Orphaned Wild Baby - Guidance On Weaning and Release

541 Views 35 Replies 5 Participants Last post by Tinytoes, 2 d ago

AccidentalFosterHome

Discussion Starter · 13 d ago

Last Thursday morning when I went out to my chicken coop I found a baby rat on the ground. Just one. All alone and cold. I assumed it was dead, but when I picked it up, there were some signs of life... so I began trying. I ran to the store with the little baby in my hand in my pocket and got some kitten formula after trying unsuccessfully to find anyone who would take the baby in or even let me buy a mom with nursing babies. I have never had a pet rat or raised any baby, but with some research have managed to get the little one much better. Feeding is going well but I'm not sure how much longer doing feedings every 3-4 hours is necessary. The eyes started opening a couple days ago, so I'm guessing the age to be about 3 weeks for the little one. However, so far, the little one wants nothing to do with solid food. He/ she actively turns away from it even if I try to put a little on the tip of the syringe I use to feed it formula. Am I doing something wrong or is this a normal part of weaning?

So, I'm curious what others have tried when hand weaning. Any tips appreciated. I'm a total novice with rats, so any ideas would be great. Since I'm sure this little one is part of the colony that hangs around due to the chicken food, I'm hopeful I can release him or her back into the wild once we've completed weaning. Although I am concerned with the lack of other rats for socialization, I'm hopeful that this will be ok. I cannot take on a pet rat, so I just want to make sure I'm doing the best I can for the little cutie.

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LT_2022

· #2 · 13 d ago

Contact a wildlife rescue in your area to see if they can help. I doubt a wild baby rat can be successfully released back into the wild if it has become used to people.

Baby rat eyes open around 14 days. They aren't able to eat solid food yet. By 21 days old they're eating solid food and don't usually continue to nurse.

There's some info here in raising orphans:

AFRMA - Caring for Rat & Mouse Orphans

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ratbusters

· #3 · 13 d ago

@Tinytoes
With your experience of Oliver Bean, would you have any advice about this?

Reactions: 1

AccidentalFosterHome

Discussion Starter · #4 · 13 d ago

2

I contacted all the wildlife rescue places around me the day I found the baby and no one was willing to help with a rat unfortunately. I even tried a mouse rescue (we don't have one for rats nearby) and they couldn't help either. I'm thrilled that so far the rat is doing really well considering it was very not well when I found it.

Thank you for helping me understand why the baby isn't yet interested in food. I thought eyes open meant it was weaning time. Knowing that it's not until a week or two later that eating solid food is normal has made me feel much better!

Below are some pics of the sweet little one. I'm just so happy that he/she is still alive:

Hand Rodent Finger Rat Fawn

meadow jumping mouse Rat Rodent Whiskers white footed mice

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RatPappy

· #5 · 12 d ago

Hello hello TT, I think we have a case for you!❤

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RatPappy

· #6 · 12 d ago

What a beautiful baby! Help is on the way.🐀♥

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Tinytoes

· #7 · 12 d ago (Edited)

AccidentalFosterHome said:
I contacted all the wildlife rescue places around me the day I found the baby and no one was willing to help with a rat unfortunately. I even tried a mouse rescue (we don't have one for rats nearby) and they couldn't help either. I'm thrilled that so far the rat is doing really well considering it was very not well when I found it.

Thank you for helping me understand why the baby isn't yet interested in food. I thought eyes open meant it was weaning time. Knowing that it's not until a week or two later that eating solid food is normal has made me feel much better!

Below are some pics of the sweet little one. I'm just so happy that he/she is still alive:
View attachment 311030 View attachment 311032

He's adorable! Yes, I've raised a wild baby, and yours looks to be doing well. He should be able to hold a pea soon. I used frozen peas and thawed them, then left them in the dish (a jar lid) for The Bean to find. I also fed baby oatmeal or cream of wheat with formula, kinda runny at first, then more solid. Also in the jar lid. At 3 weeks The Bean stopped drinking formula and started eating out of the dish. I weighed him every day, and even though I didn't see him eat a lot, he was def eating at night. I would not try to release him until he's at least 6 weeks old. Their wild nature never leaves them. My Bean is still wild after having him over a year!!

