DIY Feeder Racks (Mice & Rats)

[martinarquero]

Excellent plans, ill be making one soon, thanks.

[mikebab]

I made one of the rat racks yesterday and it came out really nice. The only problem I'm having is the tubs are very tight. So tight that I have to fight to get them in and out of the rack. Anyone else have this problem and can give me tips on fixing this? I think its the width that is a little too small. I was thinking of adding some washers between where the legs and the screen tops connect.

[ice#1]

ok i got a couple question.
first can you use water bottles with these rack systems (dont want to chance all getting sick if something goes wrong or water gets tainted)
secondly i saw you said you rotate 2 males between 3 cages for mice and only put 2 females in but for rats you put 4 females was that a typo and meant 4 female mice and 2 female rats instead

[Stewart_Reptiles]

ok i got a couple question.
first can you use water bottles with these rack systems (dont want to chance all getting sick if something goes wrong or water gets tainted)
secondly i saw you said you rotate 2 males between 3 cages for mice and only put 2 females in but for rats you put 4 females was that a typo and meant 4 female mice and 2 female rats instead

Water bottles can be used with both racks however they are a pain so I do not use them I breed too many rodents to change water bottles each day.

If you are worried about them being sick because of a watering than you are worrying too much.

If your colony is healthy there won’t be any problem and if animals in your colony are not or if you do not quarantine any new arrival than bottles or watering system will be all the same because if your animals are sick and so close in proximity than chances are other will be sick as well.

I have been doing this for a while produce a few thousand of feeders each year and never lost an animal to sickness the key is to have a healthy stock to start with, and quarantine new blood if you are compelled to add new blood.

And for housing sorry I don’t see the typo you are talking about I said and repeat

For the mice rack I have 2 females house in each tubs and 2 males rotating between 3 tubs each.

For the rats I have 1.4 in each tub and once pregnant the females go in a birthing rack.

[mikebab]

What size or type of tubs do you use for the birthing racks?

[Stewart_Reptiles]

What size or type of tubs do you use for the birthing racks?

I use Iris 12.2 Quarts tubs http://www.organize.com/storboxclear1.html

[tomfromtheshade]

What size or type of tubs do you use for the birthing racks?

Medium Petmate little pans are great. 16" x 12" x 4" is just about right.

[abi21491]

In the mouse DIY you recommend using 1/3" hardware cloth - where can you find this?? I've looked everywhere online and it looks like the only places that do carry it sell it in 100ft lengths only - obviously that's way too much and too expensive

If places no longer sell 10ft rolls of 1/3", is 1/2" okay for mice, or can babies escape? What about 1/4"? It seems to be too small to eat through... But I could be wrong.

[Stewart_Reptiles]

In the mouse DIY you recommend using 1/3" hardware cloth - where can you find this?? I've looked everywhere online and it looks like the only places that do carry it sell it in 100ft lengths only - obviously that's way too much and too expensive

If places no longer sell 10ft rolls of 1/3", is 1/2" okay for mice, or can babies escape? What about 1/4"? It seems to be too small to eat through... But I could be wrong.

1.3 is VERY hard to find and I haven't seen it in stores for a long time simply use 1/4 do not use 1/2 as babies will escape.

[abi21491]

1.3 is VERY hard to find and I haven't seen it in stores for a long time simply use 1/4 do not use 1/2 as babies will escape.

K, I have some 1/4 already, I just wasn't sure if they could eat through it or not. I'd hate if they starved or something Thanks for these wonderful DIYs! I am planning to build one of each.