Hooray Hooray,
I've gone ahead and picked up some rats locally to start a breeding colony. I purchased 1.3 adult rats of breeding size from a local breeder. I have them in a 50 gallon tub. I've cut out the top and replaced it with Hardware cloth. I've also cut in Hardware Cloth for a Waterbottle, and I assembled a food hopper out of Hardware Cloth as well.
I've got (1) Momma that has had one litter previously, and then (2) Virgin Girls that are 2.5 months old. The male is an older buck, not sure on age, but he will be the first to be replaced. While he is friendly enough, he doesn't like being picked up or handled.
Current plan is to hold back 0.6-8 babies and put together a 2nd tub. once I've got the 2nd tub built I can raise the new girls to 10 weeks or so, remove the male, and build (2) new Colonies.
Here we go!
Paul