Is she too old to breed?

[Awaiting Abyss]

I'm going to start breeding rats on a small scale, since my cat needs to eat more than just mice.

I was curious if Raimei, my unspayed female rat, is too old to breed for the first time. She was born at the end of August or early September 2012.

I wouldn't mind breeding her if its not risky because she has a great personality and she had never been sick... not even a slight sniffle out of her.

[Rhasputin]

Many say there is a risk in breeding an older rat for the first time. In the wild, rats would typically breed much earlier, and die much earlier. I cannot say one way or the other whether it would be safe to breed your rat, seeing as she is over 1 year old. Her health sounds good, so I'm sure she is strong enough to handle it, but again, it is the belief of many people that breeding an older rat for the first time, means they are not as resilient and able to cope with the bodily stress like a younger rat would be.

So take these things into consideration when you make a decision.

[sorraia]

It's possible she could be bred, but there is also the possibility of a risk. I know there are some pet/show breeders who will actually wait until close to a year, sometimes longer, to breed females even for the first time. However those breeders also know their bloodlines can handle it. Without knowing... you can try it, but be prepared for the worst. If you are too attached to her to lose her, you are probably better off waiting for another female.

[Awaiting Abyss]

Yeah, I'd be upset to lose her and I know her brother would too. I guess I'll just let her live out the rest of her life with her brother and get more rats for breeding.

[satomi325]

I wouldn't breed her, personally. Not worth the risk.

Older females can have difficult births if they are first time mums. Their pelvis fuses around a year old give or take, so unless they have had litters before, it can make labor hard. Younger rats or rats that have been bred previously do not have that same issue.

[gsarchie]

Is her brother neutered?

[Awaiting Abyss]

Is her brother neutered?

He is. I got them both at 5 weeks old. Their breeder told me they were both female, but when I picked them up I knew right away he was male but I wanted him anyway. So I got him neutered at 13 weeks. I kept them both together the whole time, because I didn't care if they had a litter or not but Raimei never got pregnant.

[gsarchie]

That makes sense. I assumed that was the case when you said that they lived together but she hadn't been pregnant.

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