Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Monday, May 23, 2011
Day Five.5
The boys had fun today and BIG SHOCKER. The podcast went from podcast to powerpoint in a matter of minutes! I won Mr. E's challenge though, and now I'm done! Woop!!
(Also, for the record, Ed pooped on Mrs. Oberg today!)
(Also, for the record, Ed pooped on Mrs. Oberg today!)
Day Five
My podcast will be edited today (hopefully) and finished by Wednesday. I'm very excited.
Also, The rats are at school with me.
Chew on that for a while!
Also, The rats are at school with me.
Chew on that for a while!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Day Four
Honestly I haven't much time to talk tonight. But, My Spanish Teacher is kissing the boys on Monday! Hopefully I can get some background music for the Podcast then. I already have it recorded! Woo!
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Day Three
Success! Today I successfully completed the podcast recording. Now I just need to create the podcast. Due to my lack of inspiration today, I shall not be writing about my boys. Instead I shall quote some information on litter training your rat (Yes it is possible):
Rats are highly intelligent creatures and can be trained to do many simple tasks. Litter training is something that is well worth a little effort on your part, as it can save you lots of time in cleaning up and also money in buying bedding.
The whole training methodology works on the premise that rats are clean creatures and will go to the toilet where they smell that they, or other rats, have already gone. The procedure is as follows:
1. Find the corner of the cage that your rats usually go to the toilet, then place a tray filled with litter there. I use flat tupperware containers available from discount stores for about AUD$2 as a litter tray.
2. Toss in any raisins or wet litter you can find in the cage to make it smell like a rat toilet area.
3. Now this is the most important part... Remove all litter from the rest of the cage, or use a different bedding. It's essential that your rats can distinguish between the toilet area and the living area. e.g. I use Breeders Choice recycled paper pellets in the litter tray, and old towels and fabric strips elsewhere as bedding.
4. Place your rats in the tray to show them it's there. If they go elsewhere in their cage, say "No!" and place the rat (and the raisins) in the litter tray. If they go in the tray, praise them like crazy and give them their favourite treat. They'll soon get the idea.
Often this training method will only work for raisins, not pee... especially with male rats who are determined to keep their cage well scented. You can try removing pee smells by using products like Nilodor or vanilla, but often it just makes them more determined to re-scent it. Of course, there's also those stubborn rats who simply will not use a tray no matter how hard you try. Persist... after all, every raisin in the tray is one less you have to pick up later.
Litter training makes things so much easier on you. It's much simpler to clean out the cage (just scoop out soiled litter and replace as needed) and certainly cheaper. I think the rats much prefer the fabric and towels to live on anyway... it's less dusty, cleaner, softer on ratty feet, more fun to dig in and much quieter during those midnight skirmishes.
It's a good idea to have a litter tray for their use when outside their cage too... either as a separate play area tray, or simply access to their cage. When you get them out to play, place them in the tray so they know where it is. Every half hour or so, place them back in the tray to remind them it's there. If they use it, praise them like crazy and offer them treats.
Good luck!
(Quote from http://www.dapper.com.au/)
Rats are highly intelligent creatures and can be trained to do many simple tasks. Litter training is something that is well worth a little effort on your part, as it can save you lots of time in cleaning up and also money in buying bedding.
The whole training methodology works on the premise that rats are clean creatures and will go to the toilet where they smell that they, or other rats, have already gone. The procedure is as follows:
1. Find the corner of the cage that your rats usually go to the toilet, then place a tray filled with litter there. I use flat tupperware containers available from discount stores for about AUD$2 as a litter tray.
2. Toss in any raisins or wet litter you can find in the cage to make it smell like a rat toilet area.
3. Now this is the most important part... Remove all litter from the rest of the cage, or use a different bedding. It's essential that your rats can distinguish between the toilet area and the living area. e.g. I use Breeders Choice recycled paper pellets in the litter tray, and old towels and fabric strips elsewhere as bedding.
4. Place your rats in the tray to show them it's there. If they go elsewhere in their cage, say "No!" and place the rat (and the raisins) in the litter tray. If they go in the tray, praise them like crazy and give them their favourite treat. They'll soon get the idea.
Often this training method will only work for raisins, not pee... especially with male rats who are determined to keep their cage well scented. You can try removing pee smells by using products like Nilodor or vanilla, but often it just makes them more determined to re-scent it. Of course, there's also those stubborn rats who simply will not use a tray no matter how hard you try. Persist... after all, every raisin in the tray is one less you have to pick up later.
Litter training makes things so much easier on you. It's much simpler to clean out the cage (just scoop out soiled litter and replace as needed) and certainly cheaper. I think the rats much prefer the fabric and towels to live on anyway... it's less dusty, cleaner, softer on ratty feet, more fun to dig in and much quieter during those midnight skirmishes.
It's a good idea to have a litter tray for their use when outside their cage too... either as a separate play area tray, or simply access to their cage. When you get them out to play, place them in the tray so they know where it is. Every half hour or so, place them back in the tray to remind them it's there. If they use it, praise them like crazy and offer them treats.
Good luck!
(Quote from http://www.dapper.com.au/)
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Wednesday, May 18, 2011
Day Two
So I've decided how the graphics are going to go on the podcast. Ed helped me with that one. He was really adorable last night. I was really upset due to some things and he was just the sweetest little man. He kept posing for pictures and looking all cute when he posed for a REALLY good one (But the lighting was horrible). I have decided it shall be more than one graphic, one of each of my boys and then the main graphic (Which is the blog graphic). I am very excited about this podcast. And the more I think about it, the more I miss my boys. *Sigh* I guess you have to choose education over all things, but it is still a bad feeling knowing I just leave them everyday. But, they have themselves to keep company, at least. It would be really bad if I only had one and then left him alone all day. You really do think of them as your children. I know it sounds crazy, but the truth is crazy sometimes. If you had rats you would understand more completely, which I know you probably don't. But that's okay. You can go on loving your cucumbers, I'll love my rats. Deal?
<3, Emma
<3, Emma
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