Post by Aftershock on Nov 12, 2017 12:01:03 GMT -5
So, the store I usually get duck has decided they won't carry the brand I have been getting anymore and they aren't willing to order it in. They aren't even reliable when they DO order me in items. I get a phone call telling me my items are in, and if I don't pick them up right after they call me, they put the items on the floor. I'm all sorts of irritated.
I have mentioned to my husband before that I wanted to raise mice, and we talked about it again recently. Well, I did the math and it would take 144 mice per month to feed the ferrets alone -.- so I started looking into rats. None of the pet stores sell them. I did manage to find some on craigslist in a town about 30 min away for $2 per rat.
Now I have four ratties that I will be breeding for noms. ^-^
Male- poor dumbo albino (seems to have a small amount of rex) Humphrey AKA 'The Duke of Hump' 303g
Females-
Saffron- dumbo, beige hood 257g (she's a BIG girly)
Pepper- standard, black with white belly 178g
Thyme- dumbo, brown hood 178g
AKA 'The Spice girls'
Temperaments-
These guys were only bred as feeders, which is fine, but they are fairly skiddish. When I first brought them home (11/8) they were curious about me and my hands, but were fairly jumpy about being touched. I have realized taming rats is VERY different from every other animal. You have to be 'pushy'. The more you are in their space and show them they have nothing to fear, the faster they realize you won't hurt them.
I have really only been pushing my attentions on them for two days, and my efforts have been rewarded. The girls have decided that face pets are relaxing.
Humphrey is still fairly standoffish and flinchy.
Pepper is so far the most friendly, which has been a pleasant surprise as she was the most shy coming home.
Thyme is the most outgoing and curious, she is eating food that I hold for her.
Saffron is curious and mellow, she responds the best to my voice.
Health-
So, we have ran across some issues. Humphrey has been having some respiratory issues since we got him home. I gave them some egg noodles with minced garlic and butter on 11/10. He had more pep the next day so I boiled some minced garlic (one clove per rat) and honey, strained it, and put it in their water. They LOVE it. Seriously, I watched Saffron, Humphrey, and Thyme (rolled over on her back) all drink from the bottle at once. lmao
The garlic is an immune booster, not a cure.
I am seeing improvement though<3
Diet-
I am feeding them the mix HERE. I have done a bit more research and will only be feeding fruits once a week (too much sugar is bad), and meat/egg twice a week.
I am going off of the calculations of feeding approx 10g per 100g of the rats bodyweight to prevent over feeding and therefore them only picking out favorites. I am feeding the grain mix in the morning, and veggies/protein/fruit at night. My veggies I am rotating through are cauliflower, broccoli, and zucchini (favorite) currently. I will be adding in more variety the next time we go shopping.
Habitat-
They are currently in a 56quart tub. I originally bought these for mice, and they are too small for breeding rats. I will use these as quarantine/travel/cleaning day tubs in the future. I am currently waiting on some IRIS (highly recommended brand) 91quart tubs. Estimated arrival is 11/14. I will have to separate them into groups of two. 91quart tubs only have enough room for a ratio of 2:1. I sadly could not find 110quart tubs. I ordered these from Target. I am currently using pine shavings and have given them some fleece strips for nesting and a cardboard hiding place.
Notes-
I have been pleasantly surprised with these little guys. I expected them to have more of a smell, but even my husband has mentioned they don't have much of a smell. They try to use the corners as restrooms, so I will probably be litter box training them when I get the new tubs. They are really clean little creatures.
Also, THEY ARE SO SOFT. Like, that level of soft when ferrets are shedding their summer coats and have that super short AMAZINGLY soft coat. I just wanna pet them SO MUCH.
Humphrey seems to be doing his job now that he's feeling a bit better, so hopefully we will have some babies in a few weeks.
Rat pile!
I have mentioned to my husband before that I wanted to raise mice, and we talked about it again recently. Well, I did the math and it would take 144 mice per month to feed the ferrets alone -.- so I started looking into rats. None of the pet stores sell them. I did manage to find some on craigslist in a town about 30 min away for $2 per rat.
Now I have four ratties that I will be breeding for noms. ^-^
Male- poor dumbo albino (seems to have a small amount of rex) Humphrey AKA 'The Duke of Hump' 303g
Females-
Saffron- dumbo, beige hood 257g (she's a BIG girly)
Pepper- standard, black with white belly 178g
Thyme- dumbo, brown hood 178g
AKA 'The Spice girls'
Temperaments-
These guys were only bred as feeders, which is fine, but they are fairly skiddish. When I first brought them home (11/8) they were curious about me and my hands, but were fairly jumpy about being touched. I have realized taming rats is VERY different from every other animal. You have to be 'pushy'. The more you are in their space and show them they have nothing to fear, the faster they realize you won't hurt them.
I have really only been pushing my attentions on them for two days, and my efforts have been rewarded. The girls have decided that face pets are relaxing.
Humphrey is still fairly standoffish and flinchy.
Pepper is so far the most friendly, which has been a pleasant surprise as she was the most shy coming home.
Thyme is the most outgoing and curious, she is eating food that I hold for her.
Saffron is curious and mellow, she responds the best to my voice.
Health-
So, we have ran across some issues. Humphrey has been having some respiratory issues since we got him home. I gave them some egg noodles with minced garlic and butter on 11/10. He had more pep the next day so I boiled some minced garlic (one clove per rat) and honey, strained it, and put it in their water. They LOVE it. Seriously, I watched Saffron, Humphrey, and Thyme (rolled over on her back) all drink from the bottle at once. lmao
The garlic is an immune booster, not a cure.
I am seeing improvement though<3
Diet-
I am feeding them the mix HERE. I have done a bit more research and will only be feeding fruits once a week (too much sugar is bad), and meat/egg twice a week.
I am going off of the calculations of feeding approx 10g per 100g of the rats bodyweight to prevent over feeding and therefore them only picking out favorites. I am feeding the grain mix in the morning, and veggies/protein/fruit at night. My veggies I am rotating through are cauliflower, broccoli, and zucchini (favorite) currently. I will be adding in more variety the next time we go shopping.
Habitat-
They are currently in a 56quart tub. I originally bought these for mice, and they are too small for breeding rats. I will use these as quarantine/travel/cleaning day tubs in the future. I am currently waiting on some IRIS (highly recommended brand) 91quart tubs. Estimated arrival is 11/14. I will have to separate them into groups of two. 91quart tubs only have enough room for a ratio of 2:1. I sadly could not find 110quart tubs. I ordered these from Target. I am currently using pine shavings and have given them some fleece strips for nesting and a cardboard hiding place.
Notes-
I have been pleasantly surprised with these little guys. I expected them to have more of a smell, but even my husband has mentioned they don't have much of a smell. They try to use the corners as restrooms, so I will probably be litter box training them when I get the new tubs. They are really clean little creatures.
Also, THEY ARE SO SOFT. Like, that level of soft when ferrets are shedding their summer coats and have that super short AMAZINGLY soft coat. I just wanna pet them SO MUCH.
Humphrey seems to be doing his job now that he's feeling a bit better, so hopefully we will have some babies in a few weeks.
Rat pile!