Easy way to know when weaned?

[Postdust]

I’m wondering if there’s an easy way to know when rats are ready to be weaned and moved to their own tub. Is there a certain age that I could be safe to assume that the rat was ready? Certain weight? Or is it a case by case situation where I must wait and make sure that the rat is eating and drinking on its own?

[Armiyana]

usually at around 3 weeks old they can actually survive fairly well... that's when they actually start hopping and wrestling with each other and get the zoomies. They'll be steady on the feet, not wobbly. But that's the earliest. 4 weeks out is safest to move them as they should all be eating solid food well by then.

It's sometimes a bit hard to judge, but if you watch the next couple of litters, you'll recognize the size and be able to move them easier. Any time you see them getting water from the spigot with mom and grabbing the blocks that slip through the wire should be fairly safe. On the downside, if they are not ready to be moved, they have a very high metabolism so they can weaken quickly. I'll sometimes leave a teenager with them just so they have a guide to figure the ropes out while leaving mom to rest.

[Postdust]

Thank you! Makes perfect sense.