond rocks and the thick hostas and perennials that surround it), or just outside it. Rennie was staying just under the edge of my shed.

I have been putting some of her droppings, as well as the shavings with her urine, in the front entrance of the trap. I have tried the chicken, beef, pasta, tuna, dog food, and peanut butter, just hoping that his hunger and the aroma of the foods would draw him to it. I havent used peanuts, but I only use human grade roasted even to feed the wild birds because of aflatoxins that can cause aspergillosis in birds.
Rkem, I couldnt resist.. I was cuddling her in my hands right after doing that nasty stuff to her and I just stuck my nose against hers then kissed her head. lol
jvc, just all the help and support I've received here from all of you, resulting in Rennie's survival and a wonderful experience of babies, is reward enough.  
Okay, as promised.. ~~babies~~~, courtesy of my hubby, who is quite fascinated with them.

Awww the babies!!  They look great Bev!!!   

Oh BaraLahatiel, that is soooo perfect!!!   

OMG!! Look at those babies!!!

Aww, thankyou so much for that baralahatiel! That is so sweet of you!
Just remember that without people like you, and this forum, I wouldnt have pressed on or known what to do. It's clear you all dedicate yourselves to the little ratties, and have helped hundreds, maybe even thousands with your generous sharing of information and encouragement to rat owners. So if anyone deserves an award, it is the people at RR!

Aren't the babies adorable?

Rennie amazes me.. not just with her maternal skills, but because I never imagined a rat could be so sweet. I took her into the bathroom (I've got a little operating room going on in there now , and when I turned her on her back to flush and medicate her wound, she laid there on her back in my hand and didnt move. I wasnt even holding onto her! So I told my hubby to pause his movie and come see. When he first came in she got a little nervous, but I handed her to him and they made friends. After a few minutes of them bonding, I turned her over in my hand again and tickled her tummy and she laid there, little feeties in the air, and started licking herself and washing her face and grooming. He couldnt believe she was so docile. He said he could take an mpeg of that, so we might do that tomorrow.
Spatx, seems Rennie already turned my heart around.

I do wish she wouldn't lick all the Betadine off, though. Seems no sooner I get it on her and she starts grooming it off. This cant hurt her, can it?

We decided to bait the trap overnight, but the door is propped between two small rocks so it cant accidently close or move. For tonight I put in 6 small pieces of Fromm 'a la Veg' dogfood, and three lab blocks. Something else might eat it, but if Hobo actually does come around at night we're hoping he might go in to the food and out again with nothing threatening happening to him. So far each night I've kept the trap out there but closed so he at least got used to it being there.

oops, just got a warning as I posted that another member posted to me. Hi jvc! That is great that you are taking two babies! I bet you're excited. This is SO neat!!

Make sure you are using very diluted betadine, it should look like weak tea.

Spatx, it is exciting that the babies are going to have such a good life with some of the people here. I cant say it enough, you people have been a real lifeline and blessing!
Rennie did amaze me when she laid so still like that. I'm sure if I had left her on my hand she could have fallen asleep. She just wasnt interested in trying to go anywhere.

Um, diluted like weak tea, jorats? would have been nice if the vet had mentioned that What should it be diluted with? The saline?

Nightspider, I dont know if you would have botflies where you are, but its a good possibility. I have found out over the past few days that horses can also be plagued with them. I finally took the time to look up what an actual adult botfly looks like. It almost looks like a robotic house fly, if that makes sense. Not a bad looking fly, actually, nothing that would make anyone squeamish. I cant say I've ever noticed one flying around as it isnt something that would make you run for cover with its appearance.

Yeah, I'm on the home stretch here. Only the male problem hasnt been solved. I'm not hopeful this morning as he didnt touch the bait, but then nothing else did either. Seeing that cat yesterday wasnt encouraging, but I'll keep on until its clear Hobo isnt coming back. Its going to be sad for me, though, when this is all over. Its been quite the experience and I know I'm going to feel a little empty here without the little sweethearts.
Thanks guys

TNS, I did a bit of Googling and you definitely have botflies in Australia.  The ones our pet rats need to worry about are the rodent/rabbit ones, but you have horse, cattle, sheep, and human as well just like us..sorry.

Those pups are to die for, Rennie is such a clever mum and Balego and Hubby are wonderful grandparents.  Please keep the pics coming, I can't wait to see their cute little fuzzbutts. 

 :binkybaby:They are just adorable!

You are indeed, a wonderful person.

Good luck and God bless.