Mother has died....what about the babies?

[izoid]

We had one of our mother rats die this morning. She was not one of our "breeders" but one of our pets. She has 4 babies that are nearing 3 weeks old. All have had their eyes open for several days now.

My question is what should we do with them? How will they survive without the mother? I have a lot of breeder rats but am concerned about introducing one of them to the babies as I do not want them to be harmed. I do not have any other litters on the ground to mix them with so I am in a bit of a situation here.

[stratus_020202]

They should be ok. Usually baby rats are eating hard food as soon as they open their eyes. Usually you can safely wean by the 4th or 5th week. I'm sure they will be fine.

I'm sorry about your loss. Maybe you can keep on of her babies. I lost one of our pets over the winter. She was the sweetest rat we had, and there will never be another like her.

[Fallguy]

If they have had their eyes open for a few days. they might be ok. Take a lookk at their teeth. You will find that they are already developed quite well. Just make sure they can access the water and the food.

[ice#1]

babies weaned to soon will grow slower. if it were me I'd try to get a nursing mother to accept them (its not that hard just watch them closely for a few days and give the female tons of protein i use meal works myself for mice never had this issue come up with rats so you might want to try some other high protein feeder insect other then to do before putting with the new mom put some of her bedding in the the babies that lost there mom so they get the new moms smell on them) but usually if they make it paste the first day they will be fine

[pitoon]

all can be determined by the size of the weaners eyes (opening). if they have just opened i would recomend placing them in with a foster mother. if they are completely round when opened they will be good to go all on their own. just keep the food on the beeding so they have easy access.


Pitoon

[tonkatoyman]

If you have other moms who are nursing give the babies to them. They will feed any ones babies regardless.

[suzuki4life]

if their eyes are opened and they are walking not crawling then they are fine REGARDLESS of size. If you want them to grow faster, then yes find a willing female that will continue nursing them.

[snakesRkewl]

I've found at 3 weeks old they will do just fine on their own.
Make sure the water is easy for them to reach and giving them broken up pieces of rodent block helps too.

Sorry for your loss.

[tomfromtheshade]

If they are three weeks old they will be okay.

If you want to you can crush up their food and mix it with some warm water to make it a soft mush.

Make sure that their water is easily reached.

If you want to place them with another mother she should feed them with no problems. Moms are usually good like that.

Or you could just feed them to something and not worry about it.