How Often Rats Reproduce
WouterRats reproduce throughout the year and can have up to eight litters per year. Female rats become pregnant as early as 21 to 28 days after birth and stay pregnant for three weeks. Rats reproduce quickly, and the reproduction rate of two rats can lead to a population explosion of over one million rats in a year.
Rats reproduce continuously if they live in favorable conditions, such as in the soil or inside the home. The average female rat will have five litters a year, each containing around eight babies. The average female rat will have 40 young in her lifetime. Rats are nocturnal, but they can breed throughout the year, as long as the food and shelter are available. During the spring and fall, female rats become pregnant within 48 hours.
Female rats go into season every four to five days. You can tell that a female rat is in heat when she begins to arch her back excessively and displays other reproductive signs. If you notice this behavior, you should remove the male and leave the female alone until it comes back into season. During this time, female rats are also likely to abandon their babies, due to a lack of food and water.
While most female rats are great mothers, they have problems giving birth to a baby if they are stressed. Stress is usually caused by a painful birth, but it can also result from other environmental factors. Poor nutrition can also cause stress. If the baby is unable to survive the birth, you can try to remove the baby before it is born.
