Suddenly 10 rats...

[Sphider]

Ok so, I'm a first time poster cause I need some help.

(sorry if this is the wrong place or it's been answered already)

Here's my story.

A couple months ago my boyfriend and I got 2 rats (Naoto and Snake) . They're great. But we wanted more cause...we're like that. So we picked up one rat (Makoto), then...a week later another (Zelda). Shortly after we brought Zelda home she passed away from health issues (not respiratory, we're still not sure what was wrong, but anyway) The pet store (after this I'm only getting rats from breeders) Apologized and offered us a free rat. So my boyfriend went to pick it up. There was only one female rat in the store and she was a little older, but we're not picky so we took her. She was much larger than the others and although we tried to name her Zelda the 2nd she got dubbed 'Big Z'

That was 3 weeks ago.
This morning I find out that Big Z wasn't Big Z, she was Big momma Z. Hearing some squeaking in the caged I checked it out and sure enough, 6 little pink babies. So adorable, but so unexpected. I wasn't able to prepare her a separate area to have her pups. So I've moved the other 3 rats out of the cage to some cardboard boxes that they use for play, but they're annoyed and restless since they can't go and sleep in their home (they have water and food of course)
Anyway, long story short, is it ok to move the mom and her pups to a separate area? Will that disturb them too much? How long should I wait? I hate to make my other rattie babies upset.

Help! anic:

 

Personally I would leave mom and babies where they are for a little while until mom is settled. You could always go buy another cage for the other 3 .

But it might be okay for you to move them, I'm not sure ..personally I would not ..anyone have a sure answer?

 

[jorats]

I'd move them. This happens a lot cause pet stores suck. Mom rats are usually very good moms. Be very gentle with the move an do it quick. It will give you a chance to clean up all that gunk from the birth too.

 

[Sphider]

Thanks for the advice guys. I would totally buy another (much larger cage) If I could, but another problem is that I'm moving in 4 weeks. Driving actually from Toronto to Halifax. Which is another concern of mine, since now I'll have 10 stressed rats to worry about and not just 4.

I think I'm going to move them, because I do want to clean the gunk up. Also, the cage wasn't at it's cleanest (ever just put off your cage cleaning duty till the next morning and then find babies? Hahah) So I'd like them living in a cleaner area.

 

[Rachael]

Where are you moving the mum and babies to?

 

[Sphider]

I unfortunately don't have a smaller cage, but I do have a good sized bin that I'm thinking of moving them to. I'll take the mother out occasionally when she seems restless to play with the other rats.

 

[jorats]

A bin is good but make sure there's a lot of ventilation for them.

 

[Sphider]

Thanks for the help guys. I'm really nervous about moving them. Should I just pick them up individually or scoop them all up on the papers they're on. The papers are messy, but if it disturbs them less I could wait a little while to change the. Also, should I move the mother first, or last?

I'm so nervous cause my boyfriend is against moving them so early on. (they're just a little over 24hrs old right now) But I can't stand them living in the mess and my other poor rats can't go back in their home :S

 

[jorats]

When we have rescue litters here, I handle them within hours of birth. I would move them when you see mom taking a break. Get your bin ready, put mom in the nice clean environment then bring the babies one at a time. This way you can inspect them as well. But... if mom is quite upset with you being near, biting and such, then wait another few hours and try again.

 

[Sphider]

Thanks! I'll do that for sure. I just can't wait to check them out and get some pics of them!

 

[mamarat]

Congrats and good luck!!! Can't wait to see pics.

 

[Rachael]

I handle them at a couple of days old, but check them sooner than that to assure everything is fine.
A move might be stressful for the mum, the nest has her smell, and when we moved one of our litters mum moved the babies all around the cage and left them - we had to put them back into the nest. Hope that will not happen but it may be safer putting the other rats in the bin cage just for now.

 

[Sphider]

Thanks. I really apperciate any advice I can get. I haven't moved them yet cause they've been sleeping all morning. This evening when the mother is up and active I'm going to move them. It smells bad, but it's not the normal dirty cage smell.

 

[Brax]

Congrats to your ratties and to you.

 

[Sphider]

Alright, everyone is moved and hopefully happy. Things didn't go the way they were planed but I learned that that's the way things work with rats

 

Alright, everyone is moved and hopefully happy. Things didn't go the way they were planed but I learned that that's the way things work with rats

Things never worked out as planned?

 

[Sphider]

Hey guys, I know I haven't updated in a long long time, but I'm in a bit of a pinch now.

Since my boyfriend and I moved back to Halifax or rats have been met with cold shoulders by our families. I'm living with my family, and him with his ( to save money for a big move overseas next year) and nither of our families will allow us to keep our rats.

Does anyone know where I can find a place to take them, or if anyone wants any of them.

They keep threatening to 'get rid of them'. I'm not sure what they mean by that, but I fear for my babies lives.

They're currently at my boyfriends house in bedford Nova Scotia, but they need a better home. They're in a small cage, we're not being allowed to take them out to play with them. I'm at my wits end and need help.

I have 8 females
1 White Dumbo with pink eyes named Naoto - approx 6 months old
1 full grey (are these called Rex's? I'm not very good at rat identification) named Snake - approx 6 months
1 brown and white hooded, names Makoto - approx 5 months
1 White with pink eyes, the mother of the babies, age unknown, probably 7 months ish named Zee
2 grey and white hooded babies - 2 months old
1 light grey and white hoodied baby - 2 months old.

help... T_T

 

[PitLuvs]

Oh dear I wish your families were as accepting as mine. Are the babies female??

 

[Sphider]

Yep, I was able to give away the 2 males while I was in Toronto. I only have females right now. Don't need anymore accidents. lol

 

[Sphider]

It sucks because I feel like if they were hamsters no one would say anything T_T