Matt - Rats do NOT eat or abandon babies who smell like humans. Some rodents do (hamsters and the like), rats do not. It is fine to handle baby rats right after birth (some OR all) and in fact, the more you handle them, the more social they will be.
I respect that you have a family "business", but that is false information, even if your family has been raising feeders for years.
way2kewl4u_92 - I must've missed that you had a pregnant rat, I thought there was discussion of breeding, but you did breed then? Anyway:
(I couldn't tell if you meant you DID know about food or didn't, so I'll say this anyway) Feed mama extra protein in addition to her normal food. Give her things like egg (scrambled is what we usually do), chicken, beans (I've found lots of moms like chickpeas!), soy milk... Things that will help her milk supply and keep her energy up.
She will be happy to have short times away from the babies. You can tempt her out with some food and put her in your "playground" or wherever she runs usually. While she's doing that, you can check the babies, clean the cage, etc. Check for milk bands on the babies to insure they're getting enough milk. don't leave them alone for too long for the first few weeks, as the babies feed often (about 18 hours or so a day).
With a larger litter, she may separate them into groups for feedings. Don't be alarmed if she does.
It's a up to you id you want to change the bloody litter. I suppose there isn't much harm in keeping it for now, though I wouldn't keep it too long. If it's particularly messy, there's no harm in changing the entire bedding, or removing the worst pieces and supplying more.
