Orphaned wildlings need help ASAP

[breakthenight]

Back story and knowledge base:

Hi. I have been out of the rat game a LONG time. Used to have many loved ratties, was into rescue, had a rescue female who had babies and went through that process. My last pair died in 2014? And life took over. I am now a mom to 6 kids, live in the country on a little homestead/farm.

What is going on now:

I mentioned I live on a farm. I found 4 orphaned/abandoned babies, around 3-5 days of age, according to my estimates, yesterday morning. They were ice cold, desperately dehydrated, and 2 were in horrible shape. I brought all 4 inside on a heated puppy pad, with blankets in a little closed top picnic style basket. 2 died within the first few hours- just very very end of life when discovered.

The last 2 girls weighted 11g and 12g respectively. I have fashioned a bottle out of a 1ml syringe and a teeny piece of wire insulator. They have just started overnight drinking a bit from it. I can never see milk bands- I'm not sure if they just aren't taking enough to see as they adapt to bottle and new milk taste, or if body is too dark or skin already too thick. I can't remember how long that bands show. They are now 12g and 13g. They do urinate after every feed and poop after most.

please give me ANY advice to help save these little babies. I know they are so young the chances are not in our favour, but I want to know I did everything I could.

 

[Kye]

From my personal knowledge milk bands tend to dissappear between 4-6 days old but if they're still alive I'd say they're eating! I want to warn you even though you have dealt with babies before, there is still a chance these two may die as well, especially if they were abandoned because of health issues instead of just killed. And wildies will always be more flighty and, well, wild compared to domestic born rats. Assuming you're keeping them, try to handle them as much as possible when their eyes open so they easily get used to you, otherwise I think you're doing everything perfectly! (at least I can't think of anything else)

 

[breakthenight]

From my personal knowledge milk bands tend to dissappear between 4-6 days old but if they're still alive I'd say they're eating! I want to warn you even though you have dealt with babies before, there is still a chance these two may die as well, especially if they were abandoned because of health issues instead of just killed. And wildies will always be more flighty and, well, wild compared to domestic born rats. Assuming you're keeping them, try to handle them as much as possible when their eyes open so they easily get used to you, otherwise I think you're doing everything perfectly! (at least I can't think of anything else)

absolutely prepared they will not make it. I know the chances are low, but I'm truly the patron saint of lost causes, haha. I have to know I did everything I could and if they die, they at least died warm and comfortable.

if they live I will keep them unless they prove entirely unsuitable to domestic life.

 

[breakthenight]

 

[breakthenight]

 

[breakthenight]

apologies for the dirt stained farm hands in the pics. this is the bottle I made them.

 

[Kye]

I'm also going to say they're about 4-5 days old, will probably start getting peach fuzz tomorrow or the day after! They are wicked cute, the syringe should work perfectly fine as long as you're careful not to aspirate them(just going slow will prevent it!). Seeing as they've already gained some weight makes me hopeful as well, keep an eye on the weight and make sure to assist them with going potty and things genuinely may be perfectly fine from here on out. Do keep us updated, and ask all the questions you need!

 

[breakthenight]

I'm also going to say they're about 4-5 days old, will probably start getting peach fuzz tomorrow or the day after! They are wicked cute, the syringe should work perfectly fine as long as you're careful not to aspirate them(just going slow will prevent it!). Seeing as they've already gained some weight makes me hopeful as well, keep an eye on the weight and make sure to assist them with going potty and things genuinely may be perfectly fine from here on out. Do keep us updated, and ask all the questions you need!

thanks. they have the slightest dusting of soft hair that appeared today- so I think 5 days makes sense. i'm hoping they keep doing okay. i am worried that they get too cold during feeds, since we aren't that fast yet, so I have been wrapping them in a baby blanket burrito and giving break half way to warm up and swapping half way so half a feed, next baby half a feed, first baby finish feed, second baby finish feed.

 

[breakthenight]

Oh, and is sharpie on the tail still considered the best method for marking babies, or have we come up with something better since 2009? LOL

 

[Kye]

That should work to give them a nice break! I don't think you have to worry too much about them getting cold during feedings especially if your hands are warm but better safe than sorry. As for the marking if you can do a dot of food dye on one until you can tell them apart that might work well, though it doesn't last as long as marker does so you could have to do frequent applications. Aside from those I'm actually not too sure about that.

 

[breakthenight]

That should work to give them a nice break! I don't think you have to worry too much about them getting cold during feedings especially if your hands are warm but better safe than sorry. As for the marking if you can do a dot of food dye on one until you can tell them apart that might work well, though it doesn't last as long as marker does so you could have to do frequent applications. Aside from those I'm actually not too sure about that.

I can sort of tell them apart (One is stockier) but they change so much in order to keep accurate records I think I need to mark one.

unrelated, they have started recognizing me/my smell as 'mama' and when I put my hand in they bury themselves between my fingers. Very adorable.

 

[Kye]

Awhhhhh I'm glad they're already attached!

 

[breakthenight]

Awhhhhh I'm glad they're already attached!

makes my mantra of "Don't get attached" pretty hard LOL

 

[Kye]

makes my mantra of "Don't get attached" pretty hard LOL

Oh I believe it! But at least they'll also know they're loved even if the worst case happens.

 

[breakthenight]

3am feed, I officially had to wrap them in little baby ritten burritos in order to get them still enough to poke the bottle in. They were so excited LOL

 

[breakthenight]

so kind of you. thankyou for your service sir. many people would just ignore or hurt them. bless you and your family. thanks again.

Adult wild rats sometimes need to be managed for the safety of our family and livestock. These babies harmed no one, and every living creature deserves respect <3

 

[breakthenight]

we survived night 2. Babies are completely covered in a velvet soft, glossy fuzz, but it is not very long yet. I know we are not nearly out of the woods (and in fact we are still deep within the forest)- but It's nice to have another night under our belts. I am surprised we made it this far.

 

[Kye]

we survived night 2. Babies are completely covered in a velvet soft, glossy fuzz, but it is not very long yet. I know we are not nearly out of the woods (and in fact we are still deep within the forest)- but It's nice to have another night under our belts. I am surprised we made it this far.

I'm unreasonably thrilled to hear this. Yay! Baby fuzz!!

 

[breakthenight]

I'm unreasonably thrilled to hear this. Yay! Baby fuzz!!

Thank you. I am insanely worried about accidentally aspirating them. I've been trying to think up alternative bottle designs (they each have their own of the original design). They weren't taking enough with the paint brush.

 

[Kye]

Thank you. I am insanely worried about accidentally aspirating them. I've been trying to think up alternative bottle designs (they each have their own of the original design). They weren't taking enough with the paint brush.

In all honesty as long as you go slow with it and don't over fill their mouths they should be fine. Another alternative could be an eyedropper but it's the same story, go slow. That's going to be the case with anything you use just because they're so small