There are a million things to look for in a good rattery, and because of this, it can be difficult when deciding which one to adopt from. Below, I have some key things to look for when picking a rattery, and why you should feel confident about your decision in adopting from Rainy Zillow Rattery.
Look for a breeder who is completely educated on rat care... and can easily teach and help others. The breeder should know the "do's" from the "don'ts" off the top of their head and should be promoting proper rat care. They should keep their rats in clean, spacious, and engaging set-ups and encourage their adopters to do the same. Any breeder who refuses to show their setup or explain how they care for their rats should be heavily avoided. A good breeder will have nothing to hide. |
Look for a breeder who is concerned about where their rats go... and takes every precaution to ensure their babies end up in a home that is suitable to care for them. The breeder may make potential adopters fill out adoption forms and/or contracts. These are signs of a caring and responsible rattery. Breeders who breed purely for the profit will hand over their rats to anyone with money, regardless of if that home will care for them properly, and these breeders should be avoided. |
Look for a breeder who rehomes at the right age.. and does not let adopters reserve their rats too soon. You will find a lot of backyard / irresponsible breeders who are selling their rats way too early, before the rats are even supposed to be weaned. Those last couple of weeks are crucial for the rat's development. Rats need to stay with the breeder for a minimum of 6 weeks before they should be allowed to leave. Reservations should not be happening until the rats have started to develop their personalities and their temperaments are clear to see. Breeders who rehome before 6 weeks or allow reservations when the rat's eyes aren't even open yet are red flags, and breeders who practice this should be avoided. |
Look for a breeder who knows how to ethically breed...
and understands genetics, health issues, temperament issues, and more. Breeding is a whole lot more than throwing two rats together to get more rats. A breeder should be confident in their lines and in their rats. They should disclose any and all issues a line has had, and should only be adopting out a line if it has been bred for multiple generations without any big problems popping up. A breeder that has no understanding of genetics should be avoided as it is pertinent to have a good grasp on genetics before breeding. The breeder should be able to give you a pedigree of your rat, dating back at least 3 generations. If they can't do this, walk away.
and understands genetics, health issues, temperament issues, and more. Breeding is a whole lot more than throwing two rats together to get more rats. A breeder should be confident in their lines and in their rats. They should disclose any and all issues a line has had, and should only be adopting out a line if it has been bred for multiple generations without any big problems popping up. A breeder that has no understanding of genetics should be avoided as it is pertinent to have a good grasp on genetics before breeding. The breeder should be able to give you a pedigree of your rat, dating back at least 3 generations. If they can't do this, walk away.
REMEMBER: Anyone can call themselves a breeder. It's up to you to identify the good from the bad. |
Look for a breeder with reviews... and plenty of testimonials. It's no question that reviews literally make or break a business. When in doubt, find a rattery with plenty of good reviews. The rattery should be praised, and most adopters should be happy with their rats and experience. If there are multiple legitimate bad reviews, walk away. |
Look for a breeder with great photos...
and happy, healthy-looking rats. You're probably thinking this one is a stretch - after all, not everyone has the time nor ability to take crystal-clear, perfect photos. But, a thousand words can be said about a single picture, regardless of how professional it is. The rattery should have photos of each individual rat for adoption and should have no problem taking more if needed. This is your chance to examine the rats, while not being able to handle them in person. Look for rats that have a healthy weight, bright eyes, clean fur, and overall has good conformation. If the breeder cannot get photos of the rats, ("Oh, they just move too fast") or the rats look sickly in photos, walk away.
and happy, healthy-looking rats. You're probably thinking this one is a stretch - after all, not everyone has the time nor ability to take crystal-clear, perfect photos. But, a thousand words can be said about a single picture, regardless of how professional it is. The rattery should have photos of each individual rat for adoption and should have no problem taking more if needed. This is your chance to examine the rats, while not being able to handle them in person. Look for rats that have a healthy weight, bright eyes, clean fur, and overall has good conformation. If the breeder cannot get photos of the rats, ("Oh, they just move too fast") or the rats look sickly in photos, walk away.