Rats not breeding fast enough

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Originally Posted by Riv

So was I just wrong about too many litters being bad for them? Theyre cool to breed for an entire year, or when they start having tiny litters?

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Yes that's normal for a breeder rat to go a year and sometimes longer

Fantastic! I think I may still give african soft furs a go in addition to my norways for now. But Ill'definitely be staggering them from now on. I need to hammer out a good schedule. But if I have a male in 1 tank, all my females in another, and simply have one in with him a week at a time, then switch consistently I think it would work better. Thanks nikki = P

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Originally Posted by Riv

Fantastic! I think I may still give african soft furs a go in addition to my norways for now. But Ill'definitely be staggering them from now on. I need to hammer out a good schedule. But if I have a male in 1 tank, all my females in another, and simply have one in with him a week at a time, then switch consistently I think it would work better. Thanks nikki = P

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I feel the need to mention that they may still not produce as much as you'd need. I got a 1:2 in may at my local reptile expo. So far, I've had 9 babies. And now ones pregnant. :/ I seem to have terrible luck I guess.

I was gonna mention too the fact after a few litters the females that were not so good at mothering also tend to pick it up by the 3-4 litter and the litter size should also increase too.

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Originally Posted by Riv

Fantastic! I think I may still give african soft furs a go in addition to my norways for now. But Ill'definitely be staggering them from now on.

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I dont think anyone also mentioned to try not to do this with the asf rats, leave them in their groups... they get a wee bit crazy

Can Norway rats and ASFs interbreed? Hmm.:confusd:

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Originally Posted by Capray

Can Norway rats and ASFs interbreed? Hmm.:confusd:

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They are different species so no.

I keep my rats in 1.1 or 1.2 groups, I never separate them. My females last at least a year before I need to replace them. I find, for me, if I keep them in larger groups the females give birth at different times and the youngest pups can't compete with the older pups. Right now I have almost 30 pups between two females, and one female is about 8 months old now.

I have some females that are well into their second year of breeding with no problems.
I think the biggest key is to give them some time off after you wean the litters so they can get their bodies back to health.
If you plan on keeping all your females together then they will never get a break because they will be helping the other mothers.

Your best bet is a rack, say 7 tub.
3 to 4 females per tub in the top 4 tubs
the male gets tub 5 as his own (I would have at least 2 males)
male in tub 1 for 2 weeks then move male to tub 2 and so forth
when the male gets to tub 5 he is on his break as well.
bottom two tubs are for your male and female wean outs

This will work on a small scale but you will get to a point that you might have to start freezing off litters too.
Plus with the rotation of tubs you will almost always have different size "meals" for all of your collection.
It does take some time to get it running right.

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Originally Posted by Bobbafett

I feel the need to mention that they may still not produce as much as you'd need. I got a 1:2 in may at my local reptile expo. So far, I've had 9 babies. And now ones pregnant. :/ I seem to have terrible luck I guess.

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Sometimes their first litter will be on the small side. I hope your next litter goes better!

Ill give some advise here but I am just starting out rat breeding as well.

My first litters from my 3 moms were terrible at best. Of the 14 total babies from the 3 moms only 4 lived long enuff to grow to feeder size. Bad motherhood and small litters was what I had as well. I was ready to feed off everyone and give up rat breeding all together but my second round with all 3 moms was great so far. I had a little of 16 with 2 still borns second litter was 15 great babies and my 3 litter should be any day now. Both moms are excellent mothers and all the babies now have there eyes open and growing like weeds. The third mom is getting huge and should drop me a litter about the time the first moms are weened and ready to seperate. So do not give up on them yet rats make excellent mothers once they get the hang of it. Give them a second chance and see what happens. I currently have 29 rats growing toward feeder size with more on the way. I give all my mother a week or two off after the babies have weened so they produce a litter every coulple months and are in great health so far. Hope this helps you out :P
Robbie