Chewha Husbandry for beginners

We currently have 11 Chewhas or Rats, We have learned a few things I would like to pass along as they really are a wonderful pet.
First a large cage is a must, we have a double critter nation,I have heard it will hold 20 rats.
My Sons room is 109 square foot. 11.5 X 9.5 ft. that is ruffly 1 chewha per 10 sq,feet.
Never over rat a room.
They are litter box trained and have 2 of them,dumping the boxes every 2 or 3 days with an air purifier running 24 /7 and washing their blankets and fleece 2x a week, we mitigated having much oder pretty well.
We have 5 water bottles and they eat 3 bowls of food a day. That means the litter boxes are well filled in 3 days time.
We go through 40 pounds of food in under 2 months. And they do love their treats every morning flavored yogurt drops and mini cookies.
They get a couple hours a day to run and play in the house . We call it free for all time.

Here is a look at the amount of food they will eat in 2 months time, I open one 20lb. bag at a time and fill the black 6 gallon bucket.
I am at a quarter bucket so soon I'll be dumping in a new bag.
They do enjoy eating. Little foodies. They also love to eat rice cakes at night for a treat.
The white 5 gallon bucket is full of pressed paper cat litter for the litter boxes.
The Oxbow is a full and compleate diet for them but we still give them fresh fruits and green veggies every other day.

I quite like domestic rats and would choose one over the usual options (hamsters mice guinea pigs) every time. I also applaud your dedication to giving them a good home. And Mrs. Pony is really pleased that they live at your house :)

Thank you Steve,
They are very cool little guys.

looks hard work .... i`m sticking to hamsters, see enough of these on the street !

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Originally Posted by hifinutt

looks hard work .... i`m sticking to hamsters, see enough of these on the street !

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Freddie Starr ate mine :(

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Originally Posted by hifinutt

looks hard work .... i`m sticking to hamsters, see enough of these on the street !

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It's more fun than work, we put out a litter box and let them out to play for a couple hours a day. We call it free range ratty play time.
They are so much fun when they are out running,jumping and playing then we simply say "time to go in girls ", bang the treat bowl and most climb back in on there own.
Leaving one or two stubborn girls to put back by hand.