How to Hand Raise Rat Babies

The best thing to do for an orphaned rat or litter of rats is to find them a foster nursing rat to raise them. If you can't find a foster rat then you will have to become the mother. Hand raising rat babies is a big commitment, but the rewards of watching your baby rats grow and develop make it worth the time and energy. Read on to learn how to hand raise rat babies.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Water bottle
• Towels
• Eye dropper
• Soy infant formula for babies
• Cotton balls or toilet paper
• Dish of warm water
• Small box at least 6 inches deep
• Small blanket

1. Keep the babies warm. Make a nest for the babies out of a small box that is at least 6 inches deep and place a soft towel or blanket in it. Then wrap a towel around a hot water bottle and place it in their box making sure there is enough room for the babies to crawl away from it if they get too warm. You will need to cover the babies with a towel as well to make sure that they stay warm enough.

2. Assist the babies with toileting because it's essential when you hand raise rat babies. They are unable to go to the bathroom by themselves so you will have to help them with this. Use a cotton ball or small piece of toilet paper that has been dipped in warm water and wipe their bottom and genitals to stimulate elimination.

3. Feed the babies using an eyedropper filled with warm soy baby formula. Put the dropper in the baby's mouth and let them lick at it. If the baby is unable to lick then place a small drop in its mouth and wait for him to swallow it before you add another drop. If you notice milk coming out of the baby's nose you will know you put too much in his mouth. If the baby is very young his belly will be transparent and you can see when his stomach is getting full. Older babies will turn their heads or stop licking when they are finished. This will need to be done every two to three hours.

4. Repeat Step 2.

5. Massage the baby's entire body. This will help with digestion and get the rat used to being handled.

6. Clean off any milk or waste that is on the baby.

7. Return the baby back to the water bottle in its box and then cover him up with the towel or blanket.

Tips & Warnings

• Hold the rats upright when you are feeding them to decrease the risk of aspiration.
• At around 11 to 14 days you can begin to introduce cat food or baby food mixed with formula to the rats. This is also a good time to introduce a water bottle as well.
• Make sure the feeding equipment is sterilized everyday in boiling water.
• If you do not have a foster nursing rat contact a local pet store or breeder and see if they have any.
• Rats are lactose intolerant so they can't digest milk. When you hand raise rat babies feed them soy milk formula if a foster mother is not available.