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Tinytoes

· #8 · 12 d ago

AccidentalFosterHome said:
I contacted all the wildlife rescue places around me the day I found the baby and no one was willing to help with a rat unfortunately. I even tried a mouse rescue (we don't have one for rats nearby) and they couldn't help either. I'm thrilled that so far the rat is doing really well considering it was very not well when I found it.

Thank you for helping me understand why the baby isn't yet interested in food. I thought eyes open meant it was weaning time. Knowing that it's not until a week or two later that eating solid food is normal has made me feel much better!

Below are some pics of the sweet little one. I'm just so happy that he/she is still alive:
View attachment 311030 View attachment 311032

Where are you located?

AccidentalFosterHome

Discussion Starter · #9 · 12 d ago

Thank you so much for replying. I am in Virginia about 45 minutes outside of Virginia Beach. My little orphan Ratty is doing great so far... getting more energetic with each passing day! Still not interested in solid foods, but I love the idea about offering peas or baby oatmeal to ease the little one into the idea food that isn't just formula. So far, I've kept him/her in an open cardboard shoe box with some kitchen towels, and a heating pad on the lowest setting. This setup is inside my shower (it's a standing shower with a door, so somewhat closed off, but not fully). The baby seems to like hiding under the towels and hasn't ventured out yet, but with the increasing energy levels and realizing that it will still be a few weeks before the baby could safely go outside alone, I'm thinking I need a more robust setup. I have a big plastic bin with the top cut out and covered in hardware cloth that I've used to raise chicks before, but I'm thinking that might not be secure enough to contain my energetic little rat friend. Any ideas for an inexpensive option that I could maybe get on Amazon or Petsmart or even at a Thrift store? I want to keep him/her safe and give space to explore, but since I'm fairly sure this is only a temporary situation, I don't want to have to buy something expensive that I'll never use again.

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AccidentalFosterHome

Discussion Starter · #10 · 12 d ago

meadow jumping mouse Rat Whiskers Wood Rodent

I think this is the, "feed me!" look.

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Tinytoes

· #11 · 12 d ago

AccidentalFosterHome said:
View attachment 311033
I think this is the, "feed me!" look.

oh my gosh, are you sure he isn't a mouse? His ears and tail look very large for a rat. Here's a pic of my Bean at that age. Notice the small ears and short tail

Hand Finger Rodent Thumb Nail

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Tinytoes

· #12 · 12 d ago

AccidentalFosterHome said:
Thank you so much for replying. I am in Virginia about 45 minutes outside of Virginia Beach. My little orphan Ratty is doing great so far... getting more energetic with each passing day! Still not interested in solid foods, but I love the idea about offering peas or baby oatmeal to ease the little one into the idea food that isn't just formula. So far, I've kept him/her in an open cardboard shoe box with some kitchen towels, and a heating pad on the lowest setting. This setup is inside my shower (it's a standing shower with a door, so somewhat closed off, but not fully). The baby seems to like hiding under the towels and hasn't ventured out yet, but with the increasing energy levels and realizing that it will still be a few weeks before the baby could safely go outside alone, I'm thinking I need a more robust setup. I have a big plastic bin with the top cut out and covered in hardware cloth that I've used to raise chicks before, but I'm thinking that might not be secure enough to contain my energetic little rat friend. Any ideas for an inexpensive option that I could maybe get on Amazon or Petsmart or even at a Thrift store? I want to keep him/her safe and give space to explore, but since I'm fairly sure this is only a temporary situation, I don't want to have to buy something expensive that I'll never use again.

I'm in MD, just curious. The Bean started coming out at night to taste the solid food at his own pace, licking some oatmeal, eating a pea. I also offered a water dish, shallow jar lid but the very runny cereal adds water too.

Reactions: 1

AccidentalFosterHome

Discussion Starter · #13 · 12 d ago (Edited)

Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18

I'm not sure at all. I was thinking rat because it seemed too large at such a young age to be a mouse, but I'm no expert. I see mice and roof rats regularly around the yard eating the food my chickens don't, so I suppose it could be either. I'm not sure how to tell. I believe roof rats are known for their long tails, which is what I assumed he or she is based on the size.
Another picture to help:

Sensitive content, not recommended for those under 18

Show Content

Rodent Fawn Terrestrial animal Nail Wood

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AccidentalFosterHome

Discussion Starter · #14 · 12 d ago

A short video of the baby
Another short video

Tinytoes

· #15 · 11 d ago

AccidentalFosterHome said:
A short video of the baby
Another short video

You may have a roof rat, also known as a 'black rat' which are not always black. The difference is Rattus rattus vs. Rattus norvegicus. I thought my Bean was a roof rat, but he's a Norwegian brown rat. I think yours might be a roof rat. Either way, he's gorgeous and should be eating solid food on his own by the look of your video. Put his mushy food with peas out at night and see how much he eats by morning. Also make sure he has access to water. He looks very healthy!!! Good job!!

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AccidentalFosterHome

Discussion Starter · #16 · 11 d ago

That's a great idea to just leave food with him overnight. I went out and got some frozen peas like you suggested and will leave that along with other food and drink in with him overnight. I also got a small aquarium setup with a lid to help give him room to roam safely. I've been doing feedings with formula by hand every few hours, and making sure he's using the bathroom each feeding, and giving a bath or two when I thought it was needed... just trying to keep the little baby healthy. I'm so glad that he's doing as well as he is.

I greatly appreciate all your great advice and feedback!

ratbusters

· #17 · 11 d ago

AccidentalFosterHome said:
View attachment 311033
I think this is the, "feed me!" look.

What a little cutie.
Btw, we've had accidental litter babies before and I have never seen a rat with such a long tail! I wonder what sort of rat this one will grow into - I agree with @Tinytoes that s/he seems a little different.

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Tinytoes

· #18 · 11 d ago

AccidentalFosterHome said:
That's a great idea to just leave food with him overnight. I went out and got some frozen peas like you suggested and will leave that along with other food and drink in with him overnight. I also got a small aquarium setup with a lid to help give him room to roam safely. I've been doing feedings with formula by hand every few hours, and making sure he's using the bathroom each feeding, and giving a bath or two when I thought it was needed... just trying to keep the little baby healthy. I'm so glad that he's doing as well as he is.

I greatly appreciate all your great advice and feedback!

You're doing great!!! This is not easy, raising a baby from eyes closed to where you are now. Just give him two or three peas at a time. Also give him runny cereal made with formula in a jar lid. He will be foraging during the night and find his meals ready to eat! Do you have a way to weigh him? We were at 28 grams at this age. He should gain a couple grams every day. If he is a roof rat, he won't be as big as a Norwegian brown rat like my Bean. Keep us posted!!

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RatPappy

· #19 · 11 d ago

Not a mouse, for sure! What an adorable little fellow (?) A roof rat is a possibility, but then I suspected the Bean was Rattus Rattus initially. I'm so happy your baby is doing so well. Like my friend TT, you saved a life, and I think you will be rewarded by Those who reward good deeds, now and in different circumstances!! Blessed Be!!😉💖🌌

Reactions: 1

AccidentalFosterHome

Discussion Starter · #20 · 11 d ago

I hadn't thought about weighing him/her, but I do have a food scale somewhere that should be sensitive enough... if I can convince the little one to hold still long enough to be weighed.

At this point, s/he is occasionally holding the syringe of formula and eating really well... sometimes lapping it off my fingers. I've tried getting him/her to drink it out of the top of a baby food jar, but so far that hasn't been successful. Maybe s/he just enjoys the hand feeding and isn't into DIY eating. I mean, after such a traumatic start in life, who wouldn't want and deserve a little extra attention?

I've added a few food options into the new home I set up earlier and will check to see if there's been any progress when I wake up and do the night feeding later. Maybe I'll get lucky and s/he'll eat so this can be my last night of getting up for feedings.

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