ASF feeding

Hey all, I have a question for you more experienced ASF breeders. I started my first two colonies last week and built my rack using 1/4" hardware cloth. I would like to feed them Mazuri pellets on top of the hardware cloth like you see most domestic rat racks set up. However, I was concerned that they might not be able to eat through the 1/4" cloth so I built some feed hoppers out of 1/2" cloth. They eat out of those fine, but of course they crawl on them and I don't think it is very sanitary.

My main question is, have any of you had issues with feeding through the 1/4" mesh top screen? I am just afraid if the food is too hard to get to they might decide to try and chew out the tubs. Thanks in advance.

Here is a couple photos of my set up.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...d32194251a.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...71e9cddec0.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...300e270346.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...2f383f5f7e.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...a3c0c42e8d.jpg

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They can eat just fine through 1/4 inch hardware cloth that what I used .

i have rats but same deal with the 1/4" mesh, non of my rats could get to it, so what i did was trimmed out bigger holes using very small wire cutters so that where i cut it the mesh would not have any hanging shards. (i had a rat destroy its upper pallet due to my initial go at doing this with thicker wire cutters) what i did was make 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" strips where i put the food and i never made two rows right next to each other so that that they would hold up and no one can starch the wire to get out. so that would be a 1/4" squares to separate each strip where they can get at the food. i hope this helps, if you need a better description ill try to post pics but it seems to be a chore to do on here

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Originally Posted by Deborah

They can eat just fine through 1/4 inch hardware cloth that what I used .

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Deborah did you use 1/4" on you feed outs as well?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Scherf

i have rats but same deal with the 1/4" mesh, non of my rats could get to it, so what i did was trimmed out bigger holes using very small wire cutters so that where i cut it the mesh would not have any hanging shards. (i had a rat destroy its upper pallet due to my initial go at doing this with thicker wire cutters) what i did was make 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" strips where i put the food and i never made two rows right next to each other so that that they would hold up and no one can starch the wire to get out. so that would be a 1/4" squares to separate each strip where they can get at the food. i hope this helps, if you need a better description ill try to post pics but it seems to be a chore to do on here

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That is good for full size rats but I have read hopper ASF rats can squeeze through 1/2" hardware cloth so I don't think this suggestion would work well in an ASF enclosure. Thanks for the input though.

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Originally Posted by Cornfed_Constrictors

Deborah did you use 1/4" on you feed outs as well?

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I did for ASF and Mice and 1/2 inch for rats and never had an issue. The problem with feeding from the top and using 1/2 inch hardware cloth with ASF is that the babies will escape.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Deborah

I did for ASF and Mice and 1/2 inch for rats and never had an issue. The problem with feeding from the top and using 1/2 inch hardware cloth with ASF is that the babies will escape.

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I am gonna rock it then, thanks Deborah.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...f6b5a50832.jpg

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i had no idea that ASF's could get through holes that small. thats wild lol

I use 40 gal Breeders for all my ASF's with Screened tops. They chew through anything else ive tried. They won't necessarily get through a tub but I've had them literally naw a hole right in the flat plastic floor of one. My feeder bins are inside the enclosure and are 1/2" hardcloth. They have a lid on them made out of the hard cloth that I flip open to add more food..just use a little wire to make a hinge. I also made holders for my water bottles with the hardcloth however after a few months they found out how to get to a little piece of the plastic water bottle even through the hard cloth so I now i use all glass bottles.
As far as breeding I don't care what anybody tells you on the Internet you'll only get 3 to 4 good litters (12-24) out of them & after that they drop to 5-6 or they just kill/eat them. I don't know why but I've tried it different ways over and over and the best way is to use a female to get 3-4 litters then keep a couple of her pups from the second litter to replace her after.
I feed lab block too. I use Pine Pellets for bedding with a handful of shredded newspaper for them to build a nest. They wont breed until 2.5 months and pups are weaned at 3 weeks. If you dont get the pups out at 3 weeks they will crush the pinkies for that week as the cycle is about every 24 days. Ive never been able to have for than 3 females to a enclosure as pups are born at different times so the younger ones always get smooshed and suffocated from the bigger ones. The best breeding that I've ever had is one male to 2 females in each enclosure and it works perfect without losing a bunch of pinkies each month and feeding another female for no reason.
If you need any info you can PM me. Ive got hundreds.


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You can see the 1/2" hardcloth feeders i make. Ive realized whether you use feeders or you just put it on the floor they go through the same amount of food. When the foods in in a feeder they spend all night trying to chew and get the food out not even eating it. if I just put piles on the floor they don't tend to chew at it and grind it up as much. The feeder almost becomes a game for them. As far as the towels, I use them on the Breeder enclosures not Grow out. They are nervous creatures and without a dark private side to nurse the Litters they sometimes kill/eat them. Once you understand their habits you can breed successfully, but not understanding them you can loose them all. They are not like Norway Rats at all.
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