How Long Do Baby Rats Stay With Their Mother?

A rat’s gestation period is typically around 22 days, but can vary from 21 to 23 days. Once a rat pup is born, its mother will continue feeding it until the baby is about four to five weeks old. After that, the baby rat will be separated from the mother. During the first two weeks after birth, you can notice the baby rat’s eyes and ears opening and its fur beginning to grow. The mammary glands will also begin to expand.

A newborn rat is much smaller than a grown-up rat, and it has baby teeth and whiskers. They are also very thin and have no pigment in their skin. Because their uterus is shaped like a Y, babies may get stuck in the bottom part of the Y, making it difficult to deliver them. If the baby is stuck, you can gently massage the baby’s abdomen to help reposition it. If the baby does not stay with the mother, the veterinarian can prescribe antibiotics to prevent infection.

The mother rat’s period of nursing varies depending on the sex of the babies. If there are more than five pups of one sex, it is best to separate them into two separate cages. If the pups are tiny, you can use dry food, and add a water bottle to one. If it is still small, you can keep an eye on the new pups and add a sticky note to their cage card.