Blue Ridge Rattery

12/17/2022

I hope everyone has a happy holidays! I don't have any babies available for adoption this year, but I would love to share some boys I just did a photoshoot with.

08/19/2022

**URGENT** LOCATION: North Carolina
Update: if you are interested in helping, please join this group to coordinate with their guardian! https://www.facebook.com/groups/772865620801832/

Rat community, a fellow rat lover needs our help! A lovely human who has spent the past decade rescuing and rehoming rats has found themself in a challenging situation and is going to be hospitalized for several months. They have 42 adult and elderly rats with various health issues that make their fate in a shelter uncertain. We are looking for experienced rat guardians and other rescue groups who might be able to help get these rats to a safe place. They have transportation available August 19th, 20th, and 21st, but we do not know what will happen after those dates. They are all GORGEOUS, and there is a variety of personalities and group numbers, including some single males (who need to remain single). They are willing to travel quite a distance to ensure their safety.

If you are located in North Carolina or the surrounding states and have any connections with rat or small animal rescues who are knowledgeable about elderly rats and the types of care they may need, please put us in contact so we can try to arrange care for these rats. Alternatively, if you are anywhere near Asheville and have the space and are willing to open your heart and your home to a couple rats in need, please reach out!

Please share this post to help us get the word our as far and wide as possible!

07/19/2022

Scurry up!! The next batch Mini Star Rats are available now! (More on the way if you miss out again so don't worry!!) 🐭🌟

💙 https://www.squishable.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=opensquish_star_rat_310375 💙

07/05/2022

Rat photo dump! The rattery keeps running even when the social media posts lag. It's been a fun but busy summer, between getting a puppy and doing outside activities for my kids.

The question on many people's minds, will there be rat babies available soon? Yes! In a couple weeks, more details will be posted soon.

05/13/2022

Life sometimes changes in ways you can't anticipate. Bungee, Mabel and Fei Fei are looking for a new home and family within the next few weeks. A rehoming fee may apply, as their family will include supplies and modified cage along with them if needed. These girls are 18 month old dwarf rats, well socialized and handled. Inquiries are welcome, with preference for an experienced rat family that can ensure that these ladies will continue to get proper care. Location: Arlington VA.

04/04/2022

Today is World Rat Day! If you're following my page, you probably already know how wonderful fancy rats can be.

There are no adequate words to really describe what these rats mean to me and my family. As an autistic person, they're my special interest, and have been a stimulating hobby for almost a dozen years now. As a mother, the rats are a teaching tool for many life lessons for my children. They inspire me to be creative, from cage resets to hammock making to works of art. At the end of a long day, fluffy bellies plastered to the front of the cage looking for attention and treats still makes me smile without fail.

Fellow rat enthusiasts, feel free to share how having pet rats has enriched your life 🥰🐀

03/05/2022

This week all the daffodils bloomed in my yard, inspiring this claiming day theme. It's been a pleasure to raise these babies, and I know that they are going to go to the best homes. Inquiries are welcome in the page inbox or email until noon. This afternoon I'll inform the homes chosen, send the contract to be signed electronically, take deposits, and schedule pick up.

03/04/2022

Claiming day will be Saturday, March 5th, so be sure you've got your application and cage photo submitted when you inquire between the hours of 8am and Noon. These babies are ready to be picked up, as they range from 7 weeks to 9 weeks old. Their official pictures will be posted tomorrow morning.

One of the reasons I waited much longer to home these rats is due to several special needs boys being born. At birth and for several weeks afterwards, all was well. However, I noticed around 4 weeks old that several boys only had one testicle in their sack. I gave them a few weeks to see if the other would drop and I have concluded that they will not by this point. This condition is called cryptorchidism, and it isn't painful for the rats themselves. These rats are recommended to be neutered due to increased risk associated with the undecended testicle. They will be offered free to experienced rat owners inquiring for a pair this Claiming day that also has an established relationship with a vet that offers small animal neutering.

If you are curious about cryptorchidism, learn about it here. https://ratguide.com/health/reproductive/cryptorchidism.php

02/18/2022

I've started picking my keepers this week! So far, 2 boys and one girl have shown some wonderful traits that I want to keep here. I'll need to pick a few more before I can start my claiming day prep.

