New group(1.5) few Q's

[BuckeyeBalls]

She just dropped 19...



This one dropped 13... (unhealthy and small babies, but still)




I don't have any pictures uploaded of the hooded girl before that litter. Her first litter was 6, then 8, and then the 19. Even with the smaller litters they get plump. Most female rats will start sleeping on their bellies like that when they're close to dropping, or if they do it all the time, you'll be able to see the progress.



I am unsure what to say about the prego moms together. Try it out; you can always separate them. The hooded girl of mine is a wonderful mother. The other one who had 13 wasn't a mother at all (didn't nurse them at all) and had bad genetics. Some times really good mothers will take all the babies for themselves, and sometimes the other won't mind, or try to take them back. Keep an eye on them, but if they've been together for some time, I don't think that'll happen.

That helps more than u know. guess its pretty easy to spot a prego mom! LOL

Yea they have been together for awhile he said. since babies. ill try doing 2 moms if their both going at same time.


Now let me ask you this. Say she has her babies. And i only let her nurse em for a few days before they become snake food. How long of a break should i give her before breeding her again since she didnt nurse the full 21 days or whatever

[suzuki4life]

they go into heat every 3-5 days if they are healthy
Gestation is 28 days.
birthing tubs are best kept individually.
First introduction is not a science. BUT, if a female does not produce in 6 weeks, she goes in the freezer.

"Retired breeders" can actually stop breeding entirely regardless of genders. My rats normally do not live past 16 months total.

With my new system, My females rest during their nursing time frame(3 weeks) and then back into the breeding group.

[tomfromtheshade]

they go into heat every 3-5 days if they are healthy
Gestation is 28 days.
birthing tubs are best kept individually.
First introduction is not a science. BUT, if a female does not produce in 6 weeks, she goes in the freezer.

"Retired breeders" can actually stop breeding entirely regardless of genders. My rats normally do not live past 16 months total.

With my new system, My females rest during their nursing time frame(3 weeks) and then back into the breeding group.

Gestation is usually about 22 days. Not that it makes much of a difference.

What are you using for birthing tubs now?

[suzuki4life]

Gestation is usually about 22 days. Not that it makes much of a difference.

What are you using for birthing tubs now?

you making a super strain now?

Someone sold a bunch of petmate tubs to me super cheap.

[tomfromtheshade]

That helps more than u know. guess its pretty easy to spot a prego mom! LOL

Yea they have been together for awhile he said. since babies. ill try doing 2 moms if their both going at same time.


Now let me ask you this. Say she has her babies. And i only let her nurse em for a few days before they become snake food. How long of a break should i give her before breeding her again since she didnt nurse the full 21 days or whatever

If you pull all of the babies off of her just put her back into the breeding tub. Rats don't need a lot of recovery time. In fact, they really don't need any recovery time. You will burn the female out faster by breeding them constantly, but mine don't breed for more than a year before I pull them anyway so it doesn't really matter to me.

[suzuki4life]

If you pull all of the babies off of her just put her back into the breeding tub. Rats don't need a lot of recovery time. In fact, they really don't need any recovery time. You will burn the female out faster by breeding them constantly, but mine don't breed for more than a year before I pull them anyway so it doesn't really matter to me.

sounds like my OLD method. Great way to produce smalls. I have changed my approach in order to supply a variety.