Crossposting.. from a very good friend of mine on my forum:
Janie is a rescue I adopted from the ARL of Iowa. On the same day, Bob was adopted from the same ARL. Exactly 23 days later, Janie gave birth to ten babies. I can only assume that she got pregnant the day I adopted her, and the only other rat in the rescue was Bob. She was transferred to that site location the same day, and it's possible someone made a mistake and put them in together for a little while before realizing that Janie was female and Bob was male. When I saw them, they were in seperate cages. But again, it's possible, and the only explaination I have, as Janie was in quarantine by herself for two weeks immediately after her adoption. I did call the rescue, and while they are sorry, they did not offer an explaination. I have sent them pictures and information regarding sexing rats to hopefully prevent this from happening to anyone else's rats.
That being said, I have nine other rats (six boys, and Janie's two gal pals and Janie) and I cannot keep all of them, as much as I would love to. Sadly, Bob passed yesterday, for unknown reasons. I haven't posted about that here yet as I've not felt up to it... But I feel potential adopters should know of this. He was not very old when I got him (4-5 months) and I only had him just short of two months.
Both Bob and Janie are/were exceptionally sweet and loving rats. They both brux(ed) easily and love(d) being petted. Bob was great with children, and a very patient and squishy boy who thrived on human attention. He was a perfect gentleman. He was one of those one in a million rats, the kind of rat everyone wants to have... Janie is your typical girl, active and interested in everything. She's also very licky, giving kisses freely and often. She doesn't have a mean bone in her body, and is everything any rat lover could hope for. Janie is a blue berkshire, and Bob was a black berkshire. Given their parents' temperments, I expect these babies to be outstanding rat citizens. They are being held and have been held since a few hours after their birth. They are petted and cuddled every day, and I take care to talk to them a lot. They're heart stealers, the whole lot of them.
As I said, there are ten babies altogether, six boys and four girls. All of the girls are standard earred and furred black berkshires, with their father's tummies. Three of the boys are standard earred and furred black hoodies (my personal favorites) and the other three are standard earred and furred black berkshires, like their daddy and sisters. I am able to tell them all apart due to their tails and feet. Two of the berkshire boys have adorable white socks... As do the girls, again, taking after their father in appearence. Their dad was a really nice black... Really dark, with only very minor silvering on his bum. So I hope that these bubs share that trait as well. I don't have to tell you that they are amazingly cute... Aren't they all?
They were born Monday, September 22nd, around 8-9 am. They would be ready around Halloween (October 31st) as I plan to keep them until they are five weeks old. I would love to keep one of the girls, the runt, although only if the three other girls go together. I plan on keeping two of the boys, one of the hoodeds and one of the berkshires, as a sort of piece of Bob. I do not want them going singly, because of the even split I am able to insist they go in *at least* pairs with one of their same sex siblings. So, for a count, there are FOUR boys availabe, and a TRIO of girls.
I want to stress that these babies are in no danger of going to a shelter or being dumped at a petstore. They will stay here as long as they need to to find loving forever homes, but they *do* have to find homes of their own. If life were perfect, I'd keep them ALL in a heart beat, but as it is, I am working a ridiculous amount of time and it's taking it's toll with my furry children. Keeping them all is not plausible time-wise.
I am located at Ft. Riley, Kansas, which is near Junction City and Manhattan. The zipcode is 66442. I am willing to travel to Salina, Topeka, Kansas City... Just about anywhere in the state and to some parts of Missouri if it means they get a good home. If you think you might be too far away... Or you're not exactly sure where I am, just ask. Where there is a will, there is a way.
There will be a pre-adoption questionairre to be filled out, as well as an actual adoption contract. However, because I am only advertising here, on Goose, and to people I know personally, I am not worried about running into herp keepers or "undesirables". I am not charging an adoption fee. My main concern is finding them GOOD, FOREVER homes. If you adopt and find out they aren't a fit or for some reason you are unable to care for them, I WILL take them back. Number one priority is a FOREVER home for these guys. They will go to their new homes with some of their blocks, grain mix, water from my home that they will be used to drinking, a CD of baby photos, and a homemade hammock or two.
Okay, now on to the part I know you're interested in! Pictures! I will update with new photos every other day or so, or as a new developemental milestone occurs. I plan on getting boy/girl pictures and attempting individual pictures tomorrow.
Here they are today, at 8 days old.
And here is mama, Ms. Janie.
And their father, Bob.
