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 #1992256


Kumi
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 Girl rat helping with litter?

My rat, Naomi had babies on April 7th, 11 of them. I have two other female rats, one gets/is a bully to the other girls, so I had to separate them, but put the other girl, Mia with Naomi to keep her company.

We think Mia might be pregnant from when we got her from the pet store, and suddenly, she kind of stole Naomi’s babies or something, she just put the on the other side of the cage and started to care for them, but as far as I know she isn’t able to nurse them and I don’t want them to have a tug-o-war or keep them away from their mom to the point where they get dehydrated.

Is this normal or should she be taken out?
04/24/09  06:20am

 #1992311


Greatballzofire
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   Message To: Kumi   In reference to Message Id: 1992256


 Girl rat helping with litter?

Its normal for females to steal other females’ babies, but if the thief is not lactating the babies will not fare well. Also the mama rat will get stressed out what with the disturbance in her nest. So I would take the kidnapper out, so the mama rat can have some peace and quiet, and the babies can get proper nourishment.
04/24/09  09:04am

 #1992546


Tefoe
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   Message To: Kumi   In reference to Message Id: 1992256


 Girl rat helping with litter?

Yep, it’d be different if the other female was able to nurse them......
04/24/09  05:54pm

 #1992768


Kumi
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   Message To: Tefoe   In reference to Message Id: 1992546


 Girl rat helping with litter?

well we were right, she did have babies, but only four!!? we put her in the main cage because we didn’t think she’d have them so soon and I know she was keeping the other rats from the bottom part where she had her babies. We had work and I was sure I checked them before I left at 5, and I only got back at 1 now, I don’t know if she had any birthing problems, she seems okay and energetic, (and yes I have enough room for them all). I just wasnt sure if 4 babies (compared to 11 with Naomi) is normal or not, but it should be easy for her to care for them compared to 11
04/25/09  03:26am

 #1992842


Fairy Frog Mother
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   Message To: Kumi   In reference to Message Id: 1992768


 Girl rat helping with litter?

If the babies are bigger than the other ones that were born, chances are good that she only had 4. And if she had her litter this close to stealing the other babies, chances are she was lactating. She would be your dominant female most likely if she is stealing the babies and caring for them.

4 is a small litter, but not unheard of.
11 is a good sized litter.

Good luck with them.
04/25/09  10:01am


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