Vacations?

[Aeries]

Hey there! I’m hoping not to start any flames with this topic, I’m simply looking to hear some facts!

My main priority is my snakes, but I want to provide my rats with a humane existence at the same time. Not to mention, the health of the rat is directly linked to the health of the food and therefore my snakes.

What are the benefits of giving female rats a ‘vacation’? What are the disadvantages of not doing so? Please be objective!

[STORMS]

Do you mean vaccinations? Or are they taking a well deserved holiday?

[JLC]

Or maybe a "vacation" from producing litters?

I believe many rat breeders rotate their females in such a way that they get a break between litters...or at least a break every couple of litters. I'm not a rat breeder myself, but I believe it keeps them "young" a little longer and allows them to continue to have large, healthy litters longer than they would if they constantly had litters back to back.

[STORMS]

Or maybe a "vacation" from producing litters?

I believe many rat breeders rotate their females in such a way that they get a break between litters...or at least a break every couple of litters. I'm not a rat breeder myself, but I believe it keeps them "young" a little longer and allows them to continue to have large, healthy litters longer than they would if they constantly had litters back to back.

Thanks Judy...never would have thought of it that way thanks for clarifying

[Aeries]

Sorry for not clarifying further, but yes, I did mean a break from producing litters.

[WingedWolfPsion]

Advantage--you increase the health of your female rats, and extend their productive lifespan.

Disadvantage--obviously, you produce litters half as quickly.

It really depends if your strategy is to breed your productive females for a maximum amount of time, or to breed them for maybe 3 or 4 months and then replace them with younger animals. If the former, then isolating them from the male to raise their litter is preferable....if the latter, then it doesn't matter, by the time they start having smaller and smaller litters, and showing signs of bodily stress, you'll be feeding them off and replacing them anyhow.

[marmie]

I try to give mine a break because if I don't I find the litters small and the health of the mama declines dramatically and sometimes she is so worn down that she will die trying to deliver. I keep a resting tub and that's where the mama's go after all their babies have been fed off and I give them at least 2 weeks rest.

Hope this helps and good luck!

[Debbienflorida]

I don't need that many babies and have 5 breeding females so I wait at least 6 weeks for most females. Probably more than necessary but it's a matter of need.

[littleindiangirl]

I give all of my females 4 weeks break in between litters unless she is a really robust strong girl and can go back in sooner. They lose just so much weight nursing a litter, and many can get under the weather.

[Aeries]

So the break would start at the time the babies are taken away? (vs. when they are born.)