Baby rats ear

Question
QUESTION: Hi Janel,
Thanks for all your help.  I am hand raising 2 orphaned pet rats whose mother was killed.  They were about 5 days old when I got them from a neighbor and now they are about 14 days.  They are doing very well.  Their eyes are beginning to open [are slits and about half open].  They don't seem to see really well yet tho [they started to open about 1-2 days ago].  
My question tho is about their ear development.  One little guy has one ear that doesn't look as open yet [and is a little flatter against his head, but the same size], while his other ear is open.  Is this normal?  If the ears can open at slightly different times, how many additional days should it take for this ear to open?  What should I look for if there is a problem [there is no redness, swelling, or pus]?  
[They are both boys and very bonded to me --I feed them!  They do however, just want to be in my hand at all times and just snuggle, even without any formula around.  Will they stay bonded to me once they grow up if I keep them?]
thanks so much.
Emmy

ANSWER: Their ears normally open within the same week as their eyes - it's very normal for one to look popped and the other to remain closed for a few days. If anything, it may never open and he'll be deaf in one ear - but I wouldn't consider that until he's three or four weeks old and the ear still isn't open. An unhealthy ear will swell and take on that cauliflower look, become red and inflamed, or even act pained to the touch. It's pretty rare with infant rats though, and I would not worry.

They will probably stay very bonded to you as they grow older - you're Mom! And by the way, you're doing a fabulous job! Most people (myself included) struggle to raise orphaned babies. Way to go!!

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Hi again Janell,
Thank you for your answer, and wouldn't you know it, the ear opened today!  It looks fine and just like his other one.  
Now I have a question about their eyesight.  Again, their eyes just started opening about 2 days ago.  They are not opened all the way, but pretty far [I'd say about 3/4 open if that makes sense]. They don't seem to be able to see really yet though.  Is that normal?  Does it take a few days for that sense to be fully functional?  They scamper around my lap, but seem to not realize exactly where they are going.  Also, they don't seem to see my finger when I wave it in front of them yet.  Am I just being a worry-wort?  
Also, I read that hand raised babies are smaller but catch up in size later on.  Have you found this to be true?  While they are much more coordinated, their eyes and ears are opening, and their fur is getting fluffed up and puffy [cute!], they haven't grown a lot bigger/longer [just rounder!] yet.  
I just love the little guys and want them to be healthy.
Many thanks again!
Emmy

Answer
Their depth perception and focus is just beginning to hone now, and it's natural for them to be rather uncoordinated for awhile.. give them a week and they'll amaze you with their sure-footedness. Only if they continue to have trouble focusing or seeing should you really worry; but I don't think it'll come to that.

That's true - I have found that most hand-fed litters are extraordinarily smaller in the first month or two of life and then greatly take off and catch up. My last orphaned litter was about 6 weeks old before they really started to catch up and look their age.

:) Glad to hear everyone's doing well!