Let's talk cage photos! One of the requirements for claiming day is a photo of your fully set up cage. I base a lot of my homing choices off of this photo, since rats will spend a significant amount of time there. I look at appropriate sizing, bar spacing and accessories that fill up the cage. Accessories I expect to see typically include hides, perches, hammocks, ropes, tubes, baskets, wheels, toys and more. It's also important that I can see either the intent to litter train or big tubs with bedding that is effective at absorbing urine. The weaned boy cage featured below has 7 perches, 3 climbing ropes, 3 hides, 2 hammocks, two food bowls, a few toys scattered in the bedding. Honestly, I will likely add more later in the week when I change out their hammocks since they show confidence using everything they have now.

Rats are incredibly fond of clutter, and in order for them to be able to utilize a big cage, there needs to be ways to access each and every square foot. I find that the babies are more likely to get nervous when they don't feel like they have enough suitable places to hide or ways to run in a new home.

01/27/2022

I definitely want to get more of these cameras! Tiff's litter is 26 days old now. Mikki's litter is starting to toddle around and River's won't be far behind.

01/23/2022

Calling all double coated rat owners! Please post in the comments below your scruffies, your balding beauties, your ugly ducklings. Please note whether they are from BRR or not, and their suspected coat types. I'll go first.

This is Flower. Coming up on a year old, she always has patches of hair missing. Other patches are very short but very soft. On her back and bum are a few little whooshes of curl. Her skin is a soft healthy pink and she's not itchy. Suspected to be teddyrex at a few weeks old according to my notes, but I've never had one that was bald like this before. She's not a breeder, just a pet for my daughter.

01/22/2022

So it finally happened, I'm down with Covid. Luckily I have tiny floofs made of pure serotonin to cheer me up. Seriously, look at this tiny dude eating.

01/20/2022

Nothing more sweet 🥰

01/17/2022

When doing my baby checks, I move aside Momma Tiff's door of an old hammock she tore up. Today, the babies were ready to explore for what I assume to be the very first time. Such wee tiny floofs, chonky and healthy since it's a litter of 5.

And just like any other young animal, they only gave it a few minutes before going back to bed to pass out in a cuddle pile. I'm looking forward to getting to know each and every one of them 🥰

01/16/2022

Mikki had 14 beautiful beans on the 8th, and River had 9 on the 13th. All mommas are rocking this motherhood thing and Puppydog is back with the colony of boys.

As the snow comes down, the risk of the power going out increases. The rats here at BRR are very prepared for it, and they don't even know it. Every cage has an Amazon box, and in that box is probably a dozen more smaller boxes. Stuffed into those boxes is paper from all the online ordering I do. Tissues pulled out of boxes by toddlers, paper towels pulled from the roll that never got used, a sprinkle of fatty nuts and seeds to encourage natural nesting and foraging behavior. This is something I keep as a staple in all my cages for all seasons,

Should the power go out today, I expect all rats to retreat to these comfy nests with all their cagemates. I won't be worried, not even the slightest. I hope everyone stays safe and warm this week! 💕

01/07/2022

Tiff decided to make her debut as a mom early New Years day, all 5 babies chunky and healthy. 3 girls, 2 boys. Mikki and River have been nesting like crazy this week, so fingers crossed they have smooth births. 🥰

01/05/2022

Sage was the only rat to shove her whole face into the snow enrichment today! Everyone else only took nibbles, ran across it or avoided it completely.

12/31/2021

New years is a time for self reflection, an opportunity to make goals for the future, a moment to pause and appreciate all that the last year has brought now that it's over. How in the world did it fly by so fast?? It always does though.

This upcoming year will start with a bang, 3 litters of Black and American Blue due within the next few weeks. I've been looking forward to these litters for months now, pulling the lovely American blue out again since it lurks as a recessive in many of my black rats. Each of these rats has proven themselves to be good pets, healthy, sweet and curious. Hopefully in February we should have a modest sized Claiming Day. Fingers crossed!

