I Don't Know When My Rat Got Pregnant..how Do I Know When Shes Going to Have Babies

I have experience with breeding rats and relish sharing my knowledge with other rat enthusiasts.

The baby rats in this photo are 5 days old. With near rats, you can now pick them upwards carefully.

Rat Pregnancy: What to Know Well-nigh Mother Rats and Newborns

If y'all have decided to breed your rats or have a pregnant female, you should expect 8–xv babies, sometimes even more.

Pregnant Rats Instinctively Build a Nest

Don't underestimate your pet rat. She has probably prepared a nest in her house, piling up everything she gets her teeth on into a wall with only one entrance. Offer her some unscented undyed toilet newspaper or something similar. Your pregnant rat will accept this and layer the nest with this. It is important that the mother-to-be has her own shelter. Rats who cannot build a proper nest might eat their children!

Are There Other Adult Rats in the Same Cage?

If you still have the buck with your significant rat, remove him. Rats go into heat as shortly every bit they take given nativity. Neuters have to be removed, likewise. Females can stay—in the worst instance, they don't care; in the all-time instance, they help look later on the babies. Information technology can even happen that, if ii females have babies at the same time, they volition put their fiddling ones into one single nest.

Male and Female Babies Demand to Be Separated

The babies have to be separated 4 to 4.5 weeks subsequently their birth. The does (female babies) may stay with their mother, but you demand a second muzzle for the males.

Your Cage May Non Be Babyproof

If the wires in your cage are too far apart, the small rats can escape—and they will. It's no fun to catch an escaped rat if it hides behind the cupboards.

Process of Labor and Birth

Rats become into labor belatedly in the evening or during the nighttime. It lasts about an 60 minutes, and later on that you lot have eight–15 baby rats. I recommend you stay up and watch your rat if you recognize that she'south going into labor. Ordinarily in that location is nothing to worry about, but complications can kill your rat and her offspring, so it can exist important to go see a vet. If you think something is wrong, don't hesitate and take your pet rat to an emergency vet.

Why Practise Female parent Rats Lick Their Babies?

If everything is going fine, do not disturb the mother. She is stressed, but she is busy cleaning and licking her babies and keeping them warm. This intensive care has several purposes:

• Clean the babies
• Initiate blood apportionment
• Initiate the bonding procedure betwixt mom and babies, as the mother takes in the smell of her little ones.

What Happens Right After the Birth?

The mother eats the amnion also as the afterbirth and everything that might remain is some blood in the nest. The babies are tiny, baldheaded, and have their eyes closed. They scream for their mother—and that might be the first matter you observe if your rat gave nascency while you lot are comatose. Yous should immediately check on the babies, but practice non touch them yet!

A infant rat with a milk abdomen.

First Few Days After the Birth

The female parent stays in the nest most of the fourth dimension, feeding her children. Simply when she is hungry will she come out to get some nutrient. A special nutrition is recommended during that time: cheese and yoghurt make skillful additions to her ordinary food.

Please remember that some mothers tin be ambitious, even to you! Fifty-fifty the tamest pet rat might plough into a roaring panthera leo, and her teeth will dig deep.

Check the Babies, But Don't Affect Them

During the get-go v days, it is non good to option up the little ones. The mother might carelessness them. All the same, you still have to check every 24-hour interval if the babies are healthy. You can exercise this with a stick while you go along their mother busy outside. Cheque if there are dead babies. Usually a female parent eats sick or deceased babies, simply you lot might detect 1. Too bank check if the niggling ones take milk bellies. Through the thin skin, in that location should be some white visible in their abdomen (see the photo above). It is a sign that a infant is well fed.

Newborn Rat Gallery: i Calendar week Old to half-dozen Weeks Former

vii days old. Their eyes are still closed.

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15-22 days onetime. The eyes accept opened and their fur has grown.

6 weeks old (with their mother). By now yous can give them to caring people. Males and females are already separated.

Baby Rats: Day by Day

• Day 5: You can begin picking upwardly every infant and kickoff whispering to them so they become used to humans. Beware of the mother if she's ambitious, and don't take them out for too long. They are still naked and cool out quickly, though their color tin can be seen and fuzzy hair has already developed.
• ~Day viii: You may find a baby outside his nest. The offspring is, though notwithstanding blind, investigating the new globe. At present the mother is busy picking up her babies and bringing them back. If you have a mother who trusts yous, you tin can even give her the babies after you lot cared for them and she'll bring them back safely.
• ~Mean solar day 14: The ears are open and they begin opening their eyes. They resemble mice or tiny rats by at present every bit they have developed fur. Now they start trying their limits, however, the mother is still trying to proceed them inside the nest.
• Day 22: They are fully developed and start eating solid food, though they are still being fed by their mother for well-nigh a week.
• 4 to 4.5 Weeks: The males should be separated since they could impregnate their female parent. They should still remain within sight as those weeks are important for ratty behaviour evolution. Only after half dozen weeks should you consider giving them to caring people.

