Rat eating babies

[Whatsabateater?]

Okay I bought a large rat recently to help speed up breeding with my others and she is in her own ten gallon and I introduce a male for a week at a time and rotate him to my other females. Well for the past two times she has given birth she will eat the babies with in a day. I'm not messing with her or the babies at all and she still eats them. One of my friends seems to think that she just isn't a good mother and I should just feed her off. Not like this is a huge deal or anything it's just a rat but i'm still curious if there is anything to do or should I just replace her?

Thanks


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[telefrag]

well, the next few times, I would recommend taking the babies out as soon as you notice them, and either feed them off, or freeze them, or maybe put them with another mother (I think they will take care of them).

maybe she just needs some adjustment time, I have had rats do that, and after 3 or 4 times, they start caring for them.

Sometimes they may need a variety of food, maybe try giving her some veggies, or bread, or other foodstuffs, see if that interests her.

What are you feeding the adult rats?
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[hisba]

I agree with your friend, some of them just are not good mothers, back when I
used to breed and raise my mice and rats (It was not worth the time and expense IMO)
I had one female mouse that killed her babies, she did it with 3 litters, people I spoke
with said some just do that... she became food. (she had also killed the litter my other female
mouse had, I housed my mothers together, the good mothers would look out for each other
and help feed each others babies)
She may turn out to be a good mom given time, but it's not like you're raising pet rats, they
are feeders after all, IMO feed her off and get a replacement.
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	In My Opinon IMO = In My Opinion and IMHO = In My Honest Opinion

[Whatsabateater?]

awsome I love asking you guys questions your so quick to respond. But i'm feeding the adults to my 5' male RTB. he's a bute. love him to pieces. but anyways yeah I'll probably just give her 1 or 2 more chances and then I"ll just feed her off if she keeps it up. thanks abunch again amazing speed.

[img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img] [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_biggrin.gif[/img]
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[SteveP]

Wish the rodents in my attic space would eat their own young...I think they're more of 'good' mother kind!!! [img]modules/Forum/images/smiles/icon_lol.gif[/img]
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