photos of the new rat rack...finally!

i've had the darn bins sitting around for ohhhhh about 6 months, finally got up the motivation and determination to build these suckers!

here's a few quick snapshots of the finished rack, and some funny shots of the rats enjoying their new home!

i followed these plans because they used the exact same sized bins i had. HOWEVER!!! whoever made that page, has 2 of the measurements wrong. but it all worked out in the end. i also modified the plans a bit, but nothing crazy. you don't even really need plans, rat racks are all the same basic concept.

i think sometime in the future i am going to make a video of the rack, explaining what i added.

anyways here's the pics:

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...h252011016.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...h252011015.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...h252011014.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...h252011017.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...h252011020.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...h252011019.jpg

looks good!

thank you. gotta build the 2nd one now, lol

What bedding are you using ?

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Originally Posted by CherryBlossom

What bedding are you using ?

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pine pellets.

like equine fresh

Awesome rack! Very nicely done! This makes me feel inspired to build something similar. Are those concrete tubs? Can you tell me what size they are? I have been using Sterelite tubs with a modified lid, but they are quickly feeling like a real PITA.

sorry i didn't get to this earlier,

OMG Sterilites are a monstrous PITA.

i did finally build my 2nd rack and my colonies are going (almost) well now. i've had some problems with fuzzies/hoppers just dropping dead, i think because the feed i'm giving them isn't adequate. i have some new stuff coming in this Friday though, but other than that they're doing very well.

and yes, concrete tubs. they are the 10gallon size and i'm too lazy to measure them right now, but they're like 26" x 16" x 6". approximately.

i got them from Home Hardware. took me forever and a day to find somewhere in Canada that supplies them, but from my experience they are super easy to find in the US.

here's the finished "rat corner"

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...-172011034.jpg

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...-172011035.jpg

oh yeah - the first photos in this thread show the hoppers being full, i don't fill the hoppers anymore. everytime i forget to close the door to the rat corner my damn dog empties the hoppers. so now i just give them a little dish full of kibbles/seeds/mealworms/whatever. they always tip the dish and spread the kibbles all over though, so i'm going to eliminate the dishes and just throw stuff in there. they're pointless, just another thing to clean.

Are you feeding dog food? Your ASFs look very greasy and unkempt.

i noticed that too recently after looking at so many ASF pics!

i'm not feeding dog food, but Step 2 Extruded Equine Food. it's what everybody in the lower mainland area of BC said they feed their ASFs. however i just started this thread because their current diet just isn't working out. i have some hog feed coming in, and i think you've already responded to those threads, so thanks for your help!

Great. :D

i wish it wasn't so hard to get supplies in Canada!!! grrrrr.

rodent block, mixing tubs, aspen bails, sexing probes, need i go on? nothing is available here!!!

How tall is this rack? I am going to be making some this weekend but need to sit low on my porch so they are not noticeable.

Good job, I am working on mine an will post pictures soon. It is a 25 tub rack to house them to 12 weeks old. I use Harlan 2018 for feed.

i think the racks are about 3.5 ft high

That is a very clean looking rack. Well Done!

thank you!

:gj: Nice Set up, I have had great service from my racks which look alot like yours. Good luck with all of your breeders and feeders.

To help with the younger ones dieing off, Add in a step so they can reach the water bottle/valve.

I have one in my grow out tubs as they cant reach the bottles at 4 weeks old. It helps a lot so they can drink.

oooh you think maybe they couldn't reach? poor things! it's possible i guess. i did have some 2x2's in there but they've pretty much gnawed them into little dowel looking things by now.

i'll get my boyfriend to cut some appropriate sized wood at work.

The racks are very nice. You did a fine job on them.

looks like someone has a nice tame colony going on!!!

good looking rack!

Pitoon

http://i973.photobucket.com/albums/a...h252011019.jpg

Pitoon your AFSs look very greasy, and un-clean. What are you feeding them?

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Pitoon your AFSs look very greasy, and un-clean. What are you feeding them?

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Rhasputin: I believe the pic in Pitoon's reply is the pic of the OP's ASF. Looks like he pasted it to go along with his comment of her colony being tame.

However I could be wrong.

yep, that was my pic. i've since changed their diet, they're now eating hog grower.

in real life, they didn't actually look that greasy. i think the crappy Sony camera just sort of compounded things, i think they're looking better nowadays!