Question about pet Rats.

[Bonita]

I have my own pet rat right now named Apollo. Sweetest grumpy butt in the world lol. I also used to have a pet rat named Vivi who was pregnant when I got her and I ended up raising 14 baby rats.

Now my friends pet rat had some babies about 3 weeks ago and Im getting 2 girls. Theyve recently started eating food and drinking water, theyre still really young and imo not ready to come to my house. Ive read they need to be 5-6 weeks old when they leave their mom. Right now my friend believes there is 3 males 3 females (I told her how to check but I havent checked myself). Her mother is making her get rid of them this up coming week or she is selling them to be feeders (even the 2 Im getting).

Now I'm worried they wont be fully weened when I get them and they might now be stable as well as ending up getting 1 male 1 female instead of 2 girls. Does anyone know if the babies will be okay to come here next week or should I try to convince them to at least keep my 2 with the mom for 2-3 more weeks?
Any help would be awesome.

(I can't drive out to her house because I lack a car right now and My parents work constantly. I can't drive my dads car when hes off because its a stick and he refuses to teach me lol. As for my moms car she always goes to her friends when shes off. -_-)

[Dewclaw]

Everything I'm reading says around 4 weeks of age (they reach sexual maturity at only 5 weeks old!).

[Bonita]

Hmm then they might be okay. Im still worried I may get a boy and girl thougj. My one baby rat named Midnight didnt develop anything until 8 weeks

[Dewclaw]

Hmm then they might be okay. Im still worried I may get a boy and girl thougj. My one baby rat named Midnight didnt develop anything until 8 weeks

Yeah every site I went to stressed that you keep boys and girls separated because they can make more babies so early on.

[zedxrgal]

In mice & rats when their ears are all the way forward they're weaned. Just be cautious if you plan to introduce the new kids to your kids you already have. Rats even on neutral ground will fight and it won't be pretty even if they're same or opposite sex.

[cowmuflage]

I know this really does not have to do with babies but it's about rats/mice is it true male ones smell really bad?

[zedxrgal]

Most rodent species have a "musk" or a smell to them. Some humans do not smell it others it's really strong. Just depends. This "smell" is how rodents find their way back to their dens in the wild because they scent mark along the way. The males, yes, have a stronger odor then females.

[cowmuflage]

So thats why they allways smell bad at pet shops lol tiss not just me.

[Zuilu]

I'm not sure about how quickly they're weaned, but I just had to pitch in with the smell...
I have to spray perfume in my nostrils when I feed my snake. 'Nuff said.

[Bonita]

Well originally I was going to get a male for my current rat to have a friend but then I remember that the reason I bought him was because he wasnt friendly at all towards other rats and they couldn't find anyone to sell him too. (they also thought he was a she and was trying to breed him... Might be partially why as well lol)
So now Im just taking 2 sisters and keeping them in their own cage.

As for the smell, my rat kind of smells a little gross but Im used to it lol.
My female one used to smell like grapes. I loved it.

[Litlemouse]

Well I don't find rats/mice stinky, but of course that's me. The only mouse I've had that bothered me with the smell was Riley. We used to call him Stinky for his nickname >.<

As for the original question, I think it'll be ok. I don't know about rats, but mice are ready to leave their mother's side officially at 4 weeks. I assume rats are pretty much the same.