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breeding tameing rats

16% protein is the minimum protein I would feed them. 23% is definitely better, especially for breeding females. The higher the protein content the less likely they are to eat the babies because of lack of proper nutrition.
 
Bobo's Mama said:
16% protein is the minimum protein I would feed them. 23% is definitely better, especially for breeding females. The higher the protein content the less likely they are to eat the babies because of lack of proper nutrition.
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Info I have found states that rats should not be fed over 24% protein. Ive found through my own errors that protein above 20% will often result in "scabbies" (scabbies is caused by too much protein in the diet ... it makes the skin itch and the rats will literally scratch the fur and skin off of themselves to cure the "itch", thus causing scabs). "Scabbies" will usually be most obvious on the throat area.

Higher protein is recommended for nursing females. But it is still recommended to be around 18%. I usually supplement their 16% lab block with hard boiled eggs or chicken/turkey bones every other week.

Bobo's suggestions fall into the 12-24% protein recommendation. So they are in no way wrong. The suggestions I gave what works for my rats (about 250 breeders), and a friends rats (about 100-120 breeders) that I clean up every tuesday.

I personally encourage some experimenting. There are differences in every colony and every keepers practices.

Bryan
 
Exactly ratsicles. "There are differences in every colony and every keepers practices." when i first started reading your post it almost ssounded ridiculous. But then again I've only lived around rats my whole life and only started breeding my myself recently. But then again like you said, theres diferences in every colony.
 
My rats also develop skin lesions and become "scabby" when their diet is too high in protien. I feed 22% and I see a definate reaction if I supplement with too many kitchen goodies (chicken and rib bone leftovers). Environmental changes such as sudden increase in heat and humidity (right now) also cause a large proportion of my rats to become extra itchy and their coats become patchy.

I see most of the reactions in the males who are not using the extra protien in producing young.
 
my males are fine but then again i give them bathes to wash away dead skin cells and extra fur. So none of my males are like that. and their on 23-25% protien
 
LOL! I imagine that does make a difference~ but as soon as I read that I tried to imagine myself with a bathtub full of a couple hundred wet, pissed off, adult breeder rats!!! LOL!

Thanks, I'll be giggling at that all day!

I imagine if you only have a few and can do that~ it probably would make a difference..............but I have just a few too many to do that with! LOL!
 
I have lie 4 adults and 12 subadults lol you try bathing 12 kids at once. and half of them are albino. i don't know whos who
 
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