Please keep in mind, these are living, breathing creatures that depend on you for their existence. Please don’t adopt until you understand the basics of their proper care, and have the necessities for their life, safety and comfort. They are not just cute things to acquire, and then throw away when the kids grow tired of them.
If you had rats from a pet shop before and things didn’t go well (no surprise there), it could well be that the rats weren’t bred for good health and/or temperament; but please consider that perhaps the petshop didn’t educate you very well on rat care or sell you the best food or equipment to take care of that rat either. Pet shops are in the business of making money; not earning a good reputation for their animals. If their "products" die, you’ll just return and buy another one, or one of another species. They mass produce, and mass replace. If this is your situation, then consider taking a fresh approach to rat keeping.
A breeder, on the other hand, has a reputation at stake and a name to uphold. They have *goals* in their breeding program that include standards of conformation (just like dogs at a dog show), health and temperament. Money and profit are not the basis of what they are doing, because when you add up the costs of keeping a rattery, the problems associated with breeding (c-sections, difficulties, upkeep, expenses, etc.) there is no "profit" — it’s a hobby. It’s fun, it’s a love of animals, and a love of seeing others enjoy the good animals you have produced. There’s also the cameraderie and the fun of competition at the shows with other breeders. So, where your rat, or any pet comes from is important; for a more detailed explanation, see an excellent article on this at the All American Rat Club here: http://www.allamericanratclub.org/Why%20should%20I%20get%20my%20rats%20from%20a%20breeder.pdf
There is no reason to adopt an animal on impulse or "in a hurry". Do your research on rat care; get books (I highly recommend Debbie Ducommun’s books — see my Recommendations page), join forums and find out how other rat owners care for their rats. Please do not write to me and tell me you are ready for your first pet *rat* as so many have… if you have read about rats at all, you will have found out that rats are social creatures and do best in same-sex pairs or trios. I do not adopt out singleton rats unless I have a confirmation from another breeder that you are getting another rat from him/her or unless you already have rats at home.
Please… review my Recommendations page. I have assembled there a list of things that I have found over the years to work extremely well for rats and their keeping, and will save you money in the long run. There is no sense in buying a cheaper cage, for example, if it will result in lost rats, broken rungs, or sore rat feet… and you just have to go out and buy another cage. Anything worth doing is worth doing right the first time. I have provided the list of recommended items because of the number of people writing and asking my advice on these things; it just saves me a lot of typing of the same answers. If you still have questions after looking over the page, by all means, write and and ask, I am happy to help!
The Prodedure
OK, you’ve done your homework and now you feel you’re ready! My Litters page will tell you what litters I have planned and when… fill out an adoption application as completely as possible. This will tell me what kind of rat(s) you desire (male, female, colors, coat & ear type, etc.) and the type of care you are prepared to provide for our babies. If I have any questions or need clarification, I will write back and ask… if all seems fine, I will add you to my waiting list as seems appropriate. Also, read the adoption contract on my website — you will be asked to sign it on pick up day.
By the way, I am not in favor of folks getting on more than one waiting list, and then taking babies from the breeder who produces babies first. I am a responsible breeder, and once you and I agree to a waiting list arrangement, I am producing a litter because I have homes for the litter. If those homes have made other arrangements on the sidelines, what am I supposed to do with the babies I produced *for you*?? Waiting lists only seem unending when you’re the last one on it, but I assure you, they are not.
I try to email updates to those on my waiting list… I also update the Litters page. Weight gain on the part of the female is indicative of pregnancy. If she misses, we try again… or try another male that might be more to her liking; it’s possible she may never conceive. I am only the Breeder, not Mother Nature. If things don’t happen the way we would like, I will move you to the top of my next litter’s waiting list — I try to be as fair as possible!
Once the litter is born, there is usually a joker that gives me grief as to whether it will be a male or female… the external parts of pinkies aren’t so obvious! I also like to wait about 10-12 days to make sure everyone is doing well, to make sure there are enough rats to go around to everyone on the list. At that point is when I will ask for everyone’s deposit; the deposit IS important — it is your way of letting me know you are making a firm commitment to adopt. The deposit policy is listed on my Litters Page, and it is listed on the application itself, with the adopter’s initials required. DO NOT NEGLECT YOUR DEPOSIT; without it, I will not hold your rats nor will I take your requests for specific rats.
As I am breeding, always with a goal in mind, I need to select from my litters the rat or rats I am keeping for my breeding program. These babies aren’t always obvious as soon as the fur comes in, because we look for more than color and markings; conformation details often don’t become obvious until they are several weeks old, and this makes sorting out babies amongst adopters difficult. Coupled with the fact I assume adopters would prefer not to take home "identical twin" babies; I try to send home pairs of babies that are different in color, ears (one standard, one dumbo) or coat type (one standard, one rex) and/or markings — it’s truly hard to make *everyone* happy, but I DO try! Please let me know if you have a special request for a particular baby (from the photos posted on the Litters page)… I do try to fill these requests, just keep in mind it isn’t always possible, especially for those who must have specific sex babies because of rats they already have, and certain needs.
I usually chose a theme involving the registered names of the babies, and I usually allow the adopters to choose their babies’ names, but time doesn’t always allow in order to get the registration completed. I often provide a list of names as examples to choose from, or you can make up your own, as long as it is civil and not obscene. The registered name is only for the paperwork; you may certainly use any "call name" you wish.
Babies are usually ready to go home at five weeks of age… I usually make appointments for pick up for the weekend following their five-week birthday, so please keep one of those days free on your calendar. You will need a carrier for your babies, the cash balance of your payment, and I will give you a folder with your babies’ pedigree (for fun), a copy of your signed contract, some rat care pointers, and a bag of food. Do NOT visit a pet store on your way to pick up you babies; do that on another day! You could compromise the health of my rattery, your babies, and the other babies by bringing in viruses from the pet store on your clothing and shoes.
For the safety and health of the litter (and my other rats), I don’t allow visits to the rattery… sorry. Be assured, however, that your baby is being protected as much as the next person’s.
Last but certainly not least: Thank you for choosing a Willow Creek rat! I am truly honored that you chose MY rats, and ME to be your breeder.
