Birthing photos, WARNING live birth pics...rat kitten development day by day :)

[CathyBogart]

Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
how can you sex them so early?

I wish I had taken pics when Zylle had her litter, but basically....the males have a significantly wider space between their anus and...the other lump....the name of which eludes me...

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by wolfsoul
Aww that's so cute!! Are you sure there won't be any marked kittens? It was probably just shadows, but I thought I saw some...

Markings aren't visible until they are around 3 days old, when you can start to see their color. Right now they are all pink except for the black eyed babies, which of course you can see their eye color.

As fas as I know, there are no marked rats in the background except an occasional irish. So most likely all will be selfs. What you see is their organs lol. I guess there could be hooded, as Meeko through ONE hooded in his last litter lol.

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by tikeyas_mom
How r u going to find good homes for 11 lil dumbos? I'll take 10. lol

I don't breed a litter unless there is a demand for kittens or a certain color/coat type etc. All the babies have been reserved since before they were born.

[luckies4me]

Originally posted by *LabLoverKEB*


I want a rat, do you have any good info about when they give birth? I want mine to have babies, if I get one! I'll have lots of research to do, before, though.

Well gestation usually last around 21-23 days. You would need to research genetics and if you want to breed I would start out with selfs in either dominant genes or simple recessives. Like if you like rex, you can breed a rex doe to a standard buck and you will get half rex. Of course this is not a guarantee as nature always plays out in it's own way.


You would be better off breeding something people want, like dumbos or blues. Placing a litter of all agouti or black standard babies is hard. This litter of mine was easy to place for a few reasons: 1- they are all dumbo 2- half are velveteens 3- not only agouti but fawn babies and a chance of blue agouti- 4- these babies carry mink, which is hard to find 5- litter is highly pedigreed and 6- both parents have great temperaments and are very healthy


A good breeding age for a first time breeding is around 4-8 months, but I prefer around 5-6 months of age. I only breed the does twice and then they are retired. If they are bred before 8 months they can safetly have a litter until they are around a year or so, but I wouldn't try it any laer than that.

If you want any more info I have TONS of links I will glady give you if you PM me.

[luckies4me]

I will take more pics tomorrow. I held them today for a little bit but didn't want to touch them too much...I have a big fear of dropping them after I dropped a baby in my last litter. He survived but still....


Sex is very easy to determine like WolfChan explained, but I will try to get some good upclose pictures of them tomorrow side by side for comparison.


We had pork chops tonight which were kinda fatty so my new momma is gonna have a good dinner lol. I am so proud of her!

[luckies4me]

WOW it's amazing how fast they grow! I am up...yuck! I will take pics as soon as Dan leaves for work.

They've grown so much already in just the one day. They are little piggies hehe.


Momma is doing good, although she isn't paying much attention to food. She did eat a little of her pork chop/pasta/corn dinner but there is still some left. She's drinking more than anything. I gave her some Nutristat though just in case she's not getting enough calories. The babies have so much milk in their tummies they look like they are going to explode hehe.

[luckies4me]

I am so in love with these little kiddos. I want to hold them forever but I know I need to put them back lol. Just me taking them out for 15 minutes made them act like they were starving, silly things. Man are they loud too!


This pic is my favorite..silly baby ratty.

1,2,3.....just...gotta...do...one...more..



Now thier skin color is visible. Only two ruby eyed babies!



All the babies together.

[luckies4me]

Oh yes, there are 4 girls and the rest are boys! And four velveteens, the rest are standard coats. And I think there might be a blue in there! Yippeee!


Here's the new mommy!

[tikeyas_mom]

OMG they are so cute. I love them sop much. you are so lucky. I wish hamster pups could be held at 2 days old. . oh well, they are adorible I love them sooooooo much you should put the one pic of them all in your hand in your sig that would be cute ..

[luckies4me]

Wheeee! The coolest thing just happened right now! My neighbor rescued a rat! Yay! She's a blue dumbo berkshire and she's beautiful!!! Well the sex is still undetermined. The vet (one reason why I want to be a vet, because vets know nothing about rats!!!) told my neighbor that the rat was a boy and that they will neuter him tomorrow. Well I looked at the rat and he does not have testicles so he was probably already neutered. They are not retained because you would be able to palpate them. But get this, there is no vagina either!


So it's either a neutered male and a doe with no vagina....we are at a loss lol.


The rat is being treated with Baytril for a nasty abscess on it's neck. My friend works at a vets and the owner brought the rat in to be euthanized because it had the abscess, which is totally clearing up and isn't that bad anyway!

I am so glad my friend brought her home and saved her! The vet refused to euthanize the rat. I am taking my friend shopping tonight to make sure she gets the right supplies and food. This is so exciting! The rat looks just like Meeko except blue.

[luckies4me]

Oh yes the stupid lady who brought her in said the rat was three years old! Just by looking at her, body condition, fur, activity level, teeth etc. she looks no more than a year and a half. So I am assuming they just told the vet that so she would have a better chance of getting her put to sleep!

[tikeyas_mom]

that is so good your firnd rescued the ratty. I think it is a fixed male. that is the only possible explaination. (sp?)

Is your friend gunna get it a friend? lol that sounded weired, lol I am happy she saved the ratty, good thing the vet never put the rat down eh?

[luckies4me]

Well the thing is I can usually tell when a male rat has been neutered by spacing, but this rat doesn't have much space between. But I am assuming that he's been neutered.



Since the rat has been a loan rat all it's life I don't think introducing another rat would be in it's best interest.

[wolfsoul]

Wow that's great! I bet your friend is really happy about her new rat!

The babes are getting cute! Well, they look like little aliens, lol, but still cute!

I guess there could be hooded, as Meeko through ONE hooded in his last litter lol

I bet you were surprised!


LabLoverKEB, I want to own a rattery when I'm older But I know that Icarus may not last that long, and so I'm hoping to breed him while he's still young. I'm hoping that they can mate in the summer while the female is still young.I know the female that he will be bred with, who was bred straight from a rattery, and I already have reservatons. I'm proud lol. Icarus is perfect breeding stock, and a perfect pet!

[Sara luvs her Tinky]

WOW
Momma rat had 11 babies!!!

how many babies are in a standard litter.... THAT IS A LOT OF LITTLE BABIES!!!!!