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05-Jul-08, 07:34 PM
|  | Regular Member | Join Date: Mar-07 Location: Sunshine Coast Gender:  | | | Weaning and care for Rat Pups
I have read that they can be weaned off and seperated around three weeks and that its fine to handle the pups for cleaning once a week.
? What food is best suitable to provide while they are start to eat solids, any food good for mum while feeding.
? When can I worm Mum (ok when providing milk) and the pups (we are going to raise them to 4 - 8 weeks)
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05-Jul-08, 08:02 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Apr-08 Location: Cairns, Queensland Age/Gender: 32 | | | |
Are you breeding for food or breeding for selling?
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05-Jul-08, 08:18 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Nov-07 Location: Central Coast Age/Gender: 33  | | | |
Tinned cat food is great for breast feeding mums; lots of calcium. I've never weaned rats that early, so I can't confirm if three weeks is ok. I always wait for them to be eating solids, which is around 4 weeks. We are always picking up and touching baby rats, the parents dont seem to mind at all.
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05-Jul-08, 08:25 PM
| | Regular Member | Join Date: Mar-07 Location: Sunshine Coast Gender: | | | |
Breeding for food. So if they are for food should I worm them and does worming cause any concerns as snake food.
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05-Jul-08, 08:28 PM
|  | Be The Rat! Subscriber | Join Date: Jul-07 Location: SEQLD Age/Gender: 22 | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by austcold  Breeding for food. So if they are for food should I worm them and does worming cause any concerns as snake food. |
depends what you worm them with
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09-Jul-08, 10:20 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Mar-07 Location: Dandenongs, Vic Age/Gender: 28 | | | |
They can be weaned from three weeks. You just need to make sure they can reach the food and water. They will start nibbling at solids once their eyes open. I would avoid handling in the first 5 days after birth but after that its fine (if mum agrees).
I would worm mum before she becomes pregnant or once pups are three weeks old. I wouldn't worm the pups until 6 weeks and not if they are being culled for reptile food.
Kim
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09-Jul-08, 10:24 PM
|  | Pure Pwnage. Subscriber | Join Date: May-07 Location: Central QLD Age/Gender: 18 | | | |
You can also mix up some wheetbix and lactose free milk for the babies when they are showing interest in other foods - they love it and mum does too.
Weaning at 3 weeks is possible but its often best to leave them until 4 - 4.5 weeks, this bit of extra time with mum really boosts their growth, and you can be sure they are eating on their own then.
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09-Jul-08, 10:28 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Nov-06 Location: SE QLD | | | |
I take the weaners off mum between 18-20 days. By then mum is ready to drop again
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09-Jul-08, 11:01 PM
| | Pure Pwnage. Subscriber | Join Date: May-07 Location: Central QLD Age/Gender: 18 | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by jay76 I take the weaners off mum between 18-20 days. By then mum is ready to drop again |  Jeez, mine are only hitting about 25 grams at that age and still drinking heavily from mum. What do you feed yours? 
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10-Jul-08, 11:11 AM
| | Sponsor | Join Date: Oct-04 Location: brisbane | | | |
I wean my young at about 25 to 26 days. I find if i wean at 21 days they only weigh 30 grams average but those extra days allow them to grow to between 40 - 50 grams. I do not worm my feeders but do worm my the stock i am running on for breeding twice 10 days apart at about 7 and 9 weeks..
Saying that i have never had a worm problem because i find if they are kept in clean conditions and omly fed a purpose manufactured fod they will not have worms . I only worm my breeders to ensure that the are perfectly healthy for breeding .
Barry
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10-Jul-08, 12:15 PM
|  | Subscriber | Join Date: Sep-07 Location: QLD Age/Gender: 21 | | | |
I don't worm my rats if I am going to breed them - when I do worm them I wait a month before I even let them mate. I wouldn't worm her while the babies are still feeding if you are using them as snake food.
Good food for mums and babies: wet or dry kitten food(or dry kitten food soaked in water or cat milk), meat or chicken scraps, egg, tinned baby food(mine like the custard or meat and vegie ones), cat milk with cereal or bread soaked in it, porridge and they also like that egg and biscuit you can get for birds - just add water and it soaks it up.
Soft foods encourage the babies to wean faster and I find that as soon as they open their eyes they are out and about trying to eat everything. I separate them around 4 weeks unless they are still drinking from their mum.
If the mumma rat is ok with me holding the babies then I play with them from the day after they are born. But in saying that my rats are pets so some are ok having me sticking my hands in their cage all the time.
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10-Jul-08, 12:29 PM
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what do you guys use to worm your rats
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10-Jul-08, 01:03 PM
| | Pure Pwnage. Subscriber | Join Date: May-07 Location: Central QLD Age/Gender: 18 | | | |
I just use a special rodent wormer I found at the petstore, most should carry it.
Its in a little bottle for about $10 or so, a liquid form that you add to their water.
__________________ The only way to discover the limits of the possible, is to go beyond them into the impossible. |
10-Jul-08, 01:11 PM
| | Be The Rat! Subscriber | Join Date: Jul-07 Location: SEQLD Age/Gender: 22 | | | Quote:
Originally Posted by VixenBabe I just use a special rodent wormer I found at the petstore, most should carry it.
Its in a little bottle for about $10 or so, a liquid form that you add to their water. |
the rodent wormers at pet shops only worn for round worms, i make up my own wormign solutions with prazyquantal and oxfendazole to cover all intestinal worms.
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he was being good and i let my guard down...........and he bit me on the face!!
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