When to start breeding feeders?

Ok, general question for you all...

At what point would you consider it a good idea to start breeding your own feeder rats? I'm sure I'm not there yet, I've only got 2 BP's who cost me a total of about $3 a week in rats, and I'm sure raising my own would be more expensive than that. At what point though, would you say the cost/benefit of switching to raising my own becomes attractive enough that it's more or less a necessity?

When I went over 12 snakes is when I started breeding my own feeders. I still pick up feeders at the local show once a month as well, and also use frozen. It just became less expensive this way than to go to the local reptile shop as they charge $3 a peice for the small rats. Oh, and if you do at any point decide to breed your own, I HIGHLY recommend Becky's rodent feed mix- they love it and it is so much more healthy that any premade mixture out there. My colony is doing awesome on it.

I started when I reach 10-12 BP I think,

You have to realize that if you get involve in breeding your own feeders, it will save you money however this will mean more work for you as well.

Questions are, do you have the time to commit to the extra work do you have the means to house and care for a rodent colony? If so breeding Rat & Mice can be fun, and it is very rewarding to know that you provide your BP with high quality feeders.

Good points Ingrid!

I started late at about 25 snakes or so. I am now self sustaining most of the time except when I screw up and my production takes a hit. I am terrible at planning rat production. I always have a freezer full of frozen rats and I have some mousers that get F/T.

I started breeding feeders at about 8 snakes. I now breed rats, mice and ASF for the 30+ snakes I have.


I like Jamie am not that good at planning my breeding...but luckily I never have too few I always end up with too many (typically they get too big to feed) so I have an agreement with 2 local pet stores that buy the excess rat and mice feeders. I also raise "fancy" rats that I sell for much more as pets (I have been breeding fancy rats for 15+ years).

Between selling the extras to pet stores and the fancy rats I have been lucky enough that my breeding colony is self sufficient (meaning that all the bedding and feed I use is covered by those I sell)...which in turn means my snakes eat for FREE.

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Originally Posted by lord jackel

I started breeding feeders at about 8 snakes. I now breed rats, mice and ASF for the 30+ snakes I have.


I like Jamie am not that good at planning my breeding...but luckily I never have too few I always end up with too many (typically they get too big to feed) so I have an agreement with 2 local pet stores that buy the excess rat and mice feeders. I also raise "fancy" rats that I sell for much more as pets (I have been breeding fancy rats for 15+ years).

Between selling the extras to pet stores and the fancy rats I have been lucky enough that my breeding colony is self sufficient (meaning that all the bedding and feed I use is covered by those I sell)...which in turn means my snakes eat for FREE.

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I wish I could consistently end up with too many!

Great point Deborah about the extra work! I honestly think the rats take more time and effort than the snakes. I have been using aspen and carefresh as bedding (Oh and Jamie thank you so much for your Woodypet post, I found a place close that carries it and am going to try it!) and it has to be changed much more often, not to mention I handle all my breeder rats everyday. Then again I only have about 20 so that is not an impossible task as I know at some point I know it will be.

Jamie, you can't be as bad as I am about production. I have gotten into and out of breeding so many times in the past couple of years. I tried so hard to get everyone on frozen but decided once and for all that live is just the way for me to go other than a select few who take frozen on a consistent basis. I think I have finally gotten it all worked out (I hope, please please please) and now at least all the rats are out of the house and into the garage.

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I wish I could consistently end up with too many!

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Me too!

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Originally Posted by catawhat75

Me too!

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Let me know if you figure it out! :D

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Originally Posted by jglass38

I wish I could consistently end up with too many!

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Just decide you really like alot of the males :D ...I have 4 more male breeders than I need so they produce much faster than if I was rotating a smaller number of males. Good and Bad I guess.

You could also make an agreement with a local pet store to take your extras...then just up your breeding stock (given what I feed and the cost of bedding/food) it saves me $100's a month doing it this way.

