How Often Rats Breed
WouterThe question of how often rats breed is a common question, but there is no hard and fast rule for this. The age of reproductive maturity of females can vary between individual rats and across lines. It may be anywhere from three months to 18 months. Females begin breeding around three months of age and reach maximum fertility at around ten months of age. The age of middle-age in female rats is around nine months, but their reproductive systems are still fully functional. Some breeders have had success with breeding females between nine months and one year old.
The usual litter size is between eight and eighteen pups. Female rats are very good mothers, but can become stressed after giving birth. This can be due to pain from the delivery and disturbances in their environment. A poor diet can also cause stress for female rats. However, these animals will eventually recover and regain their former status.
The time period for breeding in a rat depends on its breed and the environmental factors. For example, female rats can reach sexual maturity as early as six weeks old, but this is not the norm. In addition, the time for gestation is dependent on the rat’s health and nutrition. In some rare circumstances, female rats can breed as early as five weeks. Typically, it is best to separate males and females at this time.
