How do i introduce my male rat with baby rats?

[Silve]

So i have a male rat, Shadow i got him back in september, he is 5 months now. and i recently bought 2 twin brothers. they are only 5 weeks old. there balls just droppedd 3 days ago, so they are not that old. iboughtt them so he would have playmates, since i moved i have to get a job and go out into the real world. before this he was with me 24/7basicallyy and he would open his cage at night to fall asleep. butany whoo i moved anddecidedd since i cant spend as much time that he needs a play mate or 2. these guys seem very interested in him. i had placed there cages side byside forr almost a week. the first time i took them out hedidn'tt mind to much. theSecondd time i took them out he bit the dumbo eared twin baby (one was born dumbo the other not) i made sure it was in a placeneitherr of them have ever been. and made sure i was clean and had clean cloths on so his sent was not on me. i went home a couple days latter. had them all running around. he seemed fine with them. until my sister picked up the dumbo eared baby and put him back down, shadow attacked him. no blood or harsh marks were found. i broke it up with ease. so for the past week i had kept there cages together and made sure he could see and smell them with ease. but how should i introduce them now? would he even except them? he has never seen a rat for 3 months.. so its not like he has been forever without them... help please. ten points to bestanswere. and please description is needed!

 

[prettyghoul]

i have two large female rats and i just put them in the cage with the young ones, and they got along fine.
it might be because he's a male, and males can be pretty territorial.
i'm sure he'll warm up to them, a few nips now and then will happen.

 

[Lisa Morse]

Ok, you are doing everything right so far. I'm afraid it is just going to take a lot of patience. Keep trying them together in a neutral area. One step may be to smear all three rats in vanilla essence or juice from a can of tuna or something strong smelling. (Vanilla essence obviously smells better ) This will make them all smell the same and help them bond.
Once you are happy with their behaviour in a neutral area (this could take some weeks) you can move on to an area where Shadow is used to playing (but not the cage). You should also let Shadow in the babies' cage whilst the babies play in his cage for a while, to let each rat get used to the smell of the other. Finally, and only when you are ready for it, let the babies spend some time in Shadow's cage with him. There will be lots of rampant huffing and foofing from Shadow. He will probably chase the little ones around and sniff their bottoms a lot. Wait until the babies are at least six weeks old before introducing them.
My two big boys accepted the babies almost straight away, but because I already had a pair they were used to the presence of other rats. It could take a little longer for Shadow, as he is used to being solitary. He may attack them a little at first to prove he is still the house alpha, but as long as he isn't hurting them (i.e. drawing blood) it should be ok. Babies do tend to squeak a lot (one of mine squeaks all the time, regardless of whether anyone is touching him or not - he sounds like a rusty gate!). Just keep a towel and a water spray on hand so that Shadow doesn't bite you by accident when you seperate them.
Try holding them all on your lap at once (which can be difficult as the babies will be more interesting in disappearing down your shirt/pants/throat/ear/wherever they can). This will show Shadow that you've accepted them, so he should too.
You have done everything right so far. Keep up the good work!