Our first rat births!

[Oni5000]

We just had our first preggo rat give birth last night! There are 11 pinkies squirming around in the corner of the bin now. I never thought they'd be quite that ugly

The other 2 preggo rats look they are ready to burst as well. So I'll soon be overloaded with babies.

Anyway, is it normal for them to bury the babies under a pile of bedding?

[RepTylE]

I have seen my female do the same thing with her babies, she is just hiding them and keeping them warm I think. I didn't notice that behaviour much with the earlier brood but that was in late summer when the room was really warm.

[mykee]

Most of my breeders bury their babies year-round. Ugly? I think they're cute.

[marisa]

I think they are cute too! Mine also totally bury their babies very often.

The first few times I was like omg how are these babies going to live? A few MUST get killed that way! But nope. Nature knew best.


Marisa

[Oni5000]

They are sort of cute in an ugly pink squirming peanut kinda way :P

Now, the 2nd has given birth so there are 23 babies, but the biggest mother has put them all in her own pile and is feeding them all. From what i've read thats normal so I guess i'll leave them be for now.

[marisa]

Yeah that's normal. I have three female rats. One is the dominant rat, and she does most of the mother work by her own choice. It's a normal thing. The other mothers still help and do stuff, its just one rat is always dominant.

Marisa