i was playing with my rats today. my girl is still a bit off with the idea, but is coming round now and i can put my hand in and stroke them, but if i pick them up she grabs it back or screams and gives me a nip.

i noticed today some seem older than others. There's a few that are still bald, where as the rest all have there fuzz and are noticeably bigger. She seems to fuss round the bald ones more that the others. If i didn't know they were from the same rat i'd say there were a week younger.

Or has she just thrown some baldies out? Is that even possible?

I don't think the baldness is anything to worry about...if you were! You may have some semi-hairless ones in the group....though that is NOT my forte so I may be wrong and you just have some slower growing babies.

A mother is very protective of her litter...Bijou was very aggressive if she saw me go towards her litter. I didn't like stressing her out but I did get worried about them so the few times I let her out...bribing her with treats which I left out for her. Then I would rub my hands in the bedding so I smelt of her, scoop the nest out...check on them, (maybe take piccies ) and put them back.

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MY ZOO-LET
Syrian: Dini
Winter Whites: Alaska, Apollo, Hero and Ares
Bunnies: Saffy, Gus, Cookie and Cream and 5 babies!!
Piggies: Bubble and Squeak

RIP Tilly, Thom, Tiny, Cassius, Stuart Little, George, Baby Pom (Mice), Melvin (Chameleon) Harry (Cambells Russian) Charlie and Roma (Syrians) Eros (Winter White) Jet, Rainbow and Angel (Rabbits) Neva (Ratty girl)

i wasn't sure if a rat with hair could have hairless babies. (i know there bald when born, i mean as they grow up) I thought the were smaller, but upon closer inspection, they are actually the same size near enough. I must have been looking at a funny angle, there are some amazing colours though, i have a some white, some black and white, some grey, some light blue and some that are a very pale blonde type colour, and the baldies!

I cleaned them out tonight, and she was definately more relaxed, i could put my hand in, change the bedding and stroke as i pleased, but she was always watching and after about 15 mins she made an odd noise, i think she was saying that was enough. She has no interest in coming out at the moment though. If she does come out, within a few seconds she makes a run for her cage.