Husbandry
This page contains details on how I keep my own rats. I am always open to new suggestions and am willing to discuss any aspect of my rat care. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me.
- The Rat Shed
- Cages
- Substrate, Litter and Bedding
- Cleaning out
- Toys, Beds and Cage furniture
- Free-range and Handling
- Feeding
- Healthcare
The Rat Shed
My rats live in a concrete rat shed, which is insulated, has double-glazed opening windows and a heater. As well as being the rat shed, it is also my 'studio' and has a desk and comfy chair in it. Half of it is partitioned off as a free-range area and the other half is for cages and storage. It is my personal space and I spend a lot of time out in the shed, particularly in the afternoons and evenings
My Cages
I currently have my 9 girls housed in a Ferplast Duetto Aviary. I purchased this aviary so I could divide it if required for two groups to live in. I have kept the middle 'divider' in it but have drilled holes for access to both levels. This means there are no large drops. I like the aviary for its narrow bar spacing and its large size (75 x 119.5 x 169.5cm) allowing for lots of climbing which keeps my girls fit. I have 4 boys housed in two sections of a Marchiorio Tommy 82 T3 which is normally a 3-tiered cage. It has quite wide bar spacing but is perfect for bucks. I also have 3 boys living in a Savic Freddy 2, which is a really nice rat cage for small groups, with a nice sized door and great access, as well as being very easy to clean. I do not put ramps in my cages containing healthy rats so they have to clamber around, which I think is good for them!
I also have a Rene 82 rat cage and a Ferplast Jenny that I currently use as spare cages, such as for newcomers before they are introduced into the main cage. I don't feel the Rene 82 is suitable for a full time cage for adults due to it only being one level so not offering enough climbing space. I think it would serve as a useful retirement cage though.
Substrate, Litter and Bedding
I use recycled cardboard squares as a substrate in the base of my cages mixed with shredded paper. It is cheap, eco-friendly and paper based. In my litter trays I use 100% paper based cat litter. For bedding material my rats get toilet roll. I put a new one in the cage each time I clean it out and they do with it what they wish. Some weeks it gets ignored, while other weeks it gets shredded and made into a giant nest. Giving the rats the toilet roll gives them something to do and saves me shredding toilet paper for them or buying bedding.
Cleaning out
My rats get cleaned out once a week, when everything is taken out, disinfected and wiped clean. All the substrate and bedding is removed and the bases are wiped down and disinfected. If they have been sleeping a lot in their hammocks I will change them during the week as they can get quite smelly. Every day I wipe down the shelves and re-fill their water bottles. The bars of the cage are wiped down and disinfected about once a month.
Toys, Beds and Cage furniture
I remember reading that there should be enough beds in a rat cage for each rat to sleep on it's own if it wanted to. While I don't adhere to this rule exactly, there are always at least one hammocks in each cage and a plastic bed. In the winter they get extra bedding and an enclosed igloo type bed to sleep in, as well as their usual hammocks.
They don't have a lot of toys in the cage as they tend to just ignore them. My rats have a couple of tunnels and several pieces of drainpipe which conect different areas in the cage. They also have litter trays and baskets which they use for storing food in as well as litter trays. I do have hanging parrot toys and a wooden chew toys, both of which are largely ignored, though nibbled on often enough not to remove them.
Free range and Handling
My rats are allowed out every day to play for at least an hour. They have tubes, ramps, a wheel, my chair and me to play and climb about on while they are out as well as a large floor area. Because their area is 100% free of anything that could harm them, if needs be I can leave them out unsupervised for short periods of time. I make sure I cuddle and check them all over every day so I notice any signs of ill health quickly.
I free range new rats on the desk in the rat room. They have no chance then of getting in a corner and hiding and have to interact with me. I also find sitting with them in my jumper or fleece while just sat at the desk is an excellent way of getting a nervy rat used to me.
Free range time is normally in the evening or afternoons but if they're awake at other times they are let out in the play pen. The girl's cage is in the play area so I can just open the door and they can take themselves back to bed when they're ready. By talking to them and giving them cuddles and attention when they ask for them, my rats are encouraged to seek out human company and don't take long to get used to someone new in the rat room.
Feeding
My rats are fed on a diet based very loosely on the Shunamite diet - a mix of 40% Pasture Mix, 10% dog kibble, 10% dried pasta and 40% mixed straights (barley, peas, maize & oats). They also get fresh veg most days such as carrots, broccoli or kale and cooked carbohydrate, either rice, pasta or potato a couple of times a week with extras ranging from corn on the cob, other cooked veg, fruit, bread, weetabix or a high protein treat such as egg, cooked bones or wet puppy food such as NatureDiet.
Rats like food, when I put my girls' fresh food bowl in the cage in the evenings they all run down to the bottom of the cage from wherever they are and all surround the bowl, happily munching away. I like to feed them a good variety, it means their meals are more interesting and they get an overall balanced diet without having to feed boring old rat nuggets day in day out. They have constant access to their dry mix. They have fresh water every day and once a week they get a vitamin and mineral supplement added to their water. They aso have garlic powder added to their dry mix. I give them their water in bottles to avoid contamination that occurs when using a bowl. They have two water bottles to ensure that if one stops working they always have access to water.
Healthcare
All my rats get veterinary treatment if they are ill. They deserve to live free from pain and discomfort. If at any point in the future, any of my rats are ill and suffering to an extent it reduces their quality of life to an unnaceptable level, they will be humanely euthanised by a vet.