Rat Colony & the heat of summer

[frankykeno]

We are having quite the heat wave here in Toledo. I noticed yesterday that my rats were beginning to suffer for it, especially the fuzzies and pups. They were in a room that I thought was well ventilated (we don't have a/c) but it wasn't enough and I darn near lost a few baby rats. They were flat out on their sides and barely conscious. Got the whole colony moved quickly into another bigger room with better cross ventilation and a ceiling fan. I had a box fan in the old room but it sure wasn't doing the job for the poor rats.

Please remember to keep an eye on your rat colony as well as all the creatures in your homes, pets or not, during the heat of summer. Rats in tubs may need to be thinned out in numbers per tub during the heat waves, will drink a lot more water therefore urinating more, the tubs need to be out of direct sunshine as it will drive the tub temps up very quickly or like me your colony may have to move to a different room. Unfortunately we don't have access to a nice cool basement as that would be perfect.

[monk90222]

When it gets too hot in my rat room AKA the garage, I freeze small bottles of water and put one in each enclosure. The rats would lay against it when warm and the Mothers even drag it closer to their nest to keep the babies cool!!

[JLC]

When it gets too hot in my rat room AKA the garage, I freeze small bottles of water and put one in each enclosure. The rats would lay against it when warm and the Mothers even drag it closer to their nest to keep the babies cool!!

That is an awesome idea!

[Wild Bill]

I went all out with my new rat and mice room, they have their own air conditioner.

[Sevo]

a window unit and ceiling fan work wonders.. you an get a small window unit for real cheap

Sevo

[Blu Mongoose]

When I didn't have air I kept all shades pulled down and most windows closed , with a fan in one window facing out and a second window at other end open.Then a circulating fan in the animal rooms. Exposed glass on windows generates so much heat. I also keep all unecessary lights off and only do laundry at night when things have cooled. The frozen bottle trick does wonders too. Any larger animals[warm blooded] I freeze gal. water milk jugs with water, cut away the plastic and float it in their water buckets. We have several animals so the heat is always a main worry. A window air unit can be had for about 70.00 and work wonders if all pets were fairly close together, as a small unit will only cool 1 or 2 rooms.. Watch at yard sales for air conditioners. We just threw a almost new one to the garage because we finally got central air, May find one for as little as 20.00.

[Shelby]

My guys are in the basement which is cool year round.. but good heads up there Jo!

I know a lot of rabbit breeders use the frozen bottle trick. Definitely a help.

I just had to put the AC in up here for the snakes.. keeping it at a constant 80 degrees in here.

[monk90222]

Your right shelby, I am an EX rabbit breeder!!

[frankykeno]

I like the frozen water bottle idea and will try it and see if the little boogerheads will enjoy it and yet not chew every bottle to smithereens on a daily basis LOL. Thanks everyone!

[Vomitore]

... Could get em a beer and a kiddie pool?