What Age do they stop?

What age do they start dwindling off in their breeding? What age do you retire males? What age for females?

Thanks

not to hijack the thread but maybe u can answer how long is the life cycle from birth to feeder stage what not.. very interested in breeding my own feeders. thanks.

I really do not go by age I go by my own personal guidelines when it comes to breeding feeder rats.

Females: I retire them when the production drops below 5

Males: I retire them at 12 months of age.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LOSTCOAST_BALLZ

not to hijack the thread but maybe u can answer how long is the life cycle from birth to feeder stage what not.. very interested in breeding my own feeders. thanks.

---

Depends on what size prey you are using/needing, I am using everything from rat pinks for colubrids to small / medium rats for BP, to large rats (retired breeders) for my blood.

So I use anything from 1 day old to about 14/16 months.

I wouldn't recommend breeding a female rat over 1 year of age. :)
That should give you plenty of time to get several good litters, and raise up new females to replace the older ones, as well.

Of course, if your female is having trouble producing when she is younger, I would retire or cull her as well.

Males don't necessarily have an age limit, unless you notice them becoming weak, or their sperm less potent.

so from them mating to birth what like a month?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LOSTCOAST_BALLZ

so from them mating to birth what like a month?

---

Gestation is 21 days

I let my females do 5 litters tops and my males breed till they drop or the females start having funky litters(stillborns or small count or small babies).
I have an almost 2 yr old male that is breeding away and making awesome blue and Himalayan babies with his herd :P