Rats Burying Babies Alive?

While I was feeding and cleaning the rats today, I noticed that one of the females was sitting on only a few babies (and I counted 15 the night before.) Then I noticed a mountain of pine shavings in the corner of the tub, and saw some movement. Almost all of the babies had been burried alive. I was surprised they were even living.

Why would they do this? After I removed the babies I watched them again kick up pine shavings---and once again bury the rat babies alive.

What the hell?

Only thing I can poss think of is she thought she was trying to keep them warm maybe?

I know.. you'd think if this was the case then she would be on top of the pile also.

No idea other then that... very strange. Is this her first litter? Cause some Rat mama's just don't get it from the get-go from what I have been told. Mine luckily enough have been pretty good, despite eating a couple here and there in their first litters..

I guess maybe give her another shot at it and if she isn't successful then feed her off. Keep us posted with what happens and hopefully someone else with some more Rat knowledge can help ya out. Good luck

Rats will cover their babies with pine all the time. In my experience the babies don't suffocate. They are fine. Pinkies don't really require much oxygen. This is why they are almost impossible to kill with CO2.

It's normal.
Not sure exactly why they do it, but they do. My guess is that she wants a little break...maybe for food, water, or just a sec to relax...and she will cover them to keep them together, warm, covered and safe. That's just my guess though.

It's called nesting...

Yea, my females do this too. But even more annoying than that is when they decide it's a good idea to burrow under the pile of babies, basically throwing the babies all over the place. It drives me crazy! Rats will be rats though :rolleyes:

my rats do it all the time, but they are very motherly to all babies even if its not from their litter as many of you have most likely seen. Ive had to use surrogate mothers several times due to either death or too many pinks for one mother and the surrogates just take to them...mice on the other hand are not like that and they have killed their own babies which pissess me off coz that means no food for my smaller snakes...well until i get to the pet shop i go to to get mice pinks

My rats do it too.

The one I hate is when they spook and run around the cage with babies clinging to their nipples, scattering them all over the tub.
Eventually the babies are all gathered back up, but it can't be fun...

I have had this happen many times. It is normal and nothing to be alarmed about.

Kingofspades - lol I've had moms drag babies around like that as well. The weaker pups will fall off fast. I've had some stronger pups that just wouldn't let go though. lol.

Agree, perfectly normal nesting behavior. ;)
No matter where you move them, or how many times you dig them up, they'll probably be covered up again next time you look! :D