After the Stork Has Come and Gone or The Babies Are Here, Mom is Fine, Now What?
Q: Should I change my mom rat’s diet while she’s nursing? A: Mom rats appreciate all the protein they can get while nursing, so continue supplementing her with light cat food or things like scrambled eggs, soy baby formula and other higher protein goodies. It’s also very important that mom always have water in her bottle as nursing really can dehydrate her fast and she’s likely to consume more water than before – so keep an eye on the level in her bottle! Q: When will the babies get their fur in? A: Baby rats start growing in fur during the first week. They should be pretty fully covered by two weeks of age. If you have babies with curly fur in the litter, they may go a bit bald around 4 – 6 weeks of age as they shed their baby fur and grow in more adult fur. Do not administer Rogaine to them – they will grow it back. If they do not, they may be genetically hairless, so feel free to start knitting little rat sweaters or concocting tiny toupees. Q: When do baby rats open their eyes? A:
