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Post by Aftershock on Nov 19, 2017 20:39:16 GMT -5
Tonight's weights- Saffron- 310g Pepper- 192g Thyme- 200g Humphrey- 322g Sooooo, Saffron has gained 25g in two days! I think it's safe to say she is pregnant! Things I have noticed- all of the meat is HERS (pregnancy cravings you know)πππ, super tired (it generally looks like someone has spilled her wherever she is laying), weight gain, bigger abdomon, hair loss around nipples (they could just be bigger, I'm not 100% sure, she's quite squirmy), and surprisingly she is drinking a ton more water. *hyperventilates* BRING ON THE BABIES!!!
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Post by Sherry on Nov 20, 2017 9:16:09 GMT -5
Good luck!
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 21, 2017 0:10:13 GMT -5
Send halp- The preggo rat is determined to shred every last paper based item in their tub x.x That girl is on a mission!
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Post by Sherry on Nov 21, 2017 12:08:26 GMT -5
Gotta build that nest!
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 22, 2017 0:49:08 GMT -5
Today's weights:
Saffron- 349g Pepper- 207g Thyme- 215g Humphrey- 342g
So, a bit of unfortunate news- There's a bin chewer or two. I'm fairly sure it's Thyme and Saffron. The bins themselves have no ledges to chew, but the lids have some small tabs on the inside. There isn't much I can do currently- but I'm going to have to watch very carefully with any babies. I won't lie, I'm fairly irritated about this whole thing. I really wanted to leave females with their mothers after 5 weeks, but I'm going to have to separate asap and hope they don't pick up that awful habit.
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 24, 2017 1:35:46 GMT -5
So, Saffron turned into quite the jerk last night, she started boxing her cage mate, so long story short, she got put into her own tub. And we came home from my dad's house (thanksgiving), I walk past their cages, glance at her, and stop. She is skinny. Then I hear small squeaks. Erm. So I pull her tub down and open it to find squeakers. 15 to be exact. All have milk bands. She fretted a bit and tried to bury them, but only ever sniffed my hand. She was pregnant when I got her.
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Post by Sherry on Nov 24, 2017 8:35:18 GMT -5
Congratulations Baby ferret noms!
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 25, 2017 21:30:30 GMT -5
Tonight's weights- Saffron- 273g Pepper- 225g Thyme- 233g Humphrey- 343g So I haven't been very awesome at updating weights since the surprise squeakers x.x Well, ended up Saffron had 16 squeaks vs 15, but one passed away today. Looks like a FTT (failure to thrive). It didn't have much of a milk band this morning, so I was a bit worried. No worries though, 15 babies is still a lot π Squirmy babies! Edited to add, I ended up pulling her litter down to 9. I really didn't want to, but more rats or bigger, healthier rats was the question. I chose to pick the latter. These babies won't have to fight for food and Saffron won't be so taxed. I'm having mixed feelings. I'm sad, but I also understand it was something I needed to do for my ratties sake.
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Post by Sherry on Nov 26, 2017 9:16:59 GMT -5
Not a bad idea actually. And some early treats for the fuzz!
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 26, 2017 11:31:47 GMT -5
I see people usually pulling them down to 8, but I figured I'd keep an extra just in case (since I'm working on improving temperaments). I am seeing quite the difference already. Saffron doesn't look as worn out, she's poking around the cage more (not flat ratting), and babies aren't so noisy. They only really complained when I pulled them out this morning to check on them. Everyone has super nice milk bands and was pretty squirmy when I checked them! Also, I'm seeing some or what looks like dark hoods I can't wait to see what they look like! (Pardon the red stained bedding, they had raspberries the other night π)
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LexiH
New member
Posts: 30
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Post by LexiH on Nov 26, 2017 16:00:57 GMT -5
Unfortunately, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do. We had an accidental litter with our pet rats, as the pet store told us all three of our rats were girls, when one was in fact a boy. Luckily, we had nine healthy babies. I remember my brother telling me that if she had more than about 12 babies, some would probably die because mom just doesnβt have enough milk. P.S. when they get to be about 2 weeks old, they are soooooooo adorable! They look like little balls of peach fluffπ
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 27, 2017 1:12:42 GMT -5
Oh I know. Opening the freezer up to check the pinkies I put in there was heartbreaking though. They had all huddled into a pile and peed themselves. It was sad. Saffron was holding her own the great mom that she is (she would shift around every 20 minutes or so to make sure everyone ate). I dunno, I've heard that there is a major difference when you cull down a large litter. I plan on dual breeding later (feeder and pet) so I feel quality is better than quantity and I should get into the habit. This also helps me to pick temperaments later because I'm not going to worry SO much that I NEED to check milk bands every day. Seriously, I am SUPER excited for them to get fuzzy πππ hopefully I will have some friendly babies that will let me love on them!
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Post by Sherry on Nov 27, 2017 11:38:42 GMT -5
That would have been hard, but it is truly the only way to cull them unfortunately
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Post by Aftershock on Nov 29, 2017 0:25:12 GMT -5
Edited to include today's weights: Saffron- 272g Pepper- 252g Thyme- 268g Humphrey- 364g Especially since their need for oxygen is pretty low, so even if you tried to CO2 you would waste a ton of gas and time. Freezing up to 7 days old is the best way with them. On a side note- I built food troughs out of metal painting trays (the ones for wall rollers) I'm pretty proud of them. And I'm pretty sure Thyme is close to popping- she is very round right now πππ I'm also seeing prominent nipples on her. Pepper, I'm not sure. I hope she has a belly full of babies, she does seem a bit round too. Saffron and her babies are doing awesome, they squeak a lot and have darkened up from even yesterday. It really is so much fun to watch them grow!
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LexiH
New member
Posts: 30
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Post by LexiH on Nov 29, 2017 7:31:51 GMT -5
As long as you hold the babies often enough, and they grow up knowing what it feels like to be picked up and touched, they will become VERY friendly. I remember that when we would put our hands into the cage when the babies were around 2-3 weeks old, they would all try to crawl your arm. All of them, at once lol. It was so adorable!
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