With Clara!!!!
(This is the color that I will use in all of my posts, Marin will be using Lime…)
Pippa & Bella, my two older rats each has a litter. Bella had 9, and Pippa had 3.
In this post I will write about what you should do if you have a unexpected rat litter….
(*Marin laughs over FaceTime.. she has never had to go through rat pregnancies)
Anywho, if you suddenly walk into your room to see to a bunch of squirming pink things in your rat's cage nursing from your rat, cookie, or sweetie, or Izzy, or whatever you named your rat, continue reading.
Step one. Days 1-4
While you may want to watch over your new rat mother and her babies, whether your worried, or just exited and watching, leave your rat alone! Your rat and grandchildren needs time to rest. Consider covering the cage with a blanket to keep the stress level down for your momma rat.
Step two. Days 1-25
Your rat will need extra food for nursing. Nursing even one pup is tiring- think of 9!
You will want to include, egg, fruits & veggies, and nuts, as well as the food that you would normally give her in her food bowl every day.
Step. 3 Days 4-9
At about 4-6 days old take out the babies and talk to them so that the can recognize your voice and scent. Make sure to not have them out for very long, because they get cold easily and need to nurse a lot.
Step. 4 Days whenever they are active and their eyes are open
Take the babies (and their mom) out and play with them,give them treats, and hold them, make sure they know that you are friendly.
Step.4
This is tricky, rats can stop nursing at about 4 1/2 weeks.Rats can also reproduce at 4 1/2 weeks.
Please find a website that can help you determine the gender of the babies.
You will also need to find a home for the males, or keep the boys in another cage.
Step.5
Say goodbye to the adorable little fur balls. *sniff sniff
Unless, of course, if you want to keep one!
XOXO
*Clara*
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