All of our rats are kept in same-sex groups with space to move, climb, dig, and rest. Not only do they get enrichment in their cage but we also do plenty of free roaming time. Rats thrive in larger groups so I try to keep them in groups of 5+.

Check out the gallery and our facebook page to see the cages and our facility!

Block/Kibble Diet:

Our rats are mainly fed an 18% protein Kalmbach diet but I am looking to switch as some rat owners reported grain mites. I am always on the hunt to find what works best for my rats but this is what we currently feed. In a pinch, we sometimes feed Mazuri Breeder 6F but the protein is higher than ideal. I also found the fat content to be to high for one of my lines, causing weight gain.

Homemade Mix:

I have a homemade diet mix that I adjust based on health, sex, life stage, etc. This mix makes up a good portion of their diet as it is balanced to the best of my ability.

Treats and Fresh Foods:

All the rats get fresh foods a few times a week. This is not only for enrichment but to offer higher quality, organic foods. They are also given treats and edible chews.

Birth - Week 2: Brand new babies are checked daily to ensure they are healthy and thriving. The first few days of a baby's life is the most vulnerable so I try to limit my contact other than checking each babies condition and maybe taking a few, quick pictures.

Week 2 - Week 3: Eyes open and they begin to explore their environment (as if they weren't trying to already)

Week 3 - Week 6: As they build strength and coordination I adjust their cages accordingly. Around 4 weeks I do a small temperament evaluation to see their natural response.

Week 6 : The litter is separated by gender and introduced to rats they have never met before. There is a lot of value in learning social behaviors from rats other than mom and siblings.

Week 7 : I do a full temperament assessment on each baby. Test items differ than the 4 week evaluation. I like to call this week "BOOTCAMP"! After assessments the babies will spend the week being exposed to every day things and novelty. This includes: the vacuum, loud music, dogs barking, human handling, free roaming, running wheels, cat/dog/snake smells, etc.

Week 8: They can go-home!

Maintaining the health of my rats is my top priority. A notable safeguard we implement is being a "closed rattery". This means who enters the facility is limited to protect the rats health. This means no tours or meeting the rats, unfortunately.