Breeding rats outside?

Hey Amanda, I live in Florida and we are going to get a mid 30's night tonight. This is the second winter my rats have been outside. The first, I would bring them inside when it got in the 30's, this year I simply cover the mesh screen on top of their bin in bedding for insulation, add newspaper, and wrap the rack in a plastic sheet. I have found there to be a 20 degree difference inside their newspaper nest and covered rack than the outside temp. The ammonia can get high with this method so clean bins are a must.
I have yet to dose with Tylan for RI, while last year I was dosing continuously. Last year I lost 3 rats (all very new to the colony) and this year with my established colony, I have only lost two that were sudden deaths.

I hope this helps! I bet in an enclosed area outside with this method you wouldn't need to use a space heater.

For the summer, I am sure they stay in the shade and run a box fan pointed down into my rack. Everyone was much happier and I had no losses. It kept the air circulating and the bedding drier. I noticed an increase in litters (too hot to nooky!) and a decrease in how much they drank and urinated. Just be sure to haul old bedding away when you change bins and it will keep the smell to a minimum as well.

I am new to breeding and live on Lakeland. So the heat would not cause a problem as long as there is fresh air at all times in a shed? Thanks for the info.

I have no experience breeding rats although i'm looking to start as well. However i have had around 10 hamster before in my youth and we have keep them succesfully in the garage, all of them live to ripe old age of 2 to 3 years. I live in Canada so in the winter it can drop before 0 degree celsius. The garage is usual only a few degree hotter than outside.

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Originally Posted by BERNIE45

I am new to breeding and live on Lakeland. So the heat would not cause a problem as long as there is fresh air at all times in a shed? Thanks for the info.

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Just be sure the sun doesn't hit them at any point during the day or they will surely bake. I would not keep them in an enclosed area without an exhaust fan and a fan blowing across the bins. Keeping them in a shaded garage would be good if it is cooler than the outside temp and add a few box fans that blow across the rack and they should be happy. Just be sure to be very diligent about clean bedding and fresh water as you would any animal.

Thanks again for the info..

I also live in California (Mojave Desert) I keep my rats in a well ventilated shed. It gets really hot here. I had a portable A/C, but that thing crapped itself and I got a window a/c. Works for me. It's not a huge shed, only a 12 x 17. It houses a 20 tub FB (1.4 in each) 2- 5 tub birthing racks, 15 tub birthing rack ( 2 moms in each) 7 tub grow out rack and a 5 tub holding bin. The a/c is set to 70 until about 7pm. (got as hot as 105 here already) electric bill only increased to around $20 a month.