How Old Rats Breed
WouterDo you know how old rats breed? If you are planning to start breeding rats, then you will need to know when to start. Female rats are most fertile when they are around four to five months of age. It is not recommended to breed them older because they may not be able to deliver babies properly. This may even require a Cesarean section.
Mother rats are good mothers, but they can sometimes be difficult to deal with. It is not uncommon for a mother to kill her own babies due to stress. This could be a result of a poor diet, but there are ways to help a stressed mother cope with her new role as a mother. If she becomes overly stressed, you can remove her babies and put them in a different enclosure until she settles down.
You should always remember that older rats are not ready for breeding. They will need medical attention in their old age. You should always have necropsies done on any animals in your line. The results of these necropsies can help you understand what caused a particular rat to die. These procedures are not cheap but can be helpful.
The age at which a female rat starts reproducing is dependent on its line and individual characteristics. In general, a female rat’s reproductive age is between nine and 18 months. A female rat is still capable of laying eggs even when she reaches this age, though the cycle becomes irregular. As a result, her reproductive system ages, which can result in increased problems with labor and birth defects. However, male rats can impregnate a female rat as early as five weeks of age. Consequently, male rats can breed for most of their lives.
