Breeding rats for feeders

I currently put a males in with my females for a few weeks and then remove them. I was told I could leave the males in with the females after the pups are born without problems.

Anyone do this while breeding, I have searched google and I see alot of "males will eat the babies" comments, is this true? If possible I would like to hear from people who have actually or are currently breeding rats

Thank you

I have a very specific system when it comes to breeding

I house 1.4 rats and pull the pregnant females each week to put them in a birthing tub.

This way no back to back breeding

No fighting over babies which can lead to severe injuries/death

Once the babies are 10 days females go back in communal housing to raise their babies together.

Once weaned they go back in breeding rotation.

Works for me.

Now to the question can you leave the male in? Sure you can it's up to YOU to see what works for you and your colony.

Breeding takes trying things around I did and my method is what works for me.

So you Isolate the females and babies for 10 days plus birthing and then put them back in with other females? or are there males in the colony

I have been using a 1.3 ratio and removing male, my females have been together as long as I have had them, I have had some baby thieving from time to time maybe I will try the birthing tubs

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Originally Posted by krmn22

So you Isolate the females and babies for 10 days plus birthing and then put them back in with other females? or are there males in the colony

I have been using a 1.3 ratio and removing male, my females have been together as long as I have had them, I have had some baby thieving from time to time maybe I will try the birthing tubs

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I pull the females and they go in individual tubs and stay there until the babies are about 10 days.

After that they go in communal housing (Females only communal housing) where they raise their babies together.

They are only in presence of a male when back in breeding rotation and until visibly pregnant again.

I pull mommas to their own tubs as soon as they are plump.
When the babies are 3 weeks old then momma and babies go into their own large tub to tame them for pets.
The non-sellable ones become food, the tamest food you've ever seen, lol.

When I wean the babies momma goes back to her colony.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by krmn22

I currently put a males in with my females for a few weeks and then remove them. I was told I could leave the males in with the females after the pups are born without problems.

Anyone do this while breeding, I have searched google and I see alot of "males will eat the babies" comments, is this true? If possible I would like to hear from people who have actually or are currently breeding rats

Thank you

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I leave my male in with the females and have never had a male cannibalise his own offspring. In fact, I have withnessed the males cleaning the pups and also sleeping with them keeping them warm.

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Originally Posted by PghBall

I leave my male in with the females and have never had a male cannibalise his own offspring. In fact, I have withnessed the males cleaning the pups and also sleeping with them keeping them warm.

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I've done the same when all my momma tubs are full, my males are wonderful with their babies.

thank you for the comments its good to know males are good with the babies

My males will kill the babies if they are left in with them. I have had it happen 100% of the time. I no longer leave them in. It happened to me twice and that was enough. I have a friend who breeds also and he has had the exact same luck with males.

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Originally Posted by Clint Bundy

My males will kill the babies if they are left in with them. I have had it happen 100% of the time. I no longer leave them in. It happened to me twice and that was enough. I have a friend who breeds also and he has had the exact same luck with males.

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Then I would feed him and start over and find better stock to breed, which admittedly isn't easy.

I don't keep them together when females drop babies because I don't want my females pregnant while they are nursing.