ive been breeding rats now for about a year and a half or so. i have only been bitten once. my rats are all handle able so im not sure why the concern unless you have some crazy ass rats. if that is the case then i would start handling them from the time they are babies and use them to replace the crazy breeders.
i just grab ahold of them mid body and toss them in. if they are a jumper or just super fast rat then i hold them by the tail. when i was doing mice i used tongs and just grabbed them by the scruff of the neck and tossed them in the cage.
i like that my rats are easy to handle. they are better than cats in every way, i would rather keep rats than a cat any day.
1 more blurb of info.......i would rather be bit by a snake any day then be bit by a rat again...ouch

adam jeffery