Visiting a breeder

[gav]

If I'm not getting rats for a few weeks, is it a good idea to visit the breeder that I might be interested in, to see, well, how well everything runs, and what their rats' temprament is like?

If so, is it just call?

[Australian Rat Forum]

All rats are different, so you can only judge a breeders rats by the parents of the litter you are after.

Not all rats have good enough temperaments to breed from but a good breeder will only breed from rats with good temperaments.

Some breeders wont allow people to view their rat room - not because they are bad breeders or bad rat keepers, but because myco can be passed on to rats via human clothes, skin, hair. - Myco and respitary infections have become more prevolent over the last few years. So breeders are now starting to stop visitors coming to their rattery to try and stop the spred of viruses and so on to or from their rats.

I know Bozzy Rats Rattery no longer allowes people to view all her rats for this reason.

But when she has baby rats available she will allow people to come and view the babies that they have reserved when they are around 4 to 5 weeks old and you can then see the mother then, or you can see the mother when you pick up the baby rats at 6 to 7 weeks old.

Plus you also ave to remember that Ratteries are usely at someones home, so you can understand if a breeder doesnt want people coming around to their home just to see what their rats temperaments are like.

Also some people have phone phobia (bozzy rats has it) so you can only make contact with her via email (currently she has computer problems and can not get on her computer or get her email right now).