Our Rat Does
Our rat does are the mainstay of our showing and breeding convictions.
We don't overbreed our does as they are our pets first and foremost. If a doe is deemed suitable to breed from, and we have a suitable buck for her, we will breed at about 4-6months old. The age will depend on the growth and maturity of the particular doe.
We have our does in female groups. We take the doe out and put her with 'her' boyfriend for about 8-10 days to see if he gets her pregnant. At this point, if she is a very sociable doe we will put her back in the cage with her friends. If she would rather be on her own until the birth we will house her in one of our 'birthing boxes' where she will stay until the babies are about 3 weeks old and roaming around the nest. At this time we will re-house the mother and babies in a suitable wire cage, usually a freddy2 or a critter 1 or 2 depending what is available for her and whether she has a large litter or not.
If the mother has returned to her cagemates we will take her out about 3-4 days before she is due to give birth. At this point she will be housed, again, in one of our 'birthing boxes' and be treated as a normal pregnant doe.
Our does are fed on a high protein diet throughout there lives, pregnancy and lactation.
Our Retired Does.
Skye
Skye passed away at the end of June.
R.I.P little one.
Skye is named after my Granddaughter 'Skye-Leigh' and is a Russian Blue Satin Rex doe who we, again, bought from Sandra in Middlesbrough. She is now 2yrs old and has had three litters here with us. We bought her as a kitten and she is a lovely friendly girl.