Is my rat about to pop?

[Peter Williams]

I know shes pregnant, but I'm just wondering if shes very close to giving birth, like, tonight. This is the first time I've been through this. Shes cleared out a corner, laying on her back, legs wide open and breathing really hard and fast (not noisily, just like shes really antsy). Do I have a good chance of finding a bunch of cute little pink things in there tomorrow morning? I was gonna take a pic but I didn't want to disturb her anymore than I already have.

[Bright202]

Dude it sounds like shes about to BLOW!

[frankykeno]

Yep but it might be tomorrow. Really preggo females like to do the flat on the back, I'm a dead rat posture especially when it's hot. That big bulging belly of baby rats can't be very comfie for them...poor things. Just make sure she's got food, water and some privacy. She'll do the rest and pretty much clean up afterwards. You'll know you've got pinks by the happy little squeeking of a new bunch of teat leeches!

[Peter Williams]

YES! I WAS RIGHT!!! she had her litter last night, YAAAAAY! A happy healthy litter of 12.

[rabernet]

Congratulations!

[juddb]

What sucks is after all that, now you will be feeding them off. I had a litter from a single female of 20 and it was such a big accomlishment, then i had to feed them off after about 4 weeks of having them. Good luck the next coolest thing is see what color patterns you have with them. Pretty exciting.

[Peter Williams]

ya I'll be growing them to a fairly good size so they'll be around for a while. I read somewhere that a rat has 12 teats, is this correct? If so then thats just great, no one gets left out

[juddb]

ya I'll be growing them to a fairly good size so they'll be around for a while. I read somewhere that a rat has 12 teats, is this correct? If so then thats just great, no one gets left out

yes its true, but you will see that the mother is able to make sure everyone gets thier share.