After vi Weeks

If you decide to keep all the babies, be sure you lot have cages that are big plenty. If you programme to put the males with their father, exist certain to integrate them properly (which requires an additional cage), every bit the father volition not recognise his offspring and will fight for his territory. Treat the situation as if you had bought a new male person rat.

It is great to sentinel little rats be built-in and abound up. Even if y'all don't know what to do, the mother knows what to do, so don't panic. Of course, if something seems off to you lot, go see a vet.

This article is authentic and true to the best of the writer'due south knowledge. It is not meant to substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, handling, prescription, or formal and individualized communication from a veterinary medical professional. Animals exhibiting signs and symptoms of distress should exist seen by a veterinarian immediately.

Maye on September 01, 2020:

You should feed them infant formula

First with like 4 parts water ane part formula,

and decrease the amount of water from there until you're giving them the formula undiluted.

You need to keep them warm, and feed them slowly. You need to wipe their privates with a warm/clammy cloth after and before each feeding and so they can laissez passer waste. They need to be fed about every 3 hours to start, and once at night. This will decrease with historic period.

Once they're about ii weeks old, yous can start putting a bit of formula in a hat for them to try.

One time they're 3-four weeks, they can have things like softer fruits, crushed rat blocks and vegetables.

Keep IT WARM!!!

infant rat founded cute at our backyard on August 31, 2020:

what can we fed to a 5 twenty-four hours one-time abandoned baby rat? question from Filipinos we demand answer asap

WildEyes on June 21, 2020:

Nosotros found baby rats in our shed and had to motility them out. Nosotros left the in a sheltered hollow right exterior. How long should we expect for the mom to come up get them?

monica on May 21, 2020:

i found a newborn rat in a alley what do i do

Ollie the rat lover :iii on April 01, 2020:

Hi! I institute rats in my garage, and my dad knows, and he hates rodents. But he actually was brave plenty to go on them. He said "let'southward go along this a surprise for mother." And I said "yes!" I loved rats back then andI yet practice. But... We don't accept and yogurt so nosotros can just feed them cheese

Cutiemice67 on Dec xiv, 2019:

I found 2 babie rats in my drawer while I was cleaning it and I don't know what to do with them.I want to keep them but I'thou scared my parents are going to find them and kill them.I don't know what to feed them and I can't move them to a safe identify where it'southward comfortable.Can you delight tell me what to practice with them.I retrieve they are almost ane-6 weeks old I don't know.

Dee Contrivance on June 08, 2019:

Is in that location any manner to take intendance of v day old babies? Mom is missing and I cant observe her.

Poornima Gupta on April 28, 2019:

When I start giving food to babies?

ashley rafus on March 22, 2019:

I practice not brood simply pets but I besides breed feeder rats besides all of my breeders trust me and will actually squeak and bleat after giving birth and will run to and from her nest until I pick the babies up and brand sure everyone is ok, if I do not she will go crazy until I do and never has she ever abandoned them or killed them. I have two females in each muzzle while pregnant and they will also normally bring together their nests goin into week two or iii likewise.

Pip2008 on December 23, 2018:

Had accidental litter too on nov ix 2018! Luckily i was well informed though. Merely once i saw this i had a better thought of what to do than before!!!

Jamie on June 02, 2018:

I wish I would've seen this article before! I had an adventitious litter in Dec 2017 and held them the morning they were built-in. Lucky, all 12 lil babies grew up to exist good for you ratties! I still ain all. ❤️

Melissa on May 15, 2018:

The mom rat only keeps staring at me and my mom as if we are going to have her babies, what do I do?

hello on May 06, 2018:

my true cat found a rat a we don't know what to feed it and information technology has ingured legs where should we wait for foor we cant go to the store and where should we expect for the mom

Wendyfrog on April twenty, 2018:

Found 3 baby rats in the brush we were immigration mom was around going frantic moved them without touching them just she's gone..

They squeeked for her but nothing, how do I take care of them?? Or just exit them in the box exterior

ann on February 11, 2018:

I have two fancy white rats and now v babies who desperately need a home. Please email ann@rmayo.com or text 916-712-5925 if interested

Juane' on February 09, 2018:

I you observe wild babe rats information technology is not that hard to heighten them as a few years ago i found 3 babe wild rats outside on the lawn, I didn't know what to practise and so i just fed and so milk every few hours and kept them warm. Their eyes were still closed when i plant them but all three of them survived and grew up beautifully.

