Help! My rat bit me in the eyelid!

[tatonka]

Hi all-
I don't post on here too much, but I need some help. I have 3 ratties that I adopted after my previous 2 died last winter and these new girls have been quite a challenge. This is their story;http://www.goosemoose.com/component/option,com_smf/Itemid,118/forum,rat/topic,4030874.0 from when I adopted them. I have the momma, Fudgey and 2 of her daughters, Cocoa and Mocha.
In the 4 months they've been with me, I've really gotten Fudge to warm up to me. Most mornings, she'll jump up to the front of the cage and I get her out and we eat breakfast together. She comes out to play at night sometimes too and overall, she's doing really well. She can be bitey at times, but for the most part, she's gotten over the biting.
The babies are really skitish though. They hate being picked up and will leap out of my hands, so I rarely pick them up. I sit with them at night and hand feed them treats and they'll willingly come out of the cage, sit on my lap...explore happily. It's the closest I can get to the trust training described on some of the rat websites given that I dont have an entire ratproof room that I can move the cage into. They're usually really good about interacting with me on their own terms and I try not force them too much with picking them up (like when they get picked up when I clean the cage). Cocoa is much braver about being handled and exploring while Mocha takes a lot of time to come out of hiding. Also, Mocha is a MEAN biter, while Cocoa has never attempted to bite.
However, last night I had a pretty scary incident. After feeding them their dinner and treats, all 3 were out in the cage. They like to play with my hair, so I had my face leaned close to the cage (I do this a lot...they climb on my head, sniff my glasses, play with the hair...) and they were all really normal, happy and calm seeming. All of the sudden, one of the girls lunged at me and bit me near my eye. I pulled my head back, in shock and pain and pretty much just closed the cage and went to deal with my eye. She got my eyelid and today I noticed a scratch above my eyebrow. Nothing major, you can see the toothmarks, but it didn't bleed much at all. It was just REALLY scary! And now I'm kind of at a loss for what to do. 4 months of attempted socialization and I feel like I've made no progress and have only gone backwards. Since these girls are half wild, I wonder if the jumpiness/mean biting is something that just won't be able to tamed out of them no matter what I do. Or am I just doing a crap job and not really experienced enough to handle rats with this kind of special needs? I'm not sure completely what I'm asking...I guess for help, suggestions, maybe some reassurement either way...and ideas? Thanks in advance
Sorry this got so long, it was scary and I needed to vent. I told a couple people at school today and they just gave me this crazy look when I told them my rat bit me in the eye.

[Dazydaizee]

Ouch... I'd say keep up socializing them as much as possible, they may calm down eventually. But I wouldn't stick your face in the cage anymore. I know exactly what you mean, because I do this all the time, too and my rats always crawl all over and check me out... but the fact is it's not the smartest thing even if you DON'T have biters... some rats get territorial in their cages and may bite even if they don't typically behave that way... That may have been what happened in your case.. she may have been trying to defend her "home".

[mandycoot]

Even my sweetest rats will bite my eyelids. It's like socked feet...I wouldn't blame my rat for attacking either.

[Scubbs]

Rats think eyelids are mighty tasty and should be chomped, especially if you have any sort of eye makeup or mascara on - that just ups the anti.    No biggie.  Lips and nostrils are also a big hit 

[looneycartoonie]

I have to agree that eyelids, ears and lips are all free game even with the sweetest of my rats. I don't think that you're doing a bad job at getting them to warm up to you. I say that at least they're coming out for treats and such. I have a boy that was skittish and jumpy and just any sound. It took literally 9 months for him to warm up and he's doing good now. Sometimes it just takes a while. Be patient and don't let the fact that they're not a social deter you. Just keep on playing with them and handling them.

[phaidraft]

My girl has only ever bitten me twice - and both times, was on the eyelid. I don't know what the attraction is, but I just keep her away from my eyes.

[Bathos]

I agree with the advice about the eyes.
The babies will probably get better about being picked up if you practice with them.  Can you shut them all in the bathroom with you and interact with them there?  2 of my girls had issues with being picked up.  In 2 hour long sessions of play time with me in the bathroom they were pretty much cured.  I interacted with them as usual, but picked them up every 5 minutes or so.  When you first start doing this, pick them up from the side so they're not surprised and don't feel threatened.

[Leonakitty]

Count me in the bitten eyelid column.
My sweetie Mattie chomped me once. 

And my MaeMae seems to think I'd look wicked badass with an eyebrow piercing.
I keep telling her it's not my style but she insists it'd be great, as she's happy to do it for free.

Melissa

[trentsheba]

My most gentle boy who would never intentionally hurt anyone, has gotten me in the eyelid and it bled.  I think it's the blinking motion that peeks their interest.  I've had others that either grabbed at my eyes with their hands or tried to bite them.  I know it's scary, but I definitely would NOT consider that a step back, just normal for some rats.   

[CarmenPants]

Dundie has nipped my eyelid before. He is an absolute sweetheart, in fact he usually gets my eyelid when he is licking my face.  He'll just be licking my face, and suddenly he'll nip at my eyelid.  It has never left a mark, but it is very strange.

[NightmareWolfie1]

It's funny to have run across this thread right now.
I was just playing with my girls.
I have thirteen in a huge homemade feret cage.
And they were constantly tugging at my eyelids, lips, and nose.
There's just something about the face that they adore to taste and poke at.
I wouldn't say they aren't socialized.
I've had domestic rats hand raised from birth that hated to be picked up.
It's just the way some of them are.

[ickybana5]

If it makes you feel any better....
 
My rat bit my nipple today!  She was running around between my sweatshirt and camisole just like usual, when the next thing I know... !  She didn't bite that hard, but it was very startling to say the least.  The worst part is she did it a couple more times before I could get her out of my shirt    She has never in her life bitten me and is not the least bit aggressive, but there must be something about... how should I put this... sticky outy parts...? ... that catch their interest. 

[gesticulator]

Don't get down on yourself, you sound like you are doing a great job. They have had such a remarkable beginning to their lives, and they are so lucky to have you. Interesting that just about an hour ago, my son said that our smallest rattie bit his eyelid. He always sticks his belly out so the rats can jump on him. When he tilted his head against "Icey" who was sitting on his shoulder, he bit him on the lid.

[kferber]

My Remy nips me all the time on my lips and eyelids. He never does it hard enough to do more than pinch. I think they are love nips