When do you recommend Weaning babies?

[Johnny84]

Hey guys/gals...
Just wondering when you all wean your rat babies? And when I should separate them so they dont start breeding!

Thanks!

[mues155]

they usually wean at 20-23 days. After you witness them eating and drinking on their own then you can take away the mother at any time. They dont sexually mature until their over 40-60 days old.

[evan385]

The mother will do it on there own, you don't need to do anything. This will usually happen at four weeks. I've heard they are sexually mature at six weeks. Gah late for class again xD

[Johnny84]

Thanks! So when should I place food inside the bin instead of ontop of the harware cloth, so that the babies can reach it?

[snakesRkewl]

I place food in at 3 weeks old and pull weanlings at about 25-28 days old.
By then they are mauling their mom for milk, and they are ready to be on their own.

If your feeding the rats you don't need to separate them at all.
I put all of my breeding rats together at weanling size and raise them up in groups, the males tend to learn their manners better when raised with females.
I've never had a female get pregnant before she was ready to be pregnant, typically around 14-15 weeks old and then they are dropping babies at around 17-18 weeks old.

[Johnny84]

I place food in at 3 weeks old and pull weanlings at about 25-28 days old.
By then they are mauling their mom for milk, and they are ready to be on their own.

If your feeding the rats you don't need to separate them at all.
I put all of my breeding rats together at weanling size and raise them up in groups, the males tend to learn their manners better when raised with females.
I've never had a female get pregnant before she was ready to be pregnant, typically around 14-15 weeks old and then they are dropping babies at around 17-18 weeks old.

Great info..thanks!