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Pic Request: Mice/ Rat Rack Systems

Stephen29

Stephen29

New member
Hey Everybody,

I'm in the beginning phase of building a mice breeding rack.
I would love to see some photos, of different rack systems . Especially from those of you who have 10 trays/ pans (ex. cat litter tray ) or better.

And if the Large scale breeders, like ( Rich Z, Don Soderberg, Kathy Love, Joe Pierce, etc would like to submit photos, that would be EXCELLENT !!!

Feel free to tell me about your system, what you feed, the ratio of males to females, etc, etc.

Thanks , Stephen
 
I've always used rubbermaids/sterlite. They are large and I can house 7-6 breeders in them no problem. 1 male to 5-6 females. I feed a block made by purina that is formulated for colonies to be the most productive.
I have pics here... Valley Pets
Ryan
 
I'm a little surprised , I had just one person to respond to this.

Thought this might be a interesting thread for all the mice breeders out here. Guess I was wrong.

Thanks for the reply , Ryan.
 
Stephen,

I don't have pictures at the moment, but I use custom built metal units. They hold up to 40 cat litter bins. My rat units hold bus boy bins (from a restaurant supply company) and I think hold 12. Actually, I have one of each of those racks available if you are looking to purchase instead of build.
 
I don't have pictures, but when I was breeding fancy rats and mice (as pets, not feeders), I started with 10 and 20 gal aquariums with home made (from hardware cloth) lids and feeder baskets.

Then I switched over to plastic lab cages with pre-made metal lids and square glass water bottles, and feed ProLab RMH blocks. They were much easier to clean and more of them fit in the space used by the tanks.

Later I switched to an AgSelect watering system. When I cut back down to a handful of pet rats, I moved them all into large, multi-level Martin's cages and kept using the AgSelect. Now that I have a single cage of pet rats, I'm back to a very large wire cage and a large capacity water bottle.
 
I also use the small lab breeder cages for mice. No rack. Just one shelf oh a wire shelving unit.

I have 3-4 colonies of 1.2 mice and 1 or 2 grow out tubs
 
batwrangler said:
I don't have pictures, but when I was breeding fancy rats and mice (as pets, not feeders), I started with 10 and 20 gal aquariums with home made (from hardware cloth) lids and feeder baskets.

Then I switched over to plastic lab cages with pre-made metal lids and square glass water bottles, and feed ProLab RMH blocks. They were much easier to clean and more of them fit in the space used by the tanks.

Later I switched to an AgSelect watering system. When I cut back down to a handful of pet rats, I moved them all into large, multi-level Martin's cages and kept using the AgSelect. Now that I have a single cage of pet rats, I'm back to a very large wire cage and a large capacity water bottle.
Click to expand...

How did the AgSelect watering system work for you ? Any clogs, or floods with this system ? Are the drippers expensive ?

Thanks, Stephen
 
Stephen29 said:
How did the AgSelect watering system work for you ? Any clogs, or floods with this system ? Are the drippers expensive ?

Thanks, Stephen
Click to expand...

I liked it a lot and still have my equipment in case I decide to breed again. I used the var-flo drippers which are semi-adjustable so you can tinker with them a bit to regulate flow. The only floods I had were due to not using enough stand-offs at first to keep the hoses out of reach of the rats. The valve on the water supply needed to be taken apart and cleaned every couple of months, but that was quick and easy. Once in a great while a dripper clogged, but since I always checked the flow whenever I filled the food baskets or cleaned cages, that wasn't a problem either.

Looks like prices have gone up a bit since I bought mine, but a starter kit and an add-one kit would give you nine drippers and plenty of hose, and run you just under $75. (http://www.agselect.com/ED/Category.cfm?&DID=11&CATID=12)
 
Here are some pics of one of my racks. I have always used rubbermaid containers and like them alot. I used to use water bottles but have gone to Ag Select type drippers now. I'll never go back to water bottles. I've had a few floods but very few. I run 1.5 mice in each tub. They get a little crowded if I have several litters of hoppers in there at the same time. 1.3 might be better.
 

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wade said:
I built them. I enjoy doing that kind of thing.
Click to expand...
Great work . I wish i knew how to do so . Expecially since my wife and i have planed to expand our collection in the following years .
 
wade said:
Here are some pics of one of my racks. I have always used rubbermaid containers and like them alot. I used to use water bottles but have gone to Ag Select type drippers now. I'll never go back to water bottles. I've had a few floods but very few. I run 1.5 mice in each tub. They get a little crowded if I have several litters of hoppers in there at the same time. 1.3 might be better.
Click to expand...


There we go !! Nice set up Wade. How often do you have to fill up that water bucket ? I noticed you live in Utah. How cool does it get in that garage during the winter ? Do the mice still breed ? Do you have a heat source ?

Thanks, Stephen
 
Stephen29 said:
There we go !! Nice set up Wade. How often do you have to fill up that water bucket ? I noticed you live in Utah. How cool does it get in that garage during the winter ? Do the mice still breed ? Do you have a heat source ?

Thanks, Stephen
Click to expand...


Inside the water bucket I modified a water valve for a toilet tank so the bucket stays full always. I have 4 racks like this and have never had a problem with the buckets. Every once in a while I'll have a dripper clog up but that is the only problem I've had.

I live in southwest Utah. Our corner of the state is different than the rest of the state. During the summer we have probably 30 days that are over 110*. In the winter my garage stays around 65*. I air condition it in the summer to stay around 75*. My mice and rats breed year around.
 
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