How much food for my rat and her pups? Can they eat uncooked macaroni?

Hello. Thank you for using PetCoach. This food is the best for pregnant/breeding/nursing rats: ( https://www.animates.co.nz/vetafarm-origins-rodent-food-350g.html ) You can offer small amounts of fruit and vegetables (such as: apples, bananas, peas, broccoli, sprouts and carrots). Cooked egg, cooked chicken and cooked pasta are also fine to give. If she is being a good mother you should not have to do anything to feed the pups. By about 3 weeks of age they are fully developed and will start eating solid food, though they are still being fed by their mother for about another week. Remember, after 4 to 4.5 weeks, the males should be separated from the rest of the pups and mom since they could impregnate their mother. Hope this helps. Best wishes.

Hello. Yes, your rat can have a little pasta ( & the key here is a little ) every now & then. Rodents are omnivores & will eat practically anything. I would stay away from any sauces, but a strand or two once in a while is fine. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Hello. The first thing to do is remove or isolate the male rat so he does not harm the pups. Then, just relax & let mum do her thing. She is providing warmth & protection to her young, & as long as she has easy access to food & water, she will nurse them well. Good luck & thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

You can supplement her commercial pellets or blocks with a small amount of fresh fruit (apple, blueberries, strawberries, etc), some fresh greens and a small amount of vegetables (cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, etc). Be sure to remove any uneaten food after 8-10 hours.

Hello. The majority of the diet ( 80% ) should be a rodent chow like Oxbow. The chow should be around 16% protein & 4-5% fat. Fruits & veggies can be offered at about 1 teaspoon per day. You can also offer a reasonable amount of nuts & seeds, also about 1 teaspoon per day. Vary the treats each day & Pika will be a happy, healthy girl. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach.

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It is important that you do not disturb Snow, as even a small amount of stress can cause her to neglect or even canibalize her pups. If this is her first litter, she may be a little confused and not necessarily know what to do. I recommend moistening her food a little bit with water and placing it closer to the nest, without disturbing it. This will provide her with some extra hydration. This moist food should be changed daily to avoid mold from growing in the cage. The pups should start eating food on their own by the time they are about 3 weeks old, and can be removed from the cage at this time. I hope this helps!

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! You are correct in planning for the arrival of the pups. I recommend separating the male as soon as you are sure that the female is pregnant, because females can get pregnant again very shortly after giving birth. It is important to keep the pups quiet and calm, to prevent the mother from eating them when stressed. You should also not touch the pups until they are about 14 days old. There are several types of nesting material available in pet stores, or you could use pieces of paperCut up into small strips. The pups should be separated from their mother when they are about 14 to 21 days old. At this point they should be able to eat normal adult mouse food. I hope this helps and I’m happy to answer any additional questions you may have!