Keeping Rats Cool in Hot Summers

[cmz1234]

I'm located in Houston, Texas and I would like to move my rat breeding to my garage. I would like to build a rat rack, but I need an effective system to keep my rats cool.

Temps in the garage are high 70's to 80's at night and probably high 80's to low 90's during the day, but I'm not 100% sure on the day temps.

I have a large fan which I can use, but that won't be enough to keep them cool. I really don't want to buy a Window AC unit. Does anyone have any effective methods that they use?

[jasbus]

Even a window A/C unit won't help, unless the garage is insulated...

You're stuck, either keep em in the house, or A/C your garage. I'm about 450 miles north of you, I've had my A/C units on full blast since late March... In insulated sheds...

When I was in Florida, I had a big barn that I put two attic fans in, with a big open door on the other end. Even with a constant air flow, they would always slow down breeding in the hot summers.

[Rhasputin]

If you move them into the garage with no insulation and no air conditioner, then you probably won't have any rats left in a few days.

[cmz1234]

If you move them into the garage with no insulation and no air conditioner, then you probably won't have any rats left in a few days.

They are currently in the house, but I'd rather have them outside due to smell. I thought about building a rack system then insulate the rack using insulation boards, but wanted to get ideas before I commit to build something.

[Rhasputin]

If you insulate the racks it'll just keep the heat in and they'll die faster.

You would have to get insulation in your garage or buy a small shed and insulate it. But if the power ever goes out in the summer, that shed or garage turns into an oven

And either way, you're gonna need air conditioning and insulation on them. Unless you have a basement or cellar.

[Nektu]

It gets pretty hot and dry here in Denver during the summer, so I keep mine in the basement. It's cooler than the rest of the house. I check them at least once to three times a day to make sure they are alright. Do you have a basement you can keep them in?

[ptate]

Your best bet is going to be to setup exhaust fans on one end of the garage and an open airway on the other end for air to be pulled in and through the garage.

[spitzu]

You could install a swamp cooler if you don't mind a huge hole in the side/roof of your garage. It should already have a vent for exhaust.

edit: Downside is humidity... It works great in a dry climate but I'm not sure how well it would work in Texas.

[tomfromtheshade]

Insulation + Air Conditioning = your answer

I know that isn't what you want, but it is what you will have to do to be successful.

Rats won't tolerate the 100+ degrees that it will get in the summer.

They will die.

Wild rats can tolerate it because they will build tunnels to go into during the day where they keep cool. Your rats will just cook in their tanks or tubs. Big difference.

[spitzu]

Insulation definitely helps. I also have the sun 90% blocked through window tinting and blinds and it doesn't get too warm at all. 98 outside the other day and it was only like 80-82 in the garage.