Quote Originally Posted by chromeitout View Post
Thanks for the replies from the two of you. You both seem to recommend very different methods, and RDR's is also totally different from either of those (I know that there are many ways to skin a cat, or breed a rat)

Suzuki, I believe that you are stating that you keep 1.4 per concrete tub and never move male or females, even for birthing/nursing, correct? This is basically what I've been doing for a year and for some reason I do not get a good production rate... eaten babies, females that just never get pregnant, etc.
what is their diet?

No, only movement is removing young or for cleaning purposes

I currently have approx 20 racks and produce 800-1100 a week. My record is 1700 in a week.

My tubs are 1.4 with a few exceptions that ended with 1.5 in them and produce...
No clue how...just did and not changing it until they are retired.

I use 5 grow out racks and females are replaced with any pregnant looking females from the grow out rack once they start showing.

Basically, I combine the expected mothers with a male...when I get 8, I replace the females from 2 tubs to a quarantine cage (which is basically the empty spots on the grow out rack.)

These are retired breeders...they end up as food if the pet shops won't take them...but jumbo rats are pretty sought after here.

I only record output per week per tub. Less than 40/month and they all get replaced

I use auto water and their feed is plentiful

Normally I only check food/water every other day....and clean once a week.

Cleaning I use kiln pine and dust the bottom of the pans with baking soda. Baking soda keeps down odor and helps the litter not stick to the pan.

I use mazuri 6f