How many rats do you have?

[Johari]

now, if you are a rat breeder, then all of the offspring don't really count. This is just a count of all the rats who are strictly pets, ones that you would never sell unless you had to (life or death situation).

I have three, Wink (she has a three day education), Nod, and Nibble. They are all girls and all Himalayan rex crosses.


*Jo*

[RatStalker]

Right now we have 4, but over the years we've had 10.

[Anna]

I normally have 11, but right now I have 3 visitors, so I have 14!

[Tracy]

I am stuck at my limit of 2.  I have a male and females so I am not missing much.  Well, my boy is a wuss but I love him for it.

[Marianne]

I had to go count. I have six forever does, 8 bucks and a few extras, plus the babies...only 18 right now, but two does are expecting, hehe. And I wont count the ones that are on their way to join my ratty family this comming month. Marianne

[Joe]

   I have five now! Hoss, Bouncer and Beige all in my R-695 upstairs, and then Domino and a little black self I've not named yet downstairs in quarantine.

[ckhs]

I always have to stop myself from saying four,now Three as my sweet Kiera died recently....Carmen,Sara,Hanna

[WS]

Four is my limit (and I'm up to it) ... in terms of how many rats I feel I can give the amount of one-on-one time that I like.   Two rats are more my speed.

If I have any more I don't get to form the kind of relationships I'd like to (especially if the rats are from different groups or cages that don't mix) .  I feel like I'm a zoo keeper or like I have tropical fish tanks when I have too many.  Mixing up food, cleaning the habitats, washing, rinsing, watering.     I really LOVE to have one on one bonding time with each rat. Their own special playtime and time with me.  (I do my training during this time too... but have trained with two at a time as well.)

[ruthiechan]

I've got 8 right now, and trying to stick to that number.
Which is hard sometimes!

[Squirrel]

I am ratless at present, having just lost Smartie 10 days ago. Planning on getting 2 more in a couple of months. It is so hard, I keep looking at the empty cage thinking he's there.

[SADCAT]

Five is a really nice number, I currently have five widdle girls, all a mixture of ages and colours and personalities.

[rogermerriman]

Three, one rat from the original two of the next generation and two young ones, all boys.

[afmommie]

I've got a total of 8. Two (Blue and Spooky) were my original petshop ratties. (pet shop decided to sell them as pets since they were all so tame.) Then lo and behold Blue had babies like right after I got her. So we know have 6 babies. A lot more than I had intended on having but they are a blast and I've got the time to devote to them.

[Mousie's Mom]

I have 7 girls and will be getting my first two boys in July.

I was recently laid off from my job, so I am home and can spend a lot of time with my ratties.  I do feel that as we get more, they amount of playtime decreases since everyone doesn't play nice with each other.  I had hoped that everyone could live together but intro's failed.  I'm about to try it again in hopes it will work this time.  If so, then everyone can come out together for more time with Mom and Dad.  :-).

They are addicting little loves tho.  And when GGMR hits, it's hard to say NO.  :-)

[cleo]

All I have now is 1. I lost 3 of my girls this past year-2 to tumors & 1 to respiratory disease.   I just love looking at the pics that are posted of everyone's babies. They are all soo adorable!!! Makes me get that urge real bad. One day I'll have 3 or 4 sweeties again.

[autumnglory]

Well, I *had* two, but now have three... through no fault of my own.  See my most recent post.  

[NJratLover]

i have 3 girls and bred 1 of my ratties and am keeping a male and getting him neutered when hes 4mths old. Then I'll have 4   and thats my limit!!!

[Kristen]

Well I was originally going to get 2 from Kim...but when she was describing the himilayans I felt the GGMR urge when I didn't even have one yet!! So yup, right now I have 3 girls  

[ruthiechan]

I'm so sorry Squirrel. *hugs*

[DebW]

A few more than I'm comfortable with right now, but the babies will be in new homes within 2 weeks.

I have 6 boys that live at home all year ( these guys are quickly becoming my senior citizens) and 9 boys and girls that live at school during the school year, but are at home for the summer.  The kids help during the school year so everyone gets tons of attention.

I also have my adopted rescue Emily and her 8 babies.  I'll keep Emily and 2 babies that I haven't found suitable homes for.  

Lets  see, that brings the current total of permanent rats to 18!  Yikes!  I always keep hoping to get down to around 12, but then a situation like Emily's comes up and I can't let it go.

[deercreekrattery]

These are the forever keepers
27 girls and 25 boys.  
There are also 20 teens that I'm placing for another breeder and 10 of my own babies.    That's a total of 82!  I'm trying to get my numbers down and I'm definitely not taking any more in for a while, unless they are already reserved.  
Robin
Deer Creek Rattery

[Elaken]

Wow, how in the heck do you find time for 52 keepers?  I only have six and I can't find enough time.  I feel bad giving them only 2 - 3 hours a day of outside cage time, but my room isn't rat proof, so I have to be in there...and then to find individual time for them all on top of their outside time.  Wow.  I would love to have that many rats...lol  But my abilities would probably be tapped out at about 15..

[Ratty Corner]

I've got eight and I think that's got to be my limit. My shoulders just aren't big enough for everyone to get onto at once. And when they're out to play there always seems to one getting up to mischief when I have my hands/sleeves full already.

Besides, my cage is only big enough for nine, and I don't want to get a single baby ratty in. They'd be overwhelmed by the rat swarm.

[deercreekrattery]

I'm not currently working, so I've got lots of time to spend with them.  I rat-proofed the room, so even if I'm not in there, they can run around, play and explore.  They all get some time with me while I'm cleaning the house, making dinner, playing online or doing yardwork.  I'll take 1 or 2 out at a time for shoulder time.  Mostly, the girls would rather just run around, so they don't hang out on the shoulder.  My boyfriend helps with them too.  
Robin
Deer Creek Rattery