I felt like my girls were prego for a few days now! I cleaned my tubs yesterday like I do every Sunday and nothing, today I went to check on their water and food and hear little squeals! One of the females dropped 6-8 babies as far as I can tell, there may be more in there. As soon as they felt the cage moved they dragged the babies out of the hide and then just sat on them while they sucked. I left them alone after making sure they had food & water!!
I was just going to let both females and male just stay together, if anything I'll take him and the other girl out during the next scheduled cleaning. Should I even clean the tub with the babies next Sunday?
I just cleaned out my rat tubs and final count of those (now pups) are 8, those things sure do grow fast! Just last week they were small/tiny pinks and now pups! Problem is, I notice since cleaning and replacing the old nest box, the mother keeps kicking out two of the pups! I used latex gloves in handling the pups! I've put back these two pups 2X's and she keeps picking them up and kicking them out! What should I do, if anything?
I would just leave 'em in, the mom should still take care of them, Id try to put vicks vapor rub on its nose, but a tiny bit cuse the rat will try to eat it, thst should keep the rat from smelling anything on the rat if she is in fact abandoing them (Ive never had to do this,but I know "Fancy Rat" breeders that do this), my rats move sometimes seperate some of their babys, but they all end up growin fine.
I handle my babies, and it has never bothered the mums. I am thinking there might be something wrong with them..... I don't know if you can do anything.