Holy Moly Guacamole!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by nathanledet

OFF TOPIC......

just curious, If i started breeding my own rats and mice and needed great advice like I find here and found a rat/mouse forum, would I be shunned by them because I feed off the babies? :confuzd:

---

Definately...and if they find out where you live they very well might call the Humane Society...most of the rat fanciers are fanatics about being Anti-feeder.:colbert:

They will make you sign an agreement about not breeding and not feeding any potential offspring.

heh...boogers. looks like i'm stuck here :rolleyes:

:rofl:

Tim and Robin. I have talked to a couple friends about what rats have the best litters. According to most of them, and what Monica and myself have seen, the Black Hoodeds seem to have the largest litters and the largest babies.

Robin, as far as fostering, I don't think you will have a problem with it. On that note I will say that we had a litter once of 26 pinkies. Mom fed them all by herself, and we only lost 1. So, if you pay close attention to her, and she is a good mother, she may not need any help. And, I would definitley hold a few girls from that liter, as I tend to believe that there are some genetics involved in large litter moms. We have been holding back babies from large litters for about 1.5 years now, and frequently have litters of 20 and over.

OK - so, here's what I've done. I first moved 9 babies to Scarlett. She was cleaning them, but not nursing them, and they were starting to get cool to the touch, so I considered putting them back with Mom.


Then...I decided to move Twix's two week old babies in with Scarlett (which will also mean a shorter time nursing for her) and put the babies in with Twix. Twix took MUCH more interest in the babies and has nursed them, and Scarlett readily accepted the 2 week olds and is allowing them to nurse.

So all is well in the Abernethy household! :D

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by muddoc

Tim and Robin. I have talked to a couple friends about what rats have the best litters. According to most of them, and what Monica and myself have seen, the Black Hoodeds seem to have the largest litters and the largest babies.

Robin, as far as fostering, I don't think you will have a problem with it. On that note I will say that we had a litter once of 26 pinkies. Mom fed them all by herself, and we only lost 1. So, if you pay close attention to her, and she is a good mother, she may not need any help. And, I would definitley hold a few girls from that liter, as I tend to believe that there are some genetics involved in large litter moms. We have been holding back babies from large litters for about 1.5 years now, and frequently have litters of 20 and over.

---

That's very interesting, Tim! I do tend to have litters that average 15+, and was getting bored with the black hooded offspring and berkie offspring - but I'll take prolific and deal with boring! :D

Glad to hear everything is resolved Robin. It is definitely pertinent to take care of the snake food.

Glad to hear that Robin...peace and harmony for all.

well now robin aren't you smart! you came up with the best solution of all. :P

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by mlededee

well now robin aren't you smart! you came up with the best solution of all. :P

---

Yayyyy! And everyone's happy! :D

Okay Robin we HAVE TO STOP SHARING A BRAIN! Not only are our fridges now dieing on the same days but what you did with option #2 is exactly what I was going to suggest you do. I call it "rat baby roulette" around here. In other words, wean the ones that can be weaned, put the half raised ones with the mom that's been nursing a long time so she doesn't have so much more to do, put some of the newborns with the mom that was nursing the half raised litter and leave the original mom with not so many. I've done it before myself Robin and it's always worked out fine for our colony females.

I swear I can't remember which of us has custody of the brain some days girl! LOL

Oh and I would definitely keep back her best daughter at some point. Those Black Hooded males, they really have it going on!