Goals & Ethics

Ever since I was a kid, I always loved animals and was very passionate about biology.  I worked with Australian Shepherds as a teenager, training, showing, competing in JR handling, and obedience.  We also raised this breed, as working dogs.  I lived on a farm with many other different animals, but at the age of only 14, I was running my own Rabbity and Rodentry. My first rats I ever adopted were rescues from a chicken coop in someones back yard! They were very scared and nervous but I gained their trust and they became the best little pets.  I still remember their little sweet faces!  Later I invested in some well bred fancy mice and fancy rats and had my own small breeding program.  Once I was older and graduated high school, I started a career in Professional Pet Grooming and opened my own business, during this time I did not continue any breeding programs with small animals (but still loved them and had them as pets).

 

During the Covid shut down in 2020, I slowly got back into breeding.  I have been working with this Rattery and my current lines since in 2020.

 

I have made many changes with my breeding program over the years, and look forward to continued growth throughout the following years. 2026 is a BIG year of CHANGE for the rattery, for the better! 

 

My goals as a breeder are to produce high quality, healthy, friendly, unique pets for all ages. And to also provide honest service and care with both animals and adopters. I have worked very hard over the past years to better my lines and I take great pride in the sweet creatures I get to work with.  I have taken the extra step to test my rattery (via serology) to make sure they are not carrying any pathogens that can harm humans, other animals, or themselves.  I preform temperament testing and ENS on all offspring before they are available for adoption. (If they do not pass these tests, they do not leave the rattery). I am a very strong believer in Epigenetic methods, so along with producing GENETICALLY sound stock, I also incorporate specific socializing, holistic, environmental, and dietary methods into my program to enhance the entire process.    Along with producing these lovely pets, I have a strong passion for educating and helping adopters give their rats the best life once they are in their care.  Rats that stay in my care for the entirety of their life, live a good healthy life of 2.5-3.5 years.  I want that for every rat and every adopter! In my opinion, breeding of any animal should only be done to improve the species and lines, as a whole.

 

All Rats at my rattery are housed in Double Critter Nation Units with toys, hammocks, and other accessories to give them an engaging environment.  I do not use bins or racks.  Birthing moms stay in smaller cages to insure safety of herself and her babies during the sensitive time of birth, nursing, and first few weeks of life.  Babies are upgraded to small play cages until 5 weeks, then they are moved into Critter Nations until they go to their new homes!

 

All babies must passed health standards and temperament testing before going to their new homes.  They also are treated twice with Ivermectin as a preventative(once at 5 weeks, and again before they go to new homes).

 

Females are not bred until they are at least 250g and 4-5 months old. If they do not reach desirable weight, maturity, desirable temperament, and health standards, they will not be bred.  Females typically will have about 3-4 litters before retiring, as long as they are healthy good mothers.  I do hard cull for litter size to make sure babies thrive and mother stays healthy.  At around 2-3 weeks, I combine litters so that the mothers can help each other with raising the babies. I have found this diversity and support is beneficial for both mother and babies. A nutrient dense, quality diet is HIGHLY prioritized at this time as well. Babies are weened at 4-5 weeks. I follow the mother instinct on this also.  Temperament testing is started at 2 weeks, and continued until babies leave.  The "Official Temperament Test" is preformed at around 8 weeks, right before they become adoptable to the public. If babies do not pass temperament testing, they do not become adoptable (With that being said, sometimes i may have a personality that is more shy or hyper, I do my best to place certain characteristics with homes that match and understand them). Babies go home between 8-10 weeks, dwarfs and Harleys typically stay until 10-12 weeks.

Males are not used for breeding until 6 months. This give time to evaluate Hormonal behavior. Only healthy, sturdy, good temperament boys are used in our breeding program.  If they do not fit these requirements, they will go to a pet/retirement home.

 

I follow AFRMA standards when choosing the quality of my Breeding males and Females.