Originally Posted by CloudtheBoa
I like the ASF, but they're definitely a little more touchy than the rats. I'm hardcore culling biters; most won't be biters even if I don't handle them much, but singling out breeders can be so frustrating since some won't start biting until babies are being born. None of my subsequent colonies have been as sweet as my first colony, and their production is falling after like 3-5 litters, so I might have to make what I've got work.
Culling biters is necessary at times. But a mother biting with young isn't a reason to cull. A mother eating young is. Myself an my kids handle the rats an ASF daily. Biters to me are ones that when I stick my hand in the cage/tub the little monsters runs from the other side an bites me (use a Mechanics glove). I've culled all of the biters.
New mothers will bite if stressed. I handle them an the pinks with a glove hand first. Let her calm down an you can move her while nursing an take pinks off the nipple if needed. Yes, it takes time. I like to put new moms in their own tub no more then 48 hours before birth.
I have more problems with rabbits scratching the heck out of the kids an mean pigs. Bad pigs = good bacon
If you ever get up to the Eastern Shore of Maryland I'll give you a few calm rats or some ASFs for free.
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