Moms drying up??

[AHOOD]

I have a few litters on the ground right now. The oldest litter, around two weeks old, all of a sudden started dying off. I noticed the ones two days younger were significantly larger and more mobile. I cleaned bedding and checked temps. All seemed fine. Next day, I go from 10 babes to only THREE alive. Their skin looks folded over and wrinkly, like in dehydration with other mammals, so I put them on another lactating mom (has a litter 2 days younger) So far they seem to be doing fine. Have you guys ever had a mom just stop producing milk two weeks into her litter? I will giver her one more chance,then I might have her producing my frozen pinks and that will be as far as motherhood goes for her.

[barbie.dragon]

How many weeks of a break are you giving the rat? A lot of rat breeders give 2-3 weeks at least in between litters for both mental and physical health for the mom rat. She might need a better diet since lactation in mammals take a lot of calories.

[satomi325]

If a mother is with her litter, she shouldn't dry up until after they're weaned.
It could be anything. (Stress, nutrition, environmental factors, old age, first time mom, etc etc)

What kind of female is your mama? True hairless rats are known to have milk production issues.

What kind of food are you feeding?

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[AHOOD]

She's a hooded with her second litter. She was paired a month after her last litter was weaned. She is on Mizuri 6f.

***UPDATE**** another baby died. Their "new" mom is taking care of the other two and they are looking good so far.