The Scuttling Gourmet

13/12/2024

An infographic to twin with the "Choice" video.

Offering choice to our rats is a very simple way we can make their lives less stressful. Which of these things do you already do?

04/12/2024

One of the most important topics, not just for rats but for all the animals who share our lives.

Humans are thought to make thousands of choices every day - but what about rats? Mental health and well-being in mammals rely on us feeling that we can influence our environment and make choices to meet our needs and thrive. Rats need choice, control over their bodies and the environment, challenge, and success to remain confident and resilient to stress. Their mental health relies on it! So how can we make it all happen?
Find out more https://youtu.be/ljQBf7J3qmU
Follow up at https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

03/12/2024

December's here and we are moving on to look at what we can do to help our rats build stress resilience. Join us for one of my favourite rattie topics coming up next! Excited!

Follow along to see how you can help your rats build stress resilience...

30/11/2024

Come on over the the Nature or Nurture @ Ratwise Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204 and submit your video for the challenge. 😀

Do your rats have a strange behaviour you don't quite understand? Is there something quirky that your rats do?

Head over to our event Facebook group 'Nature or Nurture @ Ratwise' to join in. Send in videos of your rat's behaviour and Alison will choose some to make into the behavioural voiceovers in December!

28/11/2024

More little rattie hands making big things happen.

Those tiny hands get busy again in our second Rat Hands video. Today we are watching rats use their hands during hierarchical posturing - also known as getting the upper hand (pun intended) without getting hurt.
https://youtu.be/qw43kH9ZukY
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

24/11/2024

My first food related video on the new YouTube channel, which was requested by Cucu Tótó T**i. It looks at supplementing essential micronutrients using specific food - focusing in this video on calcium, vitamin D, and Vitamin K2.

There's also a cooking demo and recipe for liver cake.

Today we are looking at how to use food rather than supplements to meet a rat's needs for calcium, vitamin D and vitamin K2, and why this combination of micr...

22/11/2024

This one was a joy to put together! Many thanks to the Ratwise members who kindly supplied footage (should that be handage?) - Tyler Gaymer, Katy Morgan, Lisa Koop.

Rat hands are so expressive, aren't they? Responding to rat emotions and defending space and resources. Making things happen! Today's video watches rat hands doing rattie things. Watch to understand their many varied approaches to saying "Mine!"

https://youtu.be/Tal22rbvKt4

https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

20/11/2024

This is an essential concept if you want to protect your rats from the effects of stress.

Do you think you could tell if your rat was in a prolonged state of stress? How would you know? It's a tough one in a species that has the ultimate "keep calm and carry on" superpower (even if they are like a raging storm on the inside).

Rats are so very good at hiding things.

Discover a world where you could predict a stress response in your rats - even before any telltale signs occurred. Where you could take action based on what you knew was about to happen. Watch to find out more.

https://youtu.be/3CahQA3MEzc
https://www.facebook.com/groups/34169566

18/11/2024

For all the benefits of this FREE-to-access event, join us at the Nature or Nurture @ Ratwise Facebook group. See you there...

Stress resilience is important for our pet rats so that they can comfortably enjoy their lives. Find out how 'Nature or Nurture' plays into this?
https://www.youtube.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

17/11/2024

Here's an interesting and often misinterpreted behaviour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU79LGkrsRI&t=30s

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qU79LGkrsRI&t=30s

15/11/2024

Nurture has so much to add... or take away!

Baby rats - what's not to love? Little dynamic balls of fluffy energy and impossibility. Their only jobs are to play, and grow, and become.

And then along comes NURTURE with the potential to add so much value - or take a wrecking ball to their foundations.

This video covers some of the many factors that influence development in the first few months of life - a little nature that we can't change - and a whole heap of Nurture which we can often influence.

Get tooled up to support your youngsters towards a more resilient future.
https://youtu.be/Xy4pZpF_wjs
https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204
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12/11/2024

Here's another observational video for you to practice your skills.... let me know what you see?

Isn't it so typical that no one wants a toy until someone else plays with it?! These five rat girls are no exception.

This is a story of the events that unfold after one little lady decides she'd like to chew the wooden egg that's been around for a few days but has not been given much attention...

Let's enter a world of possession, desire, dominance, and the magic of the priority individual.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

https://youtu.be/gGvsshb0kb8

10/11/2024

Why Hayley loves being a member of Ratwise...

09/11/2024

Hey everyone, I know I have been sharing posts here from the Nature and Nurture event recently, so I wanted to give you something, just for you! One of the reasons I have wanted to start a YouTube channel for soooo long was to talk about rats and food! So, amongst the behavioural stuff, I will be putting out regular videos around the beautiful topic of feeding our rats. Look out for these "Rats Love Food" videos and if you have any foodie topics you would like me to feature - let me know in the comments.

08/11/2024

Come along and enjoy the Nature or Nurture event and help us celebrate 7 years of Ratwise. 🥳🥳

Follow along to find out more...

https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204
https://www.youtube.com/

07/11/2024

More, for my Scuttling Gourmet friends...
Today's video offering... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5qc1v2jals

Squeak Squeak! No, your rats don’t need oiling, they need de-stressing! In this video, we observe two rats and their reactions to a human hand. Does it look like fun to you?!

Alison helps us sharpen our observation skills and reminds us to look at a situation from the rat’s perspective: how are these rats experiencing being 'chased'? The black rat? The white rat? Is there a way we could interact with the rats that the rats might enjoy more?

Observing and analysing rats in situations that are not our own, helps us hone our care skills for when we may be faced with similar situations with our rats. A terrific lesson in observation!

Find the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5qc1v2jals
Join in with the event group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204

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06/11/2024

Temperamental traits anyone? Functional Characters in rats? Social disruption in juvenile rats? Disturbance events? Stress resilience? Some of the many topics up for discussion over the next couple of months. Head over to our public Facebook group to find out more.

Just want the giveaways and fun events - that's all happening at https://www.facebook.com/groups/341695669001204 too! 🥳

There's still time to join in! Go to our Facebook group 'Nature or Nurture @ Ratwise' for all the fun events and don't forget to subscribe to our new YouTube channel to see informative videos on rats and their behaviour.
https://www.youtube.com/