Ok I currently have 12 females and 4 males. I know that I need to pick up at least 4 or 5 more females but you would suggest a couple more males? I know tons of people who I could sell/trade the extra feeders to if I ever got to that point, but I need 25-30 smalls per week minimum. What ratio would you suggest?

LOL Jamie, if I figure anything out, I will let you know. :cool:

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Originally Posted by catawhat75

Ok I currently have 12 females and 4 males. I know that I need to pick up at least 4 or 5 more females but you would suggest a couple more males? I know tons of people who I could sell/trade the extra feeders to if I ever got to that point, but I need 25-30 smalls per week minimum. What ratio would you suggest?

LOL Jamie, if I figure anything out, I will let you know. :cool:

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It sounds like your ratio is already very high. Assuming you have 2 females per tank/tube means you could be getting 8 litters per rotation (4 males X 2 per tub = 8) then move the males...but you could only move them 2 times before you are back to the original females. So I assume you are keeping the males in with the females longer and/or seperating the males while the females give birth and ween the youngins? (either way you have idol males).

So you need more females...you want to aim for a male to visit a particular female every 12 weeks (4 weeks to birth, 4 to ween and 4 to rest).

Here is how to maximize your breeding (with 4 males) = 4 tubs w/2 females male goes in for 4 weeks, move males to next 4 tubs for 4 weeks, move males to next 4 tubs for 4 weeks, then move males back to original tubs. So you need 12 tubs of 2 girls each = 24 females. BUT seperate the timing of the males into 2 sets (so 2 tubs then 2 weeks later put the other 2 males in the other tubs) this will spread out when the babies are born by 2 weeks.

This could mean 4 litters every 2 weeks = (assume 12 per litter)= 48 babies every 2 weeks.

This is what you need...then add more females (maybe 3 per tub to get you extras to sell):D

Awesome :D Thanks! I thought I had more males than I needed, my daughter keeps doing the "mom I really really like this one, please I promise I won't pick any more" dance. I told her 4 was it, no more! She can pick out as many females as she likes, lol. The males are seperated from the females, all rats right now but two are too small to breed. I like to get them young and raise them up so I know they are healthy and fed what I want them to be fed. In another 6 weeks or so all should be of breeding size female wise, I know the males are more than ready to go, lol. The local show is next weekend and I know of ONE person there I trust to have healthy rats, so hopefully I will pick up a couple breeding size females then.

Right now what I have is a two tier wooden rack system that is 3x2x1 for them to grow to size in once weaned, and 12 tubs. I also have a couple spare aquariums but I really don't think I will ever use those- ugh what a pain to keep anything clean in them.
I appreciate your insight- and sorry to hijack the thread :oops:

I keep my males with the females. I built a rack out of cement tubs. It has 8 trays with 1.4 rats. I pull a few each week and than have two trays for grow ups. There is always some reptile perosn that wants rats or freeze your extras. I usuallly start a few new trays every other month. So when some racks are on their way down in production. The others are just rampoing up.

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Originally Posted by smilin-buddha

I keep my males with the females. I built a rack out of cement tubs. It has 8 trays with 1.4 rats. I pull a few each week and than have two trays for grow ups. There is always some reptile perosn that wants rats or freeze your extras. I usuallly start a few new trays every other month. So when some racks are on their way down in production. The others are just rampoing up.

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The concern with leaving the males with the females is that the females can get pregnant again as soon as they give birth...this doesn't given them enough time to regain lost weight and bone density that was lost given birth. Then add to that the need to nurse for another 4 weeks.

It is really unhealthy for the female and in my opinion cruel to them. It will shorten their lives and you will get lower quality feeders over time. My recommendation is to remove the males when it is time for the females to give birth.

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Originally Posted by catawhat75

I appreciate your insight- and sorry to hijack the thread :oops:

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Glad I could help...if you have any other questions just shoot me a PM. :D