need More advice about Surrogates and Timing with Rat Babies

[JameyDboi]

Okay so i had a post from yesterday that basically said My hairless wasnt Doing well a week after Birth she was skinny but i think i know what was wrong she didnt know how to use the copper nipples from the auto watering system i fiz the problem thoe, any way i just looked and i have another litter from a dif mom sooo

I have the 2 mothers alone ATM and when i first got them they were together, (i first got them For free it came with 2 hairless and 2 Haired i know 1 male at least i cant tell with the other hairless)
anyway my mother hairless (lets call her MIMI cuz im tired of typing mothered hairless) so mimi has been in a fight with one of the Other rats her right eye is messed up and kinda bloody when i looked in the cage she was lying on top of the other mother (KIKI for typings' sake) mimi head was on kiki's body, i dunno if that was a show of affection or a show of obedience cuz that was the rat who beat on her.......

anyway on to my question sorry for being all over the place, i was wondering if i should join The babies (MiMi 8 babies a week old) (KiKi 13 babies 2 days old) the give the hairless a break from milking, or should i wait to join them because i want to get some surrogates together, but im scared they will fight, or kill babies or that babies wont get any milk cuz their littler than the hairless that are 7 days old

so any suggestions when i should put them together for best results or if i should even put the babies together, or any other advice on how to proceed.

Thanks

[wilomn]

Unfortunately for you, it's sort of a crap shoot. If you put the together, the babies, the new mom may or may not take them. Usually they do, but sometimes they don't. I'm guessing all of yours are first time moms which can also account for their lack of baby rearing skill and stress with new babies being introduced. With an established mother it's easier to add new babies.

Hairless show scratches a lot. No hair to protect the skin. She should heal, but keep an eye on the scratch.

I run my rats with multiple females per tub so even if one is not so good at mothering the chances are one of the others will make up for her lack. I don't breed all hairless together, there are always hairies in there too for just this scenario.

It's frustrating sometimes and you may lose a litter or three, but keep at it and you'll figure it out.