AFRMA Breeding Rats & Mice Book 2012 v.2

AFRMA Rat & Mouse Books

AFRMA Breeding Rats & Mice: Care and Guidelines

6^th Edition, 2012 v.2, 7x8½, 136 pages
6 more pages than 2012: more photos, tidbits, reading topics

Packed full of articles compiled from AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales.

CONTENTS

Articles

Breeding Rats & Mice by Karen Robbins (PDF of page 4–14)
4
- General
  4
  - Finding Homes
    4
- Boys & Girls
  5
- Breeding Time
  6
  - 2 Fathers Sire 1 Litter???
    8
  - Fertile Mice
    8
- Methods of Breeding
  8
  - Inbreeding
    9
  - Line Breeding
    9
  - Crossbreeding or Outcrossing
    9
- Care of the Expectant Mom
  9
  - Parturition
    10
  - Abandonment/Killing
    11
  - Checking The Babies Out
    11
  - Milking Time
    12
  - Colostrum
    12
  - Sexing
    12
  - The Babies Grow Up
    13
  - Eyes Open Early in Rats
    14
- Problems
  15
  - Hairless Rat Mothers
    15
  - Problem Pregnancy
    16
  - C-Section Information
    16
  - Aborting Litters
    17
  - Fostering/Orphans
    18
  - Raising Newborn Rats/Mice: update
    21
  - Amount to Hand Feed Orphan Baby Rats
    21
- Culling
  22
  - Birth Defects/Genetic Problems
    23
  - Bloating
    23
  - Megacecum & Megacolon: Development Disorders in the Enteric Nervous
    System in Rats
    24
- “Breeding Rats & Mice” References
  27
Breeding Rats by Ann Storey, N.F.R.S. England
29
- Part 1 – Biology
  29
- Part 2 – Breeding for Exhibition
  35
N.F.R.S. Breeding & Showing Seminar by Veronica Simmons, N.F.R.S. England
47
Breeding for Show & Exhibition by Lisa Grove, N.F.R.S. England
49
Pheromones and Mouse Behavior by Ivan Golakoff
53
Know The Facts Before Breeding Your Rat or Mouse by Nichole Royer
54
A Responsible Breeder’s Code of Ethics by Nichole Royer
56
Breeding, Beyond the Basics: by Nichole Royer
58
- Ethics
  58
- The Breeding Chart
  61
- What Kind of Breeder Are You?
  64
- Outcrossing, Line Breeding, Inbreeding by Nichole Royer and Karen Robbins
  67
Inbreeding and the Rat Fancy by John Wells
72
Inbreeding by Nichole Royer
74
Type by Nichole Royer
75
- The Myth Of The English Mouse
  78
Type Question: Square Butts on Rats by Carol Lawton
79
Mouse Keeping, The Ideal Type by Virginia Pochmann
81
Type Question: Head Shape On Mouse & Tail Set (including coat)
by Karen Robbins
84
On The Show Bench: What is Condition? by Nichole Royer
86
Wants to Become a Rat Breeder by Dale Taylor Burkhart
87
Casual Breeding by Karen Robbins
89
Breeding Ages & Weights of Rats by Karen Robbins
90
“How can I tell if my females is pregnant?” by Carol Lawton
91
How Pregnant is My Rat by Karen Robbins
95
Baby Rat Development by Karen Robbins
96
Baby Mouse Development by Karen Robbins
98
Record Keeping by Karen Hauser
100
Record Keeping
103
- Sample Record Forms
  106
Mouse Keeping: Record Keeping in the Mousery by Virginia Pochmann
110
References
112
Miscellaneous Photos
113
Sexing Rats
114
Sexing Mice
115
Sexing Babies
116
- Sexing Mouse Babies
  116
- Sexing Rat Babies
  118
Glossary of Terms
120
Additional Reading
121
Index
126

Tables, Tips

GENERAL FACTS
4
REPRODUCTIVE FACTS
5
BABY FACTS
7
MILK FORMULAS
19
RAT & MOUSE MILK FACTS
20
MILK CONSTITUENTS IN THE MOUSE
20
RAT MILK
22
Housing Young Male Mice
26
Spring Chickens
28
General Time Table of a Litter
35
TIDBITS
46
Useful Tip
48
Make it a Large
52
Serenading Mice
53
Protein, not Carbs
55
“FANCY” What Does It Mean?
57
Combining Rats
60
Separation Anxiety
66
Rat, not Cow
71
Parenting is in the Genes
83
Mr. Darcy Mice
94

REFERENCES

~ Taken From AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales ~
1984–2011

Articles

Breeding Rats: Part 1, Biology: WSSF 2010
Breeding Rats: Part 2, Breeding for Exhibition: WSSF 2010
N.F.R.S. Breeding & Showing Seminar: WSSF 2008
Breeding for Show & Exhibition: WSSF 2008
Pheromones and Mouse Behavior: M/A86
Know The Facts Before Breeding Your Rat or Mouse: Fall ’97
A Responsible Breeder’s Code of Ethics: Flyer
Breeding, Beyond the Basics: Ethics: Fall ’00
Breeding, Beyond the Basics: The Breeding Chart: Winter ’01
Breeding, Beyond the Basics: What Kind of Breeder Are You: WSSF 2007
Breeding, Beyond the Basics: Outcrossing, Line Breeding, Inbreeding: WSSF 2008
Inbreeding and the Rat Fancy: N/D87
Inbreeding: Fall ’97
Type: Winter ’99
Type Question: Square Butts on Rats: WSSF 2009
Mouse Keeping: The Ideal Type: WSSF 2008
Type Question: Head Shape On Mouse & Tail Set (including coat): WSSF 2011
On The Show Bench, What is Condition?: N/D96
Wants to Become a Rat Breeder: WSSF 2010
Casual Breeding: WSSF 2004
Breeding Ages & Weights of Rats: WSSF 2010
“How can I tell if my female is pregnant?”: WSSF 2004
How Pregnant is My Rat: WSSF 2011
Baby Rat Development
Baby Mouse Development
Record Keeping: S/O91
Record Keeping: Summer ’99
Mouse Keeping: Record Keeping in the Mousery: WSSF 2007

Updated December 30, 2025