Runabout Ratties

Contact: Shelly
Email: chollie_79@hotmail.com
Website: http://www.geocities.com/shellsrats/
Location: Barrie, Ontario

I place my rats privately as pets

Describe the types of rats that you breed or intend to breed.

dumbo, standard, satin and rex in blue, fawn, beige, platnium, black and possibly siamese.

Do you keep records?  That is, do you have knowledge of the health, temperament, and colour of past rats in your breeding lines?

Yes, I have records for all my rats in the breeding program, Some I have the parantage and others I have up to 5 generations.

What type of bedding do you use?

I use rabbit pellets and cloth.

What type of diet do you feed your rats?

Suebees diet and fresh food.

Do you also rescue rats?

No

Describe the steps you take to quarantine new rats.

I quarantine for 3-6 weeks. They are in either the same house, seperate area or in a seperate house pending their health. They are then introduced after an evaluation on their health

How many rats do you currently own?

9 males and 2 females in total. I'm still awaiting a few of their arrivals. I'm also in the process of finding a few more females that suit my breeding lines.

Describe your cages.

I have 2 homemade cages the males is 4x4x2 and the females is 3x2x2 with an extension to be added. The birthing tank is 20 gal.

How many litters do you have or expect to have per year?

2-3 per year

Do you wait until you have waiting lists to breed your rats?

Yes

Do you insist that people adopting rats from you must sign an adoption contract?

Yes

Describe your goals with respect to breeding rats.

Our goal is to breed social rats with excellent health and temperments to be provided to loving homes

Is it your intention to make a net profit from breeding rats?

No

How long have you cared for rats?

I've had rats in my care for 6 years.

How long have you been breeding rats?

Just opened my rattery

Do you ship your rats? If so, how?

No only deliver locally

At what age to you adopt out babies to people?

5-6 weeks

Describe your breeding techniques (inbreeding, linebreeding, outcrossing, etc.).

linebreeding and outcrossing

Are you a member of a rat club such as the RMCA RMFE or rat fan club?

Applying

Do you keep in touch with people who have adopted your rats in order to keep track of trends in health and temperament?

Yes, keep in touch via e-mails or phone.

At what age do you breed female rats for the first time?

5-7 months

How many times will you breed a female over her lifetime?

twice at the most.

Describe how you socialize babies.

Around the first few days get them use to human scent and touch. After that I can't keep my hands off them. My son is great with rats and loves helping with socializing the babies

Describe where you got the rats that you are breeding. 

from breeders

Are there any additional comments that you would like people to know when considering adopting from your rattery?

All the rats here are treated as family members and nothing less. Buyers are welcome to come and see the rats in their environment and I can help answer any questions that arise. My website is not yet complete but I will have the link posted once its done.

Date form was completed: April 2003