TANSTAAFL*

[Marla]

... unless you're a reptile.

Biscuit, one of our breeder rats, gave birth to a litter of kittens overnight, 4 days after we moved her into the "birthing suite." :lol: She built a great little nest in there, so we really couldn't get a good look without disturbing her, but I saw one baby and Jess saw 4 and we heard lots of squeaking. So that's at least 4 meals I don't have to buy from a vendor.





*TANSTAAFL = There Ain't No Such Thing As A Free Lunch (for those who aren't familiar with the acronym)

[sk8er4life]

well congrats on that, i think im goin to start breeding rats!

[Marla]

Thanks! It's certainly more cost-effective than buying the rats singly, either alive or frozen, that's for sure. Smulkin told me a little while ago that two of his and Smynx's rats gave birth last night, too, so I guess it was a good night for it.

[Smulkin]

Good show! A couple of ours decided they'd both drop pups within an hour of each other - upping the rodent population by 16-20 (havent had a good peek yet either). I am afraid I might have had something to do with it since I had to remove them briefly to clean cages and the upending and reloaction might have expedited labor or something. All that high-pitched mewling just warms the cockles in your heart doesnt it?

[Marla]

:checking my heart for cockles ... :
The mewling is how I knew there were babies. I heard them when I went in Jess' room to wake her up this morning. Better her room than mine for all that squeaking!

[sophie42204]

AWWW, rat babies!! Congrats all around!

[Marla]

Thanks! Looks like we got 9, once she let us get a peek at them.

[Ginevive]

Yay Marla! I remember back when you were posting about starting a breeding colony. I geuss you're there now. congRATS

[Shaun J]

How do rats have kittens?

Biscuit, one of our breeder rats, gave birth to a litter of kittens overnight

[Schlyne]

Rat babies are usually refered to as "kittens" or "pups".