It's that ignorant Rat mom form Georgia

[Kitana]

Yeah okay, If anyone remembers me you'll know who I am.  Anyway, since everybody jumped down my throat at once about weaning my precious babes, I decided to go ahead and listen to you guys, since you probably have experience and that stupid author of that dumb book did not.  And, well, now I'm seeking some advice.  How old do they need to be before you can really determine their sex and how can you (accurately as possible) go about doing this?  I know I should separate them around five weeks, but I'm kinda fuzzy on their sexes, but they're still pretty young.  Advice, helpful criticism?  Any of this would be appreciated.  

[kmw]

Here's a link to a post on another forum - it has side by side photo comparisons of rats at different ages.  One of the best comparisons I've come across.  

http://www.ratpalace.com/mwforum/cgi/topic_show.pl?tid=6887&hilite=sex#68453

[Kitana]

Thank you!

[Grace Jr]

I've had two mouse litters before (neither on purpose though), and I was able to tell the sexes from birth.  The best time to tell is right before they are furred, since nipples in females are pretty evident at this point.   If you take two babies and compare them, you can usually tell which is which. The male will have a wider space between the scrotum and anus, and there will also be a slight swelling where the testes will be.  I've found the best way to sex them is by looking for nipples (easier before they have fur, but possible at any age).  Males don't have nipples, so if you have one with no nipples, it's a male.

[Maggie's Mom]

I just want to say how sorry I amwith the helping "jumping down your throat".  Very sorry about that.  And I understand the prices, finally.  I am also glad you are willing to keep posting here for advice, as we were a little down on oyu.
I agree with Grace jr, but for some reason I can't read KMW's post...

[Kitana]

It's all good Maggie!  Once got over everybody kinda "yelling" at me, I saw that you were only trying to protect my babies from my ignorance, so I decided to listen to you guys, I love my babies too much to continue being stupid, and allowing them to get unhealthy or any of the like.  So don't worry 'bout it.  Thanks for apologizing though!

[JulesDoug]

Nice to see you back  
This on line thing is sometimes hard I think it is very easy to get scared off as you cant see a face or hear a voice and its easy to feel a bit got at, but I for one was following your progress and its great to see you back, how old are your babies now?  Any luck finding homes for them yet?
Jules Babs n Bonnie

[Kitana]

No homes yet, but I'm trying, and they've reached two weeks today exactly, some of them have opened their eyes, and now they've become even cuter.  Now I'm really getting attached, it's always the eyes that do me in.  But I must be strong, and love my babies from a distance.  We're all healthy, Momma Kawaii is doin' great, and we're still hopin' to find some nice loving homes to put them in.  I am keeping one however.  I'm keeping my little girl that's black.  I wanted a black rat to begin with, but fell in love with Kawaii, but since she had a black baby girl, I'm keeping her, so I'll be up to two. I need a bigger cage.