Jordan on Dec 10, 2017:

My rats have babies I think it's two each as I have 4 merely 2 have more furr than the others. The other have side by side to nothing. How old do you think they are as I can't tell

Priscilla on August 29, 2017:

I institute a baby rat in my room and I don't know what to exercise with it .it'south tiny hasn't even open the eyes any suggestions?

Jake on August 28, 2017:

And if your female is mean remove the male considering she will kill him Danielle

Jake on August 28, 2017:

My rats are 3 weeks erstwhile and mother only died what do I exercise

Danielle on August 21, 2017:

I take nevertheless to detect a site that volition reply my unique question! Delight tell me what the best thing for me to exercise is. My rat Bambi had a litter of 12 babies on the 21st of last month. They have 4 days until they're exactly 5 weeks and can exist separated by gender. Well, Bambi got pregnant right after she had this liter with the litter she just had about 2 hours ago. She is beingness very hateful to her previous litter. Should I split them now? At to the lowest degree the mom from the babies. I had the daddy rat and he is wonderful with the babies. He would stay with them until I accept to take the female babies from him only I only have two cages. Would it be prophylactic to put the female babies in with mom until they go to their new homes in a few days ehen she had had fourth dimension to bond with her new litter? I dont know what to do. I don't want to carve up them too early but they've go jumpy since she's started abusing them. She doesn't seem to have injured anyone simply that doesn't make me experience similar she won't! Please tell me what to exercise...

Ashleigh Jade on August nineteen, 2017:

I am going to breed my rats before long... Any advice on making sure everything go smoothly?

Vicki on May 02, 2017:

I have 2 tiny babies that were found in the street. I *think* they are rats but I am non sure. I can't postal service pictures here I guess, but is there someone who could positively ID them? I've had them 4 days. I'm guessing they are five days old, maybe 6.

Vet rot on April 03, 2017:

Mist I take the male person out of the cage when the female person gave birth?

Daniel on March 21, 2017:

I tin't really sympathize half of this because of the atrocious grammer...

Chyanne on March 10, 2017:

I just institute a wild baby rat I don't know what to do I fed it warm milk and is wrapped up in a warm sock sleeping it's eyes are still closed simply is wondering effectually. Am I doing it correct???

Laurie Bennett on March 09, 2017:

Great commodity! However tissue or toilet paper is not a expert bedding material until after as it tin can stick to the wet babies and suffocate them. Besides mother rats volition not kill the babies if you touch them. Cheers for the article!

Arabella McKennett on February 23, 2017:

Then my rat is looking a bit bigger in the stomach but i might go a bigger, ameliorate cage simply i don't know if\when my rat is going to requite birth and if it is okay to move the babies

Abby on February 22, 2017:

My rat only gave nativity two iv babies does that mean she ate 2

eranga on November x, 2016:

Hi I found a infant rat ..but his female parent has die . he still non open up the eyes. i dont know his age just at present he has body hair . the case is dont have a proper idea about how to feed him artificially.plz tell me how can I do that ??? Cheers

Alieena on Nov 09, 2016:

This is my third rat since I was four, we rescued her from the pet store as snake nutrient the lady said that she used to be a pet just the owner could no longer intendance for her, she has had babies earlier just she did not look significant at the time, doing chores I had walked into my room seeing her surprised as she was licking her babies still have no idea how many she's had I'm as well nervous to even get close plenty to look, but so far this article has been very useful, I cannot expect to see them at 17 weeks old I will text you back at the sight of them. Only recollect that if you need any help come to pethelpfull.com.

Ginger on November 07, 2016:

Hey, Emma, I tried to electronic mail this to you, but it wouldn't let me transport it. Hopefully you'll cheque on here over again. Showtime off, congrats! 2nd off, there'south a very loftier chance that not all of them will make it concidering such a huge litter, only I would suggest switching the babies out, half and one-half every 3-four hours.The babies not with the mother will be fine as long equally they have a source of heat, simply nothing likewise hot. This should give the mother some relief every bit well because she's non stressing about trying to feed all 25, or notwithstanding many y'all currently have. However, if the mother seems aggressive when yous try to remove some of the babies, I'd but get out her be. Although, this will brand the chance of not all of them making it higher.

Hopefully this helped! My girlie merely had her first litter too, and I was expecting peradventure 10, but she had 17! I know it's not equally many as 25, but I was quite shocked to say the to the lowest degree. Practiced luck with your litter!

