Question on Breeding Large amounts of rats

[reptilegirl07]

I'm looking to produce 3000-5000 rats per month

How many 7 tub high racks would I need to make this work (including racks set aside for moms giving birth)

I put 1.6 in each tub for breeding and 3 for birthing and am using the cement mixing tubs

And with a 1.6 in each tub, is it better to separate moms when preggo or not? I hear a lot of debate on both sides

Thanks!!

[tomfromtheshade]

I just typed out an entire novel about large scale rat breeding, but then I decided that maybe the abridged version might be better.

Build your racks using large mortar tubs and only build them five levels high. I tried the six level racks, but its such a pain in the ___ to reach into and work in the levels that are above 72" in height.

You can run 1.6 animals in each of these tubs, so you will have 30 females per rack. Count on each rack giving you 250 rats per month. DO NOT REMOVE THE MALE.

At that rate you will need four racks per 1000 rats, and 16 racks for 4000 rats.

So, in my opinion, you would need 16 racks.

I would also add 8 more racks for growing out breeders.

This brings your total to 20 racks.

[littleindiangirl]

is it better to separate moms when preggo or not? I hear a lot of debate on both sides

You'd hear a lot more debate about it here too. There a large scale breeders that separate, and those that don't. Why not try both and see which you like the best.

In the end, you are going to do what you think is the best way to manage your colony.

[suzuki4life]

too vague...


you need 3000-5000...sounds like a dream. Too much of a variation. If you are feeding or even selling you have a better idea than such a wide range

rats... also a vague term. rats pinks, small, adults, a mix? Way too vague.

[reptilegirl07]

suzuki4life Sorry if my post was too vague for you, seems like the others did just fine with the answers, BTW thanks tom!!

I am gathering just basic information so I don't have an exact number I want to produce yet, hence my range. Call it a dream but business people actually call it research.

I know I will want to produce at least 3000 since that is what someone wants me to produce for just them, but I would also like to produce extra to meet some other local people's demand.

Thanks for the advice

[tomfromtheshade]

I'm not going to give you the old "I told you so speach" but if you just jump in and build 20 racks and start slamming rats together you are going to have a lot of "I told you so's" waiting for you LOL. Start small.

[suzuki4life]

suzuki4life Sorry if my post was too vague for you, seems like the others did just fine with the answers, BTW thanks tom!!

I am gathering just basic information so I don't have an exact number I want to produce yet, hence my range. Call it a dream but business people actually call it research.

I know I will want to produce at least 3000 since that is what someone wants me to produce for just them, but I would also like to produce extra to meet some other local people's demand.

Thanks for the advice

ask your advice givers the last time they produced 5000 rats a month. I don't like giving advice based on theory. Second, ask Tom who has more actual expertise hands on doing exactly what you hope to do. Tom has a similar game plan figured out but isn't there yet. You are a fine example of why good, precise and knowledgeable help stays away from replying to you.

And for the record, I run 1.8 not 1.6.

[kellysballs]

We know 3 med (producing 100-500rats per week) sized rat breeders and they average 3 small rats per tub per week. This means in a 1.5 with out removing the male you will get about 12 small rats per month. So you would need 250-420 (36-60 racks plus grow up bins for meds and larges) tubs with all of your females producing at optimum level. You will also need to feed good quality food to get this level of production. Something like mazuri 6F 5m30 rat block. And you need to replace your females ever 8 months or so and need to keep them clean and healthy.

Good luck you will need lots of time, money and space.

[JLC]

I don't think there's anything wrong with asking general questions...so long as you don't expect anything more than general answers. Nothing wrong with exploring a concept to get some sort of idea of what is involved.

And nothing wrong with folks putting in their two cents if you ask a question on a public forum.

Here's my pennies...based on what seems like a more-than-casual inquiry about huge-scale rodent breeding of both rats and mice. These are questions that must be considered along with how many racks to build.

What size building(s) do you have for breeding on this scale? Are the buildings well ventilated? Do they have running water? Do they have sinks and room for cleaning tubs?

Do you have the skills necessary to build sturdy racks? To build watering systems? To maintain them? Or will you have to hire that work out?

What kind of capital do you have to start this business with? Do you have enough to run it without any income-generating stock for several months?

How much time per day do you have to devote to cleaning, sorting, cleaning, feeding, cleaning, watering, cleaning, killing, cleaning, packaging and shipping your stock? Do you have anyone to help you? Will you hire help?

Have you run any numbers at all to find out how much monthly overhead you will need to be able to cover...including the months before you produce marketable stock? Rent for buildings? Utilities? Bedding? Food?

Do you have a plan for disposing of used bedding and dead (unusable) rodents? I've seen some moderately large-scale breeding colonies, and they produce TONS of waste that must be disposed of somehow.

Anyhow...that's just the tip of the iceberg...questions and concerns that spring immediately to mind that one should work on when considering a business of this nature and on this scale.

As others have suggested, I would also suggest starting SMALL and getting a feel for it before investing heavily. Also, you might try to visit a large rodent breeding facility (if you haven't already) to get an idea of the tremendous amount of work and logistical concerns are actually involved.

[chromeitout]

Great post JLC