Showing posts with label breeding. Show all posts
Showing posts with label breeding. Show all posts

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Stillborns

Isis had her babies last night. We're not sure what was wrong, but they were small and weak, and some stillborn. Only four pups. One lived awhile, and we put it on a warm pad, gently rubbed/stimulated it, and tried to give it little drops of Pediasure. Isis wouldn't take care of it. She wasn't ready to nurse anyways, which is probably the reason. I think she dropped them too soon. It was so sad. We will try to breed her and Chaucer again after she recovers. I hope it was just an anomoly, and not a genetic predisposition. Here's hoping, because they would be such wonderful to breed together.

I shall always remember the one who struggled to live - he had such cute, tiny whiskers...

Monday, July 23, 2007

Hoping for Babies

We've been trying for over 6 weeks now to get rat babies. I've witnessed many matings, seen the signs of the doe in heat, had the pair living together for weeks, etc. but...no babies. Why is it when you don't want babies they happen, and when you do, they don't?! If anyone has tips, please let me know. These two are not getting any younger! They come from the same line, are cousins, and long-lived, so a great pairing if we can be successful...