When did you start a Feeder Colony?

[Bundu Boy]

Hey All

My BP collection is starting to increase and I'm starting to look at the costs of keeping the little munchers fed.

Out of curiosity, at what stage did the collectors/breeders out there start their own feeder colony?

When did you say, "Hell, I'm spending too much on food!, Time to breed my own!"?

At the moment a mouse costs me 80c(R6.50) and a rat $1.20 (R9.50)

Also do you breed rats or mice. I've read that rats are a better option because they can cater for all sizes of Balls from hatchling to adulthood (without having to feed multiples i.e. mice at one sitting). Also some user here on BP.net say that mice stink more than rats.

Second to that if you don't feed live prey from your colony, how do you go about humanely killing them for f/t purposes?

Finally, what is the general breeding rate of rats and mice?

Thanks