Emma on October 29, 2016:

My rat just had 25 babies and I don't call up she is feeding all of them what is safe for them delight answer quick and transport reply to 17epaine@psesd12.org

sierra on August 03, 2016:

hey what gender is it

Vinnie on July 25, 2016:

assist! i found a baby rat on my way to work. it was squirming around on the crude pavement, out in the open. not sure if abandonned but it was dirty and not looking good. i scooped information technology into a paper bag and threw in some clean tissues. i am reading up on care, but wondering if anyone in NYC tin can adopt

little harlie on July 10, 2016:

i like the artical and my cousin thinks that her brothers rat jade is pregnet shes animate actually difficult and walking like a four legged penguin. she is old enough and big plenty to be pregnet. and she is scard.

tabitha cowan on June 16, 2016:

What kinds of food do u requite them when they r older

Kathryn on May 04, 2016:

Does anyone know when it is okay to put the male person rat dorsum with the female and babies?

Emma on May 01, 2016:

My pup has a black spot on its caput not similar a design, just a black spot is it a illness?

Ayush on April 19, 2016:

Hey in that location, I have a male baby rat. He acts weird nearly of the times. Is this some kind of weakness kind of thing. Please assistance me

Alaina on April 17, 2016:

I constitute a wild baby rat who was abased I take it wrapped on a blanket and I feed it regular milk I've never raised rats IDK if he will go far but can u help me out??

rika on March 19, 2016:

i am having a hard fourth dimension telling if my female is lactating plenty or at all for her litter of five i cant actually come across if they have milk belly's too they are about a week erstwhile

Chevelle Sevey on February 01, 2016:

My rat had 12 babies lastnight and v died leaving her with 7. She bit me once and at present I'm scared to bear on her, how am I supposed to clean her cage, when tin can I touch the babies, I'grand 15 and appreciate all the info I can get.

Ebonie on January 01, 2016:

could someone give me tips almost female rats crusade this is my showtime pet. IF anyone is from South Grafton cause i need to know if anyone that goes to coles in South Grafton should i feed my female rat nibler. If you lot go downwardly the pet ile at the very finish you will see bird seeds just near the top there nibler is.

Should i get it??

Navie on September xviii, 2015:

Hi . i take female person rat from last month. At present she got 5 babies on seven.nine.xv but yesterday i noticed that one baby was much weaker than others. Hes eleven days old . he was non getting any chance of feeding. And i fed him by a dropper. But today he died. Was that because of i fed him or he was already weak

Plz help me to know that

bulbul on July 26, 2015:

I have to rats one day she gave me 15 infant later on 2 days all died i nead the help

Pedro on May 25, 2015:

I have a week and a half sometime babe rat exercise you know where I can buy feeding equipment? Pgamez4@icloud.com please become dorsum to me

Abby on January 26, 2015:

Aid I got these two baby rats the lady told me they was 6 week there is not way they are sooo tiny and look to be about a month mayhap they are eatting some sunflower seeds but I haven't seen them potable at all today!! Do u think it's just bc they are in a new abode and scared!! Should they showtime coming around!! She said they was males only u tin can't see anything on either of them notwithstanding!! I'm beginning to recall they where way to young to even have from momma yet!! There so cute and I desire them to be ok!!

i dear pennell on September 06, 2014:

My rat just had 1 baby terminal night is it normal to have one infant only?

Brooke Morris on March 06, 2014:

So, the guy at the pet store told me my rat was a male ( I asked because I would be housing it with another male). Imagine my surprise when I woke up this morning time to ten baldheaded babies!

Thompsons on March 04, 2014:

we got two pet rats and the female concluded upward peg. And had 14 infant'due south she lost one they are now ane week old and moving everywhere thinks for the enfol it helps a lot

Brett on June 05, 2012:

This site helped so much I bought a 5 month old or so rat and she is very significant. I started worring about the situation just you really helped me. Thank you!

shadman on May 14, 2012:

i but got my rat few days agone and they give babes at 14/5/12 and theY are actually cute hand thanks for the help and tips AND I HAVE A FEMAIL ONLY

Bonnie on June 10, 2011:

I just got two baby rats half dozen/ten/eleven. From pictures they don't look any older than 22 weeks. My daughter got them gratis at a place that closing.She "saved their lives" being snake food. They didn't tell the age but they are pocket-sized beautiful and I hope they eat. I have a habitrail thing, information technology looks existent nice I call back they volition be happy. Whatsoever advice on special care due to their size. They both curl up in my hand and equally I said from a picture online they look to exist nearly 22wk. Delight use my email bbnovotny@gmail.com

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Source: https://pethelpful.com/rodents/How-to-Care-for-Baby-Rats

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