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Breeding Practices
The foundations of my lines come from Charlotte at Goedrics Hollow Stud, and Lisa at Halcyon Stud, who have been breeding and showing rats successfully for many years and are all active members of the rat fancy.
I breed when it suits both me and my current rats, not in response to an increased demand for kittens, so I only pair rats a few of times a year. I breed primarily for show, and any kittens that I do not keep will be homed out to pet homes. The rats I keep to show and breed from stay with me for their whole lives. My does have litters once or very occasionally twice in their lifetime, and won't be bred before I feel they are ready (5 months of age at the earliest). I use Alaska hamster cages as mating/birthing cages, and to house kittens whilst they are still very young. When kittens are old enough, they are moved into Coco Large cages until they are homed (litter size permitting). Kittens are homed out from the 8 weeks and up (7 weeks if they are ready), in same sex trios, or in pairs if you already have rats.
I do not sell rats as food for other animals , and I will not sell you a lone rat.
Cages
My rats are kept in Critter Nation cages, with deep perspex bases to maximise space and digging opportunities. When I have large groups, the middle level is taken out to make the cage more active. When I have smaller groups, I split them in half and use it as 2 single cages. I like to fill my cages up with lots of branches, ropes, perches, and other climbing and perching opportunities to keep my rats fit and entertained. I also use appropriately sized (14"-16") running wheels. Providing enrichment and opportunities for natural behaviours are my absolute priorities when setting up a cage.
Substrate
It is so important to provide rats with a decent quality, and amount of substrate to be able to forage and dig in. Currently, my rats use Pureflake extra wood shavings but I also like Finacard, and Hunters wood shavings.
Nesting materials are an important form of enrichment too. I like to use a variety of things such as: brown packing paper, dust free hay, tea bag bedding, and kitchen roll.
A good guide to choosing a substrate from @realratresources on instagram.
The recipe guide I use to make my mix.
Diet
My rats are fed on a balanced mix that I make myself, based on the Shunamite diet. The exact ingredients change each time I make up a new batch, this depends on what I have available or need to use up and also how good my rats are looking / what I think that they need more of. Another good option for diet is an Isa-mix from rat rations. About twice a week my rats will get an additional fresh meal with all of their added supplements and various oils, which keeps them looking healthy and shiny. My mix ingredients can be found below:
Mix Ingredients
Base mix 50-60%
Red mills conditioning mix, Harrisons banana brunch, Allen & Page stud and youngstock mix.
Processed grains 20-25%
Low sugar rice krispies, pearl barley, small amounts of pasta, barley rings, egg noodles, cheap brands of weetabix, buckwheat, wholegrain rice.
Protein 5-10%
James Wellbeloved fish and rice dog food, fish4dogs dog kibble, dried sprats, dried shrimp, pea flakes, small amounts of mealworms.
Herbs/veg 5-10%
Whatever I have put in my food dehydrator in the weeks/months beforehand.
Seeds 5%
Rat rations seed mix and a few chopped up millet sprays.
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