How Young Can Rats Breed?
WouterRats can reproduce as early as four to five weeks of age. The first sign of labor is a bloody discharge from the vulva. The mother then sits up and begins to deliver the babies. During labor, the mother will suck in her sides and stretch out her belly. Once she delivers the babies, she will begin to clean up the birth sac and lick the newborn. She will also eat the umbilical cord and placenta.
Rats can also breed at any age. In fact, there have been reports of rat females giving birth at the age of over two years. This is likely because the owners of these old males assumed that the females were past breeding age. This mistake led to an abundance of babies. A rat’s reproductive age can also be affected by weather conditions, particularly hot summers or extremely dark winters.
While there is no AFRMA standard for breeding age, most responsible breeders will breed female rats at four to five months. However, females over eight months may not be able to deliver the babies normally and will need to undergo a Cesarean section. This can result in a litter of deformed kittens.
Inbreeding is another issue to consider. Rats have genetic issues that are passed on in their offspring. Consequently, breeders should perform necropsies on any animals in their line. This will help them understand the cause of death in their animals. However, this procedure can be costly.
