Will a unrelated male kill babies if he is there during birth?

[Adam Chandler]

I had my BEW female in with a hooded male until I found her with a litter of pinks. Then I removed the hooded male and he was rehomed.
After the babies were weaned I took the female and moved her in with another BEW male.
The problem is I think I didn't get the hooded male out quick enough and she got knocked up right before I removed him. So now the female may be pregnant housed with a male that isn't the father.
My questions is, if he is there when the babies are born will he think they are his? or somehow by smell or something know they are from another male and kill them?
What do you guys think?

[cmack91]

ive never breed before or anything so i dont know how valid my answer is, but unless he has tryed to breed with her i would assume he'll know theyre not his.
and if he has no idea either way wouldnt there still be the chance he would see them as food?

[BrianD]

There shouldn't be a problem. But why would you house a male with the female anyway? As soon as she pops she'll get preggo again.

I just seperated mine 1st set of weaners today. The male is totally different from the set of babies. So far no problems with babies being attacked from a different genetic line. But the possibility is still there, just depends on the personality of the rat.

[Adam Chandler]

I normally don't have the girls go back to back but she is a special case. Once she gives me a BEW female to replace her she is being retired due to biting out of confusion (never had human interaction until she was an adult).

[jasbus]

Young male, most likely not.. Older male, maybe....
Usually, I wait til the babies are at least crawlers before I put a new male in the tub.