Chewed Up Mommy Rat???

[Batdad]

Hello All

I am trying to get my rats back up and breeding as we settle in to our new home (moved 600+ Miles). I had a strange one tonight and don’t quite understand it and I need some advice.

Short history: I had four colonies, two of 1:3 and two of 1:2 in concrete mixing bins 16”x22”. I found that the 1:3 colonies seemed a little crowded, especially with babies, and got dirty a lot faster, so I went and got another male and now have 5 colonies of 1:2. One of the colonies that I took one of the females from has about fifteen pups from multiple litters and I was fairly sure that the female removed was not one of the birth mothers (at least of the younger pups).

Strange event: When I checked in on the rats tonight the largest female in with the fifteen pups had half of her muzzle chewed off.

Problem/Question: She doesn’t look good (laboured breathing). She was still feeding the pups but, I don’t thinking she is going to survive. What could have caused this, any guesses? They have plenty of food (high in protein) and water, and are in a relatively quiet location. The other question is that if she doesn’t make it should I reintroduce the female I removed? Mainly because I am not sure the remaining female will be big enough to handle the pups by herself.

Thanks for any help
Bruce

[kam_herp_hut]

How old are the eldest pups in there? I have seen this before, but usually that was the result of poor breeding and they just don't have it all "upstairs".
Sorry that this is happening....doesn't sound like she will make it (unless you remove her right away, get her on antibiotics, and syringe feed her baby food and warm water). It can be done, but if she isn't worth it to you (as in, she isn't your best producer nor a great pet), then you might want to consider euthying her. I wouldn't put the other female in there right now as the one is very stressed. Maybe try putting some of the pups on her and see how she can handle it.
Let us know what happens!

~Tara

[Lisa]

Just a side note, you don't have to have the male in with the females all the time as rats come into heat every 5 days. I've started rotating my males between groups every 7 days (cleaning day basicly). this means less food, mess and a constant supply of pinks or what ever size you need.

[Batdad]

Thanks for the idea Lisa I'll keep it in mind instead of buying another male when the time comes.

She died on me, I thought maybe she would make it, but no luck:(

I have have however discovered the problem. There is a wild rat in the garage wear I keep my breeders. I am trying to caught it, but so far no luck. The sucker got his tail caught on a sticky trap and must have freaked out because it tore it right off including some strains of connective tissue that must have reached to its neck. That had to hurt. Anyway I think it was getting into the breeders food and mommy might have been trying to defend the pups and got bitten bad.

Any suggestion on caughting this wild rat? Don't want it for food, just gone.

[WingedWolf]

Spring-loaded rat trap, baited with bacon.

[Lisa]

anyone of the comercial rat traps. don't poison it, you don't want it (the poison) getting in with your breeders.