Stealing Mom's Babies

Hey guys! I need nice small pinkies for my monitor, but bigger ones for my snakes. Is it ok to take all the babies from her right after she gives birth, or do some need to stay to drink her milk?
Most of the time, I plan to take about half the babies away and leave her the other half to grow, but I wanted to know if it had negative concequences to take them all away.

Secondly, if pinks die of natural causes, can they still be fed off?

IMO it's okay to take them all. It might make you feel bad when she looks at you like "what's up with that?" but I don't think she necessarily needs them for her milk.

I don't think I'd feed off a dead pinky. You really don't know how long it's been dead and I'm sure bacteria and stuff sets in pretty quick. Better to be safe than sorry.

I see no issue in taking all the pinks, or leaving some. Rats are resilient animals.....also if the pink died of natural causes, I think feeding it off would be ok...but just make sure it does not have any disease.....

You can take the pinks no problem.

You can take half no problem.

I would not feed off already dead pinks, you'd be surprised how nasty they get in a short amount of time.

unless you know when the pink died i wouldn't use it. if you checked on them and an hour later you found one dead yeah go for it. otherwise leave it in there for momma rat to eat (good for them)

Thanks guys! I'll keep all that in mind!