URGENT: Relocated orphan rat babies (help)

The Rat Shack Forum

Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Username

Active Member
Joined
Aug 25, 2017
Messages
27
Location
NULL
I found five orphaned rat babies (mama's dead) and relocated them. They have with them a box (small and cardboard) with a handful of hay in it. I had a busy day and didn't think much of it at the time, only that I'd prevented them from getting killed my by not so rat friendly housemates, but now I've had time to sit, I realize this maybe wasn't the best idea.
I'm not sure how old they are. They have fur and can move (one even sprung forward when I tried to pick it up). I can't recall if their eyes were open, but I think they were. I have some pictures. I don't know if you can tell their age by them, but they're attached anyway.
I apologize for the ramble, but I want to do best by them. What do you guys think I should do? Will they be okay on their own? Should I take them food regularly, or will that make them dependant? Should I bring them back here and feed them until they're older? When can rats survive without their mamas?
I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but they're wild, black rats.
(I have no idea what I'm doing, if you couldn't tell.)
 
Last edited:
Where are you located ... asking because I rescued a nursing mama rat and her babies
They are likely too young to survive on their own and will likely die. Depending on how young they are, they may not yet be weaned, if weaned may be too young to be able to find food, and not know how to find food, water shelter, how to avoid predators etc.

If they have fur and their eyes are open then they may be starting to eat solids in addition to nursing ..... if their eyes are not open, they need to be hand fed kitten milk replacer from the vet. I have read that squirrel milk replacer is better for baby rats http://www.mcssl.com/store/17128612/milk-replacers

Unfortunately your pictures are not attached

Baby rats hand raised can not be released into the wild as they will not know how to survive.

Here are some links: http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm
http://www.afrma.org/orphanrm.htm
http://www.joinrats.com/RatHealth/OOPS/Orphans/

See facebook group Deer Mouse Domesticated & Friends ..... it discusses raising wild babies

Many people have taken in and raised wild baby rats and kept them as pets - because they will not survive if released because they have no mama to teach them how to survive and care for them.
Most Wildlife Rescue/Rehab places will use rodents like baby rats as food for other animals

I hope that you can go find them and raise them .... poor babies
Please let us know
and pictures would help us to be able to tell how old they are and what they need
 
Last edited:
I'm not sure if it makes a difference, but they're wild, black rats.

Are you sure they are wild because wild rats (and some pet rats) are agouti coloured.
Black rats (at least around here) are not wild, they are pets that someone abandoned outside to die.

Have you foud the missing 3 babies yet?
 
Are you sure they are wild because wild rats (and some pet rats) are agouti coloured.
Black rats (at least around here) are not wild, they are pets that someone abandoned outside to die.

Have you foud the missing 3 babies yet?

Not yet... I'm going to head back to the site again this afternoon when I'm free, though. Fingers crossed.
 
Back
Top