All potential adopters will want to get their applications in and cages ready, because gathering supplies before the arrival of new pets shows me that you're not making an impulse purchase. I can also tell immediately if someone has done research and intends to go above and beyond for their new pets. My rats deserve only the best new homes, and I genuinely think that I've met some of the most amazing rat people in this past year. I know that my babies are living enriched and spoiled lives.

Please stay safe tonight, and have a happy New Year!

12/09/2021

Thank you everyone for your participation! It was an easy claiming day and I feel confident that all these lovely rats are going to be in great homes.

Enjoy the full size photos! I swear I'll never get tired of looking at them.

12/09/2021

Good morning everyone! Thank you so much for your patience. Please message the page between now and noon to be considered for placement.

12/08/2021

I hate to do this, but I'm going to have to push Claiming Day to tomorrow! Thursday the 9th from 8am-12pm.

Thanks for your understanding, life is full of unforseen circumstances.

12/04/2021

It warms my heart that so many are inquiring about rats, because they make such delightful pets. Be aware that there are a limited number of pairs available, with more females than males. There will also be a few young adult females that are going to be looking for a pet home. I'll be getting to the inbox shortly, and will continue with my picture taking and claiming card making this weekend.

Claiming Day will be Wednesday, December 8th. After the cards are posted at 8am, I'll take inquiries until noon. In the afternoon I'll reach out to the chosen adopters to process their contract signing and deposits. A copy of the contract can be found on the website. I'll also reach out to those that I don't place rats with to discuss why, and a few qualified adopters may be offered the opportunity to purchase a gift card that can be redeemed the next claiming day. (Late winter litters are being planned now)

To qualify as an adopter, an application needs to be submitted within the last year. The application can be found on the website at https://blue-ridge-rattery.square.site/ Adopters must also submit a cage photo. This is a non-negotiable rule to prevent impulse purchases and ensure my babies end up in the homes most prepared to meet their needs.

Now that the serious stuff is taken care of, enjoy some of the baby photos I was able to get this week!

11/17/2021

11/12/2021

Nimbus is a second time mom, and totally a pro at this whole motherhood thing. Eat when the kids eat. She teaches them vital skills like balancing, digging and how to look generally adorable.

Bedding: America's choice mini flake! After bouncing around bedding companies, I am really happy with this. Kiln dried, no mite issues, not a speck of dust, keeps the odor down with superior ammonia control.

11/07/2021

So I broke my phone a few weeks back and I am still waiting for it to come back from being fixed so that I can show you all pictures of the sweet lil beans growing up lightning fast. In the meantime, here are some stats on the babies.

Pairings:
BRR Tiny Tom/BRR Tiny Tim x BRR Ridge
DOB: 10/12/21
BRR Padfoot x BRR Nimbus
DOB: 10/24/21
BRR Padfoot x BRR Wandalust
DOB: 10/28/21

There are 19 babies on the ground between 3 litters.
Everyone is growing well, no runts or ftt.
There are 11 females and 8 males.
There's 16 dumbo eared and 3 top eared.
17 of them are Russian Blue and 2 of them are black.
Coat types include Rex, Velveteen, Harley, Standard and one that has two coat genes, either harley-hairless or harley-rex. (time will tell)

Claiming day will be at the end of the month, and the same rules apply as last time. To participate you must have an application in, be prepared to sign the contract electronically, pay deposit and show a cage photo. Cage photos can be sent in early, especially if you would like to receive advice on how to better prepare it for rats.

I was able to find pictures of everyone except BRR Ridge, who is a black dumbo berkshire with a lightning blaze.

10/10/2021

Rattery update!

We recently welcomed Canary, Chickadee and Blue Jay back home after 2 years of being loved and spoiled by a wonderful adopter. When life turns upside down, and you're faced with a tough decision, know that your rats can always come back no questions asked. This is also a part of the contract that's signed, because it's important to me that my babies don't end up in a shelter or on Craigslist.

These girls will be integrated into my retired colony after a few weeks of quarantine to be safe. They're so incredibly sweet, and meeting them as adults has a huge smile on my face every time I give them pets or treats.