Murderous Moms?

[capslock]

Someone told me that they have seen many mother rats kill a litter of their 4 week old pups, for absolutely no reason.
She said it happens "all the time" for no reason" but I have never heard of this.
Is it true?

 

[eagle]

Anything can happen. Just like people murder people for no apparent reason other than just because they can.

 

[jorats]

I have not ever heard of a mom rat kill her entire litter. I'm sure it happens but no, it's not common at all.

 

[capslock]

She said it happens 1/5 times, but I have NEVER heard of it.
Especially a litter of that age.

 

[minnow]

I can see it happening either if the pups have health problems or if there's overcrowding or if mama's really stressed, but usually even in those cases it happens in the "squirming jellybean" stage of development, before they get fur and eyes and such. CCRR had a surrender with lots of pregnant rats a short while back, and not one of them killed her pups.

 

[SQ]

She said it happens "all the time" for no reason" but I have never heard of this.Is it true?

No.

 

[capslock]

Thanks!
I was paranoid!

 

[Moon]

I can see it happening either if the pups have health problems or if there's overcrowding or if mama's really stressed, but usually even in those cases it happens in the "squirming jellybean" stage of development, before they get fur and eyes and such. CCRR had a surrender with lots of pregnant rats a short while back, and not one of them killed her pups.

I'll pretty much relay that exact reply.