New mom, I mean new!

[Pauley]

Yesterday we got some ratties from a no-kill shelter in Alabama, through one of our animal rescue friends. One of the two girls had given birth between the shelter the night before we got them, and my worry is that she is a juvenile, and I mean maybe 15-18 weeks. Should I give her any particular food, or a diet high in something like calcium or protein?

We had one juvie mom before, and that ended with her having a stroke and dying. (But we did save most of the babies)

I'll post pictures in a few days, after they are comfortable with their new home.

 

[Godmother]

My Corrie thrived on things like scrambled egg, baby cereal mixed with soy milk, and porridge when she was nursing. She was hungry! The calcium and protein did her the world of good, as she was a malnourished rescue rat when SQ rescued her.

 

[jorats]

Unfortunately, ratties birthing at such a young age is common and most times it all works out good. Godmother has some great food tips.

 

[Pauley]

Eggs! I should have known that.

I gave her some string cheese (like a lot) and she's really pigging out on her new diet. (We feed our ratties like they're royalty- veggies, oats, steamed rice, and yogurt drops) I can imagine it's quite stressful tho, littering while moving to a new home. She does seem quite at ease with her new situation 8)

 

[jorats]

Go easy with the yogurt drops, it's all sugar and rats really shouldn't have any sugar. As a treat, have you tried bananas and grapes? Rats love those as much as yogurt drops.

 

[Godmother]

Bananas! :doh: :giggle: How could I have forgotten to mention them? Especially since a nursing mama could afford to eat banana mash* without worrying about her figure!


*Banana mash: mash a ripe banana, mix in throroughly about a teaspoon of peanut butter, then add a tablespoon or so of yogurt. Some ratties like a bit of oatmeal mixed in, too.

 

[SQ]

and vegs like peas.

 

[Pauley]

I fed her rice and peas mixed with yogurt. She made it disappear. Unfortunately, the runt of the litter didn't survive. The rest are looking strong at three days, though. Mom seems healthy and happy, although still a little nervous.

 

[SQ]

Try making good quality lab bocks available at all times, giving baby cereal (such as Nestle mixed cereals with fruit baby cereal) mixed with water, soy milk or soy baby formula three times a day. Also give vegs such as peas daily or twice a day and other treats such as fruit like bananas, cooked egg, and oatmeal.

So sorry that one of the babies didn't make it.
Do the remaining babies have milk bellies?

 

[Pauley]

Yes, the six babies have milk bellies, and are considerably larger than a couple of days ago.

Maggie, the german shepard, is still quite concerned (she gets along well with other animals like my cat and bunny rabbits) though she has started eating and sleeping again :roll: She's a serious type A dog! I think she wants to take on the mothering herself!

 

[PiedPiper]

*Banana mash: mash a ripe banana, mix in throroughly about a teaspoon of peanut butter, then add a tablespoon or so of yogurt. Some ratties like a bit of oatmeal mixed in, too.

How many ratties would this recipe serve?

 

[jennifervb]

*Banana mash: mash a ripe banana, mix in throroughly about a teaspoon of peanut butter, then add a tablespoon or so of yogurt. Some ratties like a bit of oatmeal mixed in, too.

How many ratties would this recipe serve?

You beat me to the punch!!!! I was going to ask the same!! :laugh4:

 

[chiahua]

*Banana mash: mash a ripe banana, mix in throroughly about a teaspoon of peanut butter, then add a tablespoon or so of yogurt. Some ratties like a bit of oatmeal mixed in, too.

Yay! Great recipe!! That's what my bf eats for breakfast sometimes. It looks yucky but tastes OK. Guess I could share with my rats :lol:

 

[Godmother]

How many does a single recipe of banana mash serve? Well, it depends.

I give it sparingly to my crew of ten girls, because they are fully grown and don't need extra weight, so it would last for 2-3 servings. I think of it as a dessert for them.

SQ considers me stingy! She would give her gang of ten (the rats in her Avatar, who are now all at the Rainbow Bridge) the works, and it didn't do them any harm. They had more free range space, though.

A nursing mom or her little ones could eat lots more than my adult girls.

 

[dubchick]

Maggie, the german shepard, is still quite concerned (she gets along well with other animals like my cat and bunny rabbits) though she has started eating and sleeping again :roll: She's a serious type A dog! I think she wants to take on the mothering herself!

thats awesome... omg.. i can so picture it

 

[Pauley]

I can picture it too..........