Good Karma
Well-Known Member
Just a quick question: how old should are rat babies be when they go to their new homes?
Thanks,
Tara
Thanks,
Tara
When do babies leave their mom?
- Thread starter Good Karma
- Start date
Help Support The Rat Shack Forum:
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
Ideally, 6 weeks old for girls, 5 weeks old for boys but the boys should remain together until 6 weeks. This is better for them socially.
Good Karma
Well-Known Member
Thanks Joanne,
And when you get wee babies, when is the best time to introduce them to your older rats?
And when you get wee babies, when is the best time to introduce them to your older rats?
jorats
Loving rats since 2002.
It really would depend on how docile the older rats are. Some older rats welcome young ones, as young as 6 weeks but then some will attack the babies.
Personally, I like to wait till the babies are at least 2 months old.
Personally, I like to wait till the babies are at least 2 months old.
Good Karma
Well-Known Member
Thanks!
I am asking because my friend had an accidental litter and i will be adopting a few. They were born at the end of October she says. I hope that is still young enough to do lots of beneficial socialization and handling. I missed out with the adolescences i adopted and it makes such a difference.
I am asking because my friend had an accidental litter and i will be adopting a few. They were born at the end of October she says. I hope that is still young enough to do lots of beneficial socialization and handling. I missed out with the adolescences i adopted and it makes such a difference.
meep
Well-Known Member
Seperate them between 4,5-5 weeks. de girls offcourse can stay longer with ther mother. I introduce baby rats when there at least 125 gram. with that weight, if a rat bites, the baby is big enough to survive it. My 2 youngsters i introduced when they were around 6/7 weeks old. but i have to say that my 4 guys are all castrated and very laid back and easy to new baby rats. If you have a few more aggressive ones, i HIGHLY recommend to wait with the introducion till the little one is at least 125 gram.
Edit; If your friend is holding the babyrats in her hands every day (most ppl hold them in there hands since day 1) they should be very socialized. so no worries.
Even older rats you can socialize. I had a very young mother who was frightened of people, it took me a year but even she became friendly and curieus towards people. but baby rats are easy to soicalize.
Edit; If your friend is holding the babyrats in her hands every day (most ppl hold them in there hands since day 1) they should be very socialized. so no worries.
Even older rats you can socialize. I had a very young mother who was frightened of people, it took me a year but even she became friendly and curieus towards people. but baby rats are easy to soicalize. If your friend has been handling the babies and interacting with them as she should be, they should be very well socialized even if they're older. There may still be an adjustment period while they get used to you and their new home, but nothing like a pet store rat who has never been handled at all.
I always wait until they are 10-12 weeks for boys who are being introduced to full grown, intact males. If the other boys are younger, then I would be comfortable a bit earlier than that.
I also find that the longer the 'new' boys are in my home the better if I am doing introductions, and not just immediately after their quarantine is up.
I also find that the longer the 'new' boys are in my home the better if I am doing introductions, and not just immediately after their quarantine is up.
