I got a 6 month old dum femal a year ago and had some trouble getting her to eat. The breeder told me dums are very shy and if they are uncomfortable or stressed for any reason it is not unusual for them to refuse to eat. He suggested I get a small plastic box like the sweater\storage boxes you can get at Target and poke holes in it. Make sure it was large enough for her to coil comfortably but small enough she would feel enclosed. Fill it with the same litter she is used to in her cage and sit it half on, half off of a heating pad to keep her warm. Put her in the box and an hour or so later open it and add the food putting it close to her nose and close the box and leave her alone. I did that and she ate the rat pup. I have another dum how eats with no issues but I still have to put her in her small box to feed her or she does not eat.