Rat help

Dani33 · 06-21-04, 10:31 PM

One of my girls has had her first litter today(early this afternoon). My first experience with breeding them as well. She was doing fine until this evening. I think that she has abandonned her babies. 16 in all.

Anyhow, I usually keep the feeders in the basement. Well, we are finishing our basement and was schedueled to have a contractor here for this afternoon. I moved them to my main floor because of the noise and space. It was 65 or so down there and is 75 or less up here.

Anyhow, my husband has asked me to switch to carefresh from aspen, was going to use this cleaning. So when I moved them up, everyone started complaining about the smell (coppery, from the blood I assume) and was due to be cleaned. I caved, she was doing well this evening with them and since I cleaned, hasn't come near them in hours.

Is there anything that I can do(I've brought some of the dirty shaving from the garbage and placed them near the babies)? The two other girls are preggers and are expected to give birth soon(no moms to help). The male was trying to breed her as well. Relentlessly I may add.

Sorry for the llloooonnnng post. Should I just freeze this litter for food tomorrow if she hasn't helped and wait to see if she does this with the next litter?

Thanks

Ian · 06-21-04, 10:53 PM

I found with the heat that mother's tend to leave their babies for a couple of hours at a time. I don't think you've got anything to worry about, I'd just check them in the morning and make a decision from there.

Cheers
Ian

Dani33 · 06-21-04, 10:55 PM

Ok, thanks

Just worried because I was messing with them.

morph · 06-21-04, 10:57 PM

Totally what Ian says ( I think he's raised a rat or two in his day) they will leave them alone for a while some times although 75 is definitely not hot. Try not to go near them for a while and she should go back the more ya check the more she'll stay away.

Scott

annieb_mice · 06-22-04, 01:46 AM

If you took them from a cooler environment to a much warmer one... than she's probably just warm. Don't worry too much... she'll probably go back to them when they need to feed and stuff.

Take care
Annie B. <:3 )~~

Dani33 · 06-22-04, 05:26 AM

Yup, I checked this morning. They are all fine. I was just worried because my mice rarely left the babies except to feed and such. Thanks for your help.