Mom's fighting over babies

So I had a litter on the 13th and then today I had my second litter in the same tub the female with the older pups was stealing all the newborns as soon as she was popping them out and cleaning them they started fighting so I had to separate them has anyone else experienced this?

lol, yeh I have heard of this. Better to separate the litters.

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Originally Posted by Godzilla78

lol, yeh I have heard of this. Better to separate the litters.

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I figured they were smart enough to know witch babies are there's lol not all do this.

That’s why I use a breeder box for each pregnant mom.i run 48 of them.
No more fighting for babies or dead babies because one mom thinks she can handle them all.

When I raised rats, the moms usually helped each other (in the 1:2 ratio) but now & then I'd have to separate the females for doing just what you're describing-
failing to "share" & fighting over the babies. Silly rats, each one trying to be "super-mom" & do it all. :rolleyes:

Rats are great mom to a fault and while communal nursing is possible I do not recommend it until the babies are at least 5 to 7 days of age, before that they are too fragile and the slightest fight over them often leads to death and loss witch is an issue when you breed for food.

Al my females go into individual birthing rats once pregnant and go into communal nursing tub once the baby are 5 to 7 days old.