Rat question for people in the know !!!!!HELP!!!!!

[Freakie_frog]

I have a good breeding group going having a litter every two weeks or so . I check on my rats twice a day and separate out the pregos as soon as I see that their getting to be a little waddley. I noticed a female getting plump so I figured to night I would take her in the house for birthing time like I do all my others. Get home and there are 10 big pinks in the tub but the one I was expecting to pop is still prego and I hadn't noticed any other ready to pop. I looked at all my other rats MMMM "Area" to see if any looked like they have given birth and only one did a big female that gave me my first litter. All the pinks were scattered all over the tub and no one rat was paying attention to them. They all had nice big milk bands which means they were fed. I took the prego and the suspected mom inside but haven't noticed her caring for them or nursing last night or this morning but the hair around her nipples is wet looking this morning.

Heres my question if the one that I think isn't the mom can I put them and her back with the others and see if the mom will continue to nurse them with out the others bother them? And will the mom except them after being gone for 24 hours???

Somebody Please Help...Frankykeno....Monica aka mrs.muddoc sombody..

[lord jackel]

Yes they will...it works both ways. Just like pulling rats from a non-feeding mother and giving them to another mom. You can go the other way and put the babies back with the original mom without issue (for up to several days).


I have 40+ breeders and don't have the space to remove prego females so they all help each other out. Those that aren't pregnant act as cleaners and movers and those that have milk rotate to feed all the young. Mine tubs have 3 females each and at times I have counted 30+ pinkies in one big pile with the moms rotating who is sitting on them.

[Freakie_frog]

Yes they will...it works both ways. Just like pulling rats from a non-feeding mother and giving them to another mom. You can go the other way and put the babies back with the original mom without issue (for up to several days).


I have 40+ breeders and don't have the space to remove prego females so they all help each other out. Those that aren't pregnant act as cleaners and movers and those that have milk rotate to feed all the young. Mine tubs have 3 females each and at times I have counted 30+ pinkies in one big pile with the moms rotating who is sitting on them.

Ok well see that was the thing no one was paying them any attention and they were just scattered all over the place.

But after reading this and a good talk with someone else I think if they haven't fed by this evening I'll put them back in the main population.

thanks much.

[lord jackel]

Ok well see that was the thing no one was paying them any attention and they were just scattered all over the place.

True...but you comment they all had milk bands means they were being taken care of...just not when you looked at them. Some of my girls are constantly moving them around or seperating them all out (a bunch of small piles vs. one big). I also have 3 females that bury all the pinkies till it is time to feed then unbury them, feed them and bury them back again. (I chaulk this up to being too lazy to sleep on top of them to keep them warm ).

Seems rats just have a "way" to do it...so you seem to be in good shape.

[Freakie_frog]

True...but you comment they all had milk bands means they were being taken care of...just not when you looked at them. Some of my girls are constantly moving them around or seperating them all out (a bunch of small piles vs. one big). I also have 3 females that bury all the pinkies till it is time to feed then unbury them, feed them and bury them back again. (I chaulk this up to being too lazy to sleep on top of them to keep them warm ).

Seems rats just have a "way" to do it...so you seem to be in good shape.

We its just the human part of me that hates to see babies scattered everywhere.. LOL

See we'll see this evening how it goes.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[frankykeno]

I've had the occasional litter surprise me in the breeding bins and I just basically leave them be for a few days in there. The other adults care for them and after a few days it's pretty easy to see whose doing the bulk of the nursing and is therefore likely their mother. Then I just haul them out into a maternity tank.

[Freakie_frog]

I've had the occasional litter surprise me in the breeding bins and I just basically leave them be for a few days in there. The other adults care for them and after a few days it's pretty easy to see whose doing the bulk of the nursing and is therefore likely their mother. Then I just haul them out into a maternity tank.

Yea Monica said that it would be ok to put them back in with every one if my other girl turns out to not be the mom..

Thanks.

I tried getting up with you two last night but my pirated wireless signal died on me so Robin got a Pm and that was the end of it.

Thanks again guys..

[frankykeno]

I wasn't online myself last night. Overtired and fell asleep early. You have a PM.