Rat pups

[P. Novak]

What age can they be seperated from the mother? Can 2 mothers be kept together while babies are in the cage?

Thanks,
Paul

 

[LeilaNami]

I think it was 4 weeks. I just watch until the babies are eating on their own the majority of the time and mom starts kicking them away when they try to nurse. I've seen mothers and litters kept together with mice but I'm not sure if it would work with rats.

 

[P. Novak]

I think it was 4 weeks. I just watch until the babies are eating on their own the majority of the time and mom starts kicking them away when they try to nurse. I've seen mothers and litters kept together with mice but I'm not sure if it would work with rats.

I was thinking 4 weeks as well.


Anyone got a definate answer from experience?

 

[FreedomJack]

I only bred my female rat twice, so I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I think four weeks is a good minimum. I started taking Prissy's pups out and handling them for longer periods of time at 3.5 weeks and then pulled the biggest ones at 4 weeks and the rest at 5 weeks. I think it put less stress on the mom that way, but your mileage may vary. After 5 weeks, rats CAN reproduce so you'll have to at least pull the males by then. Keeping multiple pregnant females together should be fine as long as their cage isn't crowded and you make sure there's always LOTS of food available.

Other than that, make sure to take the male out while the female is preggers because females can get pregnant as soon as the litter is born.

Good luck..and post pics of the little rattie babies!!!

 

[P. Novak]

I only bred my female rat twice, so I'm not claiming to be an expert, but I think four weeks is a good minimum. I started taking Prissy's pups out and handling them for longer periods of time at 3.5 weeks and then pulled the biggest ones at 4 weeks and the rest at 5 weeks. I think it put less stress on the mom that way, but your mileage may vary. After 5 weeks, rats CAN reproduce so you'll have to at least pull the males by then. Keeping multiple pregnant females together should be fine as long as their cage isn't crowded and you make sure there's always LOTS of food available.

Other than that, make sure to take the male out while the female is preggers because females can get pregnant as soon as the litter is born.

Good luck..and post pics of the little rattie babies!!!

Thanks for the advice. Advice from someone with some experience is always the best.

I will, but these rat pups will end up snake food eventually.

 

[Rochelle]

The rittens will, themselves, be ready to breed at 5 weeks.
Two mothers w/ litters can be kept successfully together without mishap. Lots of fresh water - they go through it in amazing amounts; and supplement with cottage cheese, yogurt and kitten chow - along with lab blocks or similar. These will help them be healthy feeders for your other animals and also support the mothers for further breeding, later.
Good luck and hope this was helpful.

 

[P. Novak]

The rittens will, themselves, be ready to breed at 5 weeks.
Two mothers w/ litters can be kept successfully together without mishap. Lots of fresh water - they go through it in amazing amounts; and supplement with cottage cheese, yogurt and kitten chow - along with lab blocks or similar. These will help them be healthy feeders for your other animals and also support the mothers for further breeding, later.
Good luck and hope this was helpful.

Thanks a ton! Any specific brands of the cottage cheese, yogurt, and kitten chow?

 

[LeilaNami]

I like the Blue Buffalo brand. PetSmart carries it. They also have a Wilderness formula that is high in protein. It's the only food I've ever seen that adds beneficial bacteria to their ingredients. You might even be able to do without the yogurt if you feed it.

 

[GailC]

I've breed rats for about three yrs now and never fed them yogurt or cottage cheese, what would be the benefit of either of those?
I do feed cheddar cheese occasionally and lots of fresh veggies.

 

[Diggy415]

10 yr plus rat/mouse breeder, i feed mine COB you can buy at a feed store with or without molasses, i don't feed cottage cheese or yogurt.. i do feed a variety of cheeses, rice, frz vege's bread, raws fruits and veges. I feed my COB M,W,F's and all the rest the other days. I've had large healthy litters and no tumors so far. I love when i get to play with the ratties, all their different colors, hairless, dumbo, rex, hooded, siamese. ahhhhh the smell of a baby rat