Easy questions about rat weaning/separation?

Question

I have baby rats that just turned 4 weeks old from a momma I adopted while she was pregnant. Now, if I remember correctly, at 4 weeks they should be weaned and separated by genders, right?

I guess I'm just wondering because the mother is still nursing. She hasn't stopped them at all. (They do eat solid food, though, so I'm not worried.)

When I separate them into their new cages, should I separate the mother from her daughters, or leave her with them? I'm just worried she could get defensive with other rats around her babies, and they seem kind of.. small for the cage I want to put them in.

Answer 1

I believe every hobby breeder has the best of intentions when they first make the decision to breed rats or mice for pet or show. All too often, the show bench interferes with a breeder making the right decision for the animals in his care. We have recently heard several horror stories about deplorable conditions in some breeder’s ratteries and mouseries. Breeders using show boxes to house animals in, stacked one on top of the other in hallways. If you aren’t breeding because you love the animal, then you should not be breeding at all. We hear people say how inexpensive rats and mice are to keep as pets. In addition to medical care, the cost of housing and caring for the animals in your charge can be overwhelming. You must also consider that healthy food and beddings are not cheap. Most people, unless they are rich, are on a budget and only have so much money per month to spend on hobbies, entertainment, and pets. In my experience, it is impossible to give more than 20 or so rats the love and attention they need and deserve. How much free time do you have? You must also consider the time needed to imprint and socialize each baby born in your care. For many breeders, breeding is all about improving physical features (color, body type, eye size, ears, head shape, markings, etc...). Most rats will end up with respiratory infections caused by mycoplasma pulmonis at some point in their life. If you are a breeder who loves his animals, placing your babies into loving homes is going to be your goal. To be able to continue breeding and keep your population down, will you consider culling? Okay, so you were successful in placing each one of the babies in your litter into what you considered to be a loving home. How are you going to feel when you hear about, or see some of the animals you handled and loved from birth being kept in deplorable conditions and are not being given the medical treatment they require? I’ll never be able to forget the wonderful little Platinum boy from one of my litters years ago. As a responsible breeder it is also your duty to educate yourself as thoroughly as possible about the care, medical conditions and treatments of the animals you breed. The best way to keep up with the latest information is to join one of the rodent clubs (preferably one that respects the animals’ welfare), so you can exchange information with other pet owners.

There is no money to be made breeding rats and mice, unless you are a feeder breeder, which is something no rat or mouse loving person would do. If you’re breeding a litter ‘just to see’ what you will get, please don’t. If you’re breeding a litter because it would be educational for your classroom or for your own children to experience, remember, anything can go wrong and it may not be a joyful experience for the kids. The only way to be sure of that is to breed only a small number of litters per year. Instead of concentrating on trying to win ribbons or creating the most beautiful rat or mouse ever, if you’re going to breed, please concentrate on being responsible and breeding for health and temperament.

Answer 2

u should nt seperate them till they 8 weeks old from they mom and when u do u can keep her daughters with her and males in another cage but dont seperate them now because the will becaome ill they still need the mothers milk even thought they eating food gud luck

Answer 3

Dear lord, I sure hope Sandy isn't really a vet. That's the worst information I've seen from a "vet" on here. I think they are likely lying about being one.

They should be separated by four and half to five weeks of age. The females can be kept with mom but the males need to be separated from mom and female siblings.