Starting small breeding colony???

[Michelle.C]

Difference between argument and a discussion is when people lose respect. I asked questions and made sincere statements in reply. I have many breeders and I am still a very small scaled guy compared to others in the country.

If you agree with "Michelle", then congrats. You affirm and convey her beliefs. I do not. I have replied and asked questions. No argument here....

I believe anyone who is producing rats who can and will on a consistent basis, produce 20+ offspring should document and prove their procedure. It is not a normal occurrence. However I would like to see a true case study done with documentation. Might sound overboard but the efforts could be fianancially rewarding if done properly. Just think what such information or maybe a bloodline could be worth to a breeder if they could double their output per rat.

I can assure you, there was no respect lost on my side. I've watched you post on several threads and you give top quality information. I just disagreed. And as I said in my other post, we all have our own methods and not everyone is going to agree with how I'm doing things, but it works for me and it was simply advice. Furthermore, I think it's why I like this site so much, people aren't afraid to give their opinions and it gives advice seekers several options to choose from.

As far as my litter sizes, as stated, I'm not even a breeder who gives 3-4 months off. I give 6-7 months off, as my rats are pets and I only breed to preserve genetics and improve pet quality.

Concerning my litter sizes, just a few months ago, I had a female throw 30 kittens (pups) and another 16. I will start documenting my litter sizes and maybe make a post on it. I planned on making a post on here about growth (taking picture of the pups every day) and weight. So, that will fall in line. the female I'm fixing to breed has over 20 pups every time so I know it will be a nice experiment.

[suzuki4life]

I can assure you, there was no respect lost on my side. I've watched you post on several threads and you give top quality information. I just disagreed. And as I said in my other post, we all have our own methods and not everyone is going to agree with how I'm doing things, but it works for me and it was simply advice. Furthermore, I think it's why I like this site so much, people aren't afraid to give their opinions and it gives advice seekers several options to choose from.

As far as my litter sizes, as stated, I'm not even a breeder who gives 3-4 months off. I give 6-7 months off, as my rats are pets and I only breed to preserve genetics and improve pet quality.

Concerning my litter sizes, just a few months ago, I had a female throw 30 kittens (pups) and another 16. I will start documenting my litter sizes and maybe make a post on it. I planned on making a post on here about growth (taking picture of the pups every day) and weight. So, that will fall in line. the female I'm fixing to breed has over 20 pups every time so I know it will be a nice experiment.

you figure the secret out to throwing 20-30 per litter and keeping them alive and I will be one of your top supporters. That would be doubling to tripling my current output per rat.
However, my rats do not get those types of breaks and a down time of 6-7 months would not pay off. /in seven months, my mothers would have already produced 60+ offspring....some would be in the 80 range.

difference strokes....

[het.pied]

i am just contribution to what the OP was questioning. i think i remember suzuki saying that one week you produced 1200+ more rats then you needed, now that is a big breeder in my opinion. the OP is someone who is only trying to breed a few rats.

[suzuki4life]

i am just contribution to what the OP was questioning. i think i remember suzuki saying that one week you produced 1200+ more rats then you needed, now that is a big breeder in my opinion. the OP is someone who is only trying to breed a few rats.

well you are entitled to your opinion....




even when its wrong

In reality, if you set your racks up properly, it doesn't take that much to produce big numbers.

In a 1.4 "harem" setup.....you should produce 10 offspring per week average per tub....

The average rack is normally 6 tubs high. So a rack should produce 60 offspring per week. That's only 20 racks to produce 1200.

[Bobtard]

That's only 20 racks to produce 1200.

Only 20 *extra* racks.

[suzuki4life]

Only 20 *extra* racks.

Yep.

[suzuki4life]

Yep.



but in the peak of the year, I can't keep up with demand. So apparently I need more.

[het.pied]

well you are entitled to your opinion....




even when its wrong

In reality, if you set your racks up properly, it doesn't take that much to produce big numbers.

In a 1.4 "harem" setup.....you should produce 10 offspring per week average per tub....

The average rack is normally 6 tubs high. So a rack should produce 60 offspring per week. That's only 20 racks to produce 1200.

i dont see how it is wrong when i have never had a female produce less then 12 offspring, and that is the bare minimum, unless she is getting to the point of being retired....

[suzuki4life]

i dont see how it is wrong when i have never had a female produce less then 12 offspring, and that is the bare minimum, unless she is getting to the point of being retired....

and how many litters how you actually experienced with your entire colony of 21 rats?


That is the problem with much of the advice I see on these boards. Someone who has 20 rats, has 40 litters over half a year and now they are giving advice. This is like a new car owner giving mechanical advice because they slept in a Holiday Inn. Yes you had good luck, now continue having it for another 10 years and report back.

[Michelle.C]

well you are entitled to your opinion....




even when its wrong

Uhm, what? Because someone disagrees with your "perfect" methods, they are automatically wrong? What happened to the respect? Because honestly, imo, that is a HUGE lack of respect.

and how many litters how you actually experienced with your entire colony of 21 rats?


That is the problem with much of the advice I see on these boards. Someone who has 20 rats, has 40 litters over half a year and now they are giving advice. This is like a new car owner giving mechanical advice because they slept in a Holiday Inn. Yes you had good luck, now continue having it for another 10 years and report back.

I have no idea about their experience, but quite honestly, yours either.

Personally, I have been breeding rats for ten plus years. I managed a facility that was producing nearly 20k rats alone, every week. Given, they did harem breedings, but most females only had 4-9 young every litter. I've seen, assisted and done both "styles" of breeding myself (and many more methods). I think it's whatever works for you, works for you.

I also never went as low as to call you wrong, nor did the other poster. I simply stated that I didn't agree with your methods and wouldn't recommend them PERSONALLY. For some breeders, I'd imagine it does work. I'd also imagine that certain breeders could care less about the feeder animals and don't really care if they are doing things that might harm the animal. And that's fine too. I can see the perspective that to most feeder breeders, they are pest and only considered food items. But I do not see them this way.

I mean, you also play it off like you aren't a large breeder in one post and then in this one, you are acting like you are a large professional breeder. But, I'm going to do the right thing and stop hijacking this thread. The OP has both sides, he will decide himself.