1.4 rat typical yield

[suzuki4life]

First off, nutrition info is nice but the simple facts are, sometimes you will get bad parents that neglect or kill babies.(male and female)

I produced many thousands of rats off doggie bag and also many off brands like Mazuri, Harlen, and Zieglers. i never saw much difference in quality or quantity gains. I did see a huge difference in the amount of food consumed and the monthly costs to me.

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

We currently run a little over 50 tubs of rats and when we feed doggy bag they eat the dog food like Mac and we end up buying twice as much and we still see an increase in cannibalism. I've heard people having good luck with it but not for me.

[wolfy-hound]

I've noticed with my rats, when they are on the Native Earth, even if a rat does die in the bins, they will often leave it untouched. When they are being fed the FRM(or before, dog food), they will cannibalize dead rats and eat babies more too.

[ClarkT]

I just gotta say thanks to all who have responded on this. Such great, specific information! Can't wait to get these rats breeding! Patience still isn't my strongest suit, even though I breed BPs, too! (talk about patience testers!)

I have the Native Earth ordered! Can't believe it's such a great price, with free shipping! I'm still assuming it will not fall through the 1/2" hardware cloth. Any answer on that?

Again, a great big THANKS!!!!!

[RichsBallPythons]

I feed Kent Rodent Diet, and I dont get cannibals, nor do mine eat the ones that die either.

[truthsdeceit]

I'm hoping you're planning these 1.4 bins as pinky factories? Cause I gotta say, I've never seen a bin big enough to house 5 adult rats and 4 litters all at once.
Unless you remove the babies within I'd say a week on the outside you'll get cannibals just from the overcrowding.
And you will have 4 litters all at once... like women living in the same house the girls will synchronize on you eventually.

But anyway, 1.4 you'd def be looking at 32 to 50 babies a month depending on how big a litters your mamas have and how good a stud you've got.

If you've got good nurturing stock they'll raise the babies as a group, the mommies will take turns sitting on the nest, even you're male will keep the babies warm if for some reason all 4 females are busy.
But!!! The cage must be clean, it must NOT be overcrowded, and they must have adequate food and water. Any major failing in quality of life will cause good rats to become cannibals.

Also on the food note: I feed 1/4 mazuri and the other 3/4 is made up of hog feed and cheap cheap dog food.

[Amon Ra Reptiles]

We run 1.3. 1.4 will tend to get crowded from time. If you're going to be feeding some pinkies and fuzzies you should be ok though.

Also, as long as everyone is chiming in with the feed preferences, we feed Kent for 13.00 per 50lb and we also offer roughly 1-1 1/2 cups of hog feed mixed with sweet mix per day.

[ClarkT]

I'm not finding any source for Kent food in Utah...
Maybe I'll do 1.3 groups. That's good info. Thanks

[RichsBallPythons]

Its not out that far yet. Theres mostly on my side of the country.

Not sure but they might deliver pallet at a time if you contact the plants

[wolfy-hound]

The Native Earth is large lab block. It won't fall through 1/2 wire.

I've been looking at the hog feed but the stores near me only offer medicated hog food, not unmedicated. The medicated is only a few dollars cheaper than the Native Earth too.

I run 1.3 and I don't have cannibalism of the babies. I wean babies when they are running about and eating(they look like large mice, and act independently). I only have a few pythons small enough to be eating unweaned sizes, so mostly they end up in grow out bins.