Feeding Rats Dog Food?

[filly77]

Well I've been feeding doggy bag for a while due to the fact that no matter what store I call, no one can order me any lab blocks, well one can but the cost is extremely high..

Lately what I've noticed is my litters are MUCH smaller. I'm getting on average 6 babies each litter and this isn't good! I have mouths to feed lol I'm not sure what's causing it. Which is why Im posting this in this thread, is it the doggy bag food or another factor?

Do rats slow down w/ breeding during certain times of the year?

Are smaller litters due to genetics? (mom has smaller litter=her daughters have smaller litters?) I think I read this somewhere but Im not 100% certain? My breeding females aren't that old, I have younger females who also give me smaller litters, so I dont think my issue is age related. but I do plan on retiring some of them soon and replacing them with new females.


I added a new girl recently. she's such a lil CUTIE & friendly and a dumbo. I wanted to buy the mom, she had a HUGE litter in the tank but the pet store said no way, she's their breeder. The lil girl is still too young for breeding but Im hoping new blood will help. It's hard to find fresh blood around here as 2 out of the 3 pet stores within decent driving distance breed their own rats (same blood as what I have) and the 3rd orders them, so who knows if their distributor is the same as the other pet stores who are now breeding their own? But I got the new lil female from one of the ones who breeds, i figure even if there is some of the same blood in the new girl, it would have to be a very small amount. I plan on checking out other pet stores further away from my area in hopes of getting more breeding stock with better baby giving skills lol.


Also.. about the Doggy Bag food, It's VERY crumbly. I go through about 40 lbs a month give/take. Maybe thats a normal amount for the amount of rats I have? Not sure? lol but someone else mentioned it goes fast too.. I wonder if its because of how crumbly it is, maybe a lot of it gets wasted? I literally have to shake out every scoop before I put it in the hoppers, to knock off all the crumbs, I dont want them getting in to my rats eyes! Is it possible that 40 lbs of lab block lasts longer than 40 lbs of the dog food?

I just called some of the stores again today and asked yet again if they can order me some rat food, I figure its worth trying again.. One store said he'd give my info to the owner and she would have to call me back, another (Tractor Supply) said I need to call back and speak with the woman who places the orders. TS usually tells me they dont do special orders, soooo Im hoping one of these 2 pan out!

All in all, I wouldnt recommend doggy bag, its ok if you cant find anything else but I personally dont like it and wish I could find something better for my rats.

PS
whats this swine food about? is it any good and is it better than the doggy bag? Im sure I could find some of that somewhere around here.

*edit*
I've even been cruising CL in search of more females but I havent found any close enough