is it okay to put female rats in the same room as males?

[Livyaahh]

if none of them are spayed/neutered? I'm just wondering. I won't let them out at the same times or anything.

 

[hopefloats]

Well I can say I have both sexes living in the same room. It makes my out time chaos. My intact boys spend half their time trying to get to the girls. Who are all spayed. My girls dont care until they get near their cage LOL then it is huffy puffy. Even smelling them on the same out time place can cause havoc for some boys. My girls have bitten over a boy smell my boys look like hounds sniffing the table constantly.

It is risky. I have left girls out with the boys, luckily mine are spayed so it dont matter here. I have became more careless since all the girls are spayed. Even before, there were some close calls. Escapes can happen, and it only takes a second. Some boys will fight each other over smelling a girl or seeing one walk by them.

It can be done but there is no room for carelessness when they are in the same area. I had major rules with my daughter before she could let them out or touch them. We would count twice to make sure all the girls were put up.

 

[SQ]

Girls go into heat every 3 to 4 days. This can create stress for the boys. Depending on the boys, it may cause them to fight one another.

It is actually NOT ok to have unspayed girls and unneutered boys living in the same household.
That is an accident waiting to happen.
Rats are very smart and very motivated and people are not perfect.

I have heard of boys in cages in the basement getting out and getting to the girls in their cage in a 3rd floor bedroom.
Please have one sex altered asap or you may end up with litters.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

In my opinion it's not worth the risk or the stress you will be causing those rats unless they are in dire need and you plan to have one of the sexes altered as soon as possible.

 

[Livyaahh]

thanks guys, you've stopped me doing something very stupid

 

[kscanuck785]

I might be one exception.
I do have both sexes in the same room, since last may and I've never had any issue.
my boys NEVER fight and the girls cage is beside theirs.
I have 5 boys and 6 girls, so it is easier to manage than a larger group.
they each have their own single CN with Bass pans, so escaping via chewing is nul.

I'm not suggesting everybody should do this, but it has worked for me.

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

I might be one exception.
I do have both sexes in the same room, since last may and I've never had any issue.
my boys NEVER fight and the girls cage is beside theirs.
I have 5 boys and 6 girls, so it is easier to manage than a larger group.
they each have their own single CN with Bass pans, so escaping via chewing is nul.

I'm not suggesting everybody should do this, but it has worked for me.

You're right it can work. The question really is whether or not you are prepared to care for all the babies if an accident does happen or for your girls to possibly go through a dangerous pregnancy.

 

[kscanuck785]

I might be one exception.
I do have both sexes in the same room, since last may and I've never had any issue.
my boys NEVER fight and the girls cage is beside theirs.
I have 5 boys and 6 girls, so it is easier to manage than a larger group.
they each have their own single CN with Bass pans, so escaping via chewing is nul.

I'm not suggesting everybody should do this, but it has worked for me.

You're right it can work. The question really is whether or not you are prepared to care for all the babies if an accident does happen or for your girls to possibly go through a dangerous pregnancy.

are you asking if I am ready for this or the original poster?
if it was for me, yes, if this would happen (not sure why it would) that would not be a problem. I'm a 41 yrs old woman owning my own house and 2 businesses, my situation is little different than lets say a college student staying in a dorm & living off school loans or having to ask parents for help

 

[trihkal]

I agree with Marie. It is possible. I had a cage of girls and a cage of boys both unaltered. Looking back on it, it seems very irresponsible and definitely like an accident waiting to happen. I had both boys and girls for a year. I did not run into any problems. The girls' door would never open unless all my males were back in their cage and vice versa. Like Marie I could have been prepared had the unfortunate happened and I had a litter on my hands but now I think why take the chance? There are far too many rats already alive that need homes. We don't need more. A girl that I knew had both boys and girls unaltered and she ended up with multiple litters. That's terrible. Spaying and neutering has other good points as well. Males will be less aggressive and it can prevent tumors for the ladies. If you want both sexes living at your house please spay the girls and neuter the boys. Thank you.

 

[kscanuck785]

it is def. not ideal, I don't want to give the wrong impression

I did not go out and purposely chose to get boys...I had girls only for over 1 yr and then these boys were going to be snake food and I rescued them. Once these boys pass, I will go back to have a "girl only" house

 

[smilez_n_hugs]

Sorry KS that wasn't directed at you. It was definitely just a general statement for anyone considering doing this

 

[kscanuck785]

Sorry KS that wasn't directed at you. It was definitely just a general statement for anyone considering doing this

:thumbup:

 

[Sharlees rattakisses]

I have both sexes in the same room.
5 boys are my Nieces and two altered boys are with my girlies.
I will be taking in Sketchi's 5 boys on the 10th when she moves to Hong Kong.
I roll out cages so they aren't in the room during out time.
I don't really like it but I make it work.
If something does happen and babies are born I will take full responsibility.
Someday I would like 3 ratties but somehow I never seem to make that happen. :roll:

 

[jorats]

I don't recommend it. Some rats seem ok with it but many, both the males and females will become highly stressed being in the same room. If you can avoid it, you will make their lives happier and less stressful by keeping them apart.

 

[Rachael]

I've had over 100 rats and have always had boys and girls in the same room, there's never been a problem.

I've never noticed them being stressed out by eachother or fighting more because there's boys and girls in the same room.