Rat Help!!!?

Question

I have NO experience with rats. I need to know if they will eat Timothy Hay or not. Is it good for them?

Email me at, [e-mail]

Answer 1

Well, I don't have n e idea what Timothy Hay is, but I do have some pointers for raising rats.

-Contrary to popular belief, domestic rats are as different from wild rats as dogs are to wolves
-Give them lots of attention, these guys are very social creatures and need your love and care
-Females are usually more energetic and like to play, while males usually sit still and let you pet them
-DON'T HOLD THEM BY THEIR TAILS!!!!!
-Let them sit on your shoulder
-If you hear them grinding their teeth, it means they are comfortable, cozy, and they like and trust you
-Sad but true, rats are prone to breathing issues since most pet shops allow related rats to mate. If you hear them making wheezing noises, take 'em to the vet
-What more can I say? God made rats very sweet and lovable creatures, so treat them accordingly

Answer 2

Timothy hay is not a food source but a treat for rats and other small animals.

Answer 3

Rats are great pets. There are commercial rat or lab diets available but they will do very well on dry dog food. Rats are omnivorous which means they'll eat just about anything but don't do well on an all vegetarian diet. They need proteins. Handle your rat as often as possible. Rats are relativley clean animals. They will eliminate in one area of it's cage. They like to chew so make sure there he has paper, nibble sticks and even card board to chew and make a nest out of

Answer 4

Some rats will chew on hay and make a nest out of it, others ignore it. You should NOT use hay as part of their regular diet. Rats are omnivores, not herbivores. That means they need a wide variety of foods in their diet.
One person said that rats will do well on dog food. A few dog kibbles from a really high quality food, once in a while is okay, but dog food should NOT be used as their sole source of food!
For information on dog food ingredients, check this link out:
http://www.doggiesparadise.com/dog-food-ingredients.shtml
If you do a search on Google for "dog food ingredients" you'll find numerous excellent websites that tell the gruesome details of why generic dry dog food isn't even good for dogs, let alone rats.
Laboratory "lab" diets designed for rats are best, but make sure to give them other foods as well. Fresh fruits, veggies, boiled chicken, hardboiled eggs, a variety of seeds and grains, and cottage cheese are some examples of foods you can offer your rats. Stay away from candy and other types of "snack" foods. Your rat might LOVE chocolate bars, but that doesn't mean it's good for him. Fresh popcorn is good, but without the salt and butter. Don't forget, everything in moderation.
If you want to start keeping pet rats, you should plan on getting two of the same sex. Rats are VERY sociable animals and need companionship.
When it comes to cages, bigger is better. Rats LOVE to play and climb and are fairly active little creatures. Give your rat a nice big cage and lots of toys to play with. Large parrot toys are excellent for rats. They are safe to chew on and rats love to play all over them.
Good luck!

Answer 5

I currently own two adorable male rats whom I love to bits! Rats can eat almost anything, HOWEVER there are some foods out there deadly to rats, for instance oranges. Oranges will cause cancer in male rats, and should be kept out of their diet at all costs. There are more foods that you should not feed your rats, if I find a good reliable source I will email it to you.

Answer 6

I answered this question for someone else not too long ago.

http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index;_ylt=AjybzgrjHn7ECEv_X_X7pbjty6IX?qid=20070528100105AAk7O94&show=7#profile-info-f3f7d7cf1dbdb6a2f0e97a5ecd6376e0aa

The info that I provided for this asker also pertains to your question.

They might eat it, or they might just use it for bedding material. Hay is not a staple diet for rats. The majority of commercial rat foods are also not good foods for rats. There are too many ingredients in them that rats cannot utilize, ie., corn and alfalfa.

Those people who are experienced in rat-keeping prefer a well-rounded homemade diet:
The Debbie D. diet
http://www.ratfanclub.org/diet.html
The Suebee diet
http://www.ratsrule.com/diet.html
The Spaz Rats' Diet
http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/petrats/81615/2
Harlan Teklad lab blocks
http://www.teklad.com/rodent.asp
The exception to commercial diets is the Oxbow Diet
http://www.oxbowhay.com/Shop/showProduct.sp?PRODUCT_NO=75

http://www.suite101.com/article.cfm/petrats/112425
http://www.shadowbrookrats.com/cooking.htm

I sent this info to the e-mail address that you provided as well.

The members of Holistarat will provide with everything you need to know about caring for your rats.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/holistarat


spazrats
"my life has gone to the rats"

Answer 7

They don't normally make a habit out of eating it, as they'd prefer to use it as nesting materials. It should definitely be provided, though.
As for the basic diet, there are many rat-formulated diets available, and ''lab blocks'' are the most respected. I personally feed mine cat food. They just didn't care for the rat diets.
Here's more information on basic rat care:
http://www.dogbreedinfo.com/pets/rat.htm

Answer 8

Its ok for them as a treat. Google pet rat care. Youll find lots of grea information.

Answer 9

I've had a lot of rat's. they will eat anything that taste's good to them.
I used Care fresh bedding please use this as bedding. your rat will be healthier. wood chips are not good for bedding.
rats love left overs, no spicy food.
Male's are easier to handle and love to sit on your lap and be petted, females are explorers and not easy to tame.

Answer 10

great choice in pet i have owned many rats in my years there fantastic creatures and brilliant with children if you ask goggle for info on rats they will give you all the info you need and more good luck!