https://daisyfieldsrattery.weebly.com/

Daisy Fields Rattery, Denver, CO (2026)

10/31/2026

Linda Belcher reporting for duty! Have a Happy Halloween everyone! Let's make it a good day in honor of my late Uncle JTown

10/31/2026

TW: Grief

Last year today was the worst day of my life. It changed my whole family forever. My beloved uncle Justin Lee Conner passed away. I was at work, planning for a boring Halloween by myself when I got the call and collapsed at the time clock. It's been 365 days since then. 365 days of thinking about him, telling him I miss him and crying a lot. I'm going to be a little scarce for a few days, thank you for understanding.

I threw together a last minute costume for you, JTown. I don't feel much like celebrating, but you would want me to.

10/30/2026

A little information about rat mites!

Since I've had experience with rat mites unfortunately, I wanted to share a little information about the different types of mites we can run into with our rats, what causes them, and some things we can do to help prevent them. I think it's really important to learn from our own experiences and help others learn as well.

First, it's important to understand that not all mite problems come from the same place.

Regular rat mite flare-ups

Rats naturally carry species-specific mites, just like other mammals (yes, humans have them too!). Normally, these mites live in relatively small numbers and don't cause any noticeable problems.

Sometimes that balance gets thrown off. Stress, illness, or a compromised immune system can contribute to an increase in an existing mite population. This is why you can have a rat develop a mite problem seemingly out of nowhere, even when nothing has changed in your husbandry or cage setup.

When I see a mite flare-up, I think it's important to look at more than just the mites themselves. It's worth considering whether the rat is dealing with an underlying health issue or something else that might be affecting their immune system.

Tropical rat mites are a little different.

Tropical rat mites (Ornithonyssus bacoti) are blood-feeding mites that actually spend most of their time living in the environment rather than on the rat. They come onto their host to feed and then retreat into bedding, cage crevices, and other hiding places.

Unlike the mites rats naturally carry, tropical rat mites can be introduced from outside sources. Contaminated bedding, food, cage accessories, and exposure to areas with wild rodents can all be potential sources.

This is where things get especially frustrating because treating the rats alone isn't enough. You also have to address the environment. Otherwise, mites hiding in the cages and surrounding areas can continue coming back to feed. They can also bite people, so this is something worth taking seriously.

Preventing mites through supplies

One thing I've been looking into more is how we can prevent bringing mites into our colonies in the first place. Even when you're careful about where you get your supplies, contamination can happen.

A few preventative measures worth considering:

- Freezing bedding: Freezing bedding before use may help eliminate certain pests. Effectiveness depends on the temperature reached throughout the material and how long it's frozen, so it shouldn't be considered a guarantee.
- Freezing food: Freezing dry food can help control certain storage pests, including some mites. Just make sure it's kept dry when thawed and stored properly afterward.
- Permethrin: Permethrin is another option for mite control and is used in both veterinary and environmental applications. It can be useful as part of a preventative or treatment protocol, but the formulation and intended use matter. Always follow the product directions and veterinary guidance, especially when treating areas around rats.
- New cage accessories: Give new items a good inspection and clean before introducing them to your colony. Pay attention to seams, crevices, and porous materials.

None of these methods are foolproof, but I think taking a few extra precautions is worthwhile, especially when you're maintaining a larger colony.

Treatment

My personal preference for treating mites is Revolution (selamectin). It's what I've had the most confidence in, and in my experience, it's been both effective and well tolerated when used appropriately. I consider it my first choice for both regular mite problems and tropical rat mites, with treatment determined by an exotic veterinarian.

With tropical rat mites, though, you really have to treat the environment along with the rats. Otherwise, you can end up treating everyone only to have the problem come right back.

A little reminder: Having mites doesn't automatically mean you're doing something wrong. Regular mite flare-ups can happen when an existing population gets out of balance, while tropical rat mites can be introduced through contaminated supplies or the surrounding environment. Sometimes these things happen despite taking every precaution.

I think one of the best things we can do as rat owners and breeders is share our experiences, what has worked for us, and what we've learned along the way. There's always something new to learn, and hopefully sharing information like this helps someone else avoid a headache (and a mite infestation) down the road!

Adopter photo of sweet werewolf boy Harry's hairdo as tax!

10/29/2026

This chunky girl has rolls for days! She needs a horror themed name, running out of girl villains!

10/29/2026

A little about Daisy Fields Rattery

I've been wanting to talk a little more about my breeding practices and the reasoning behind some of the decisions I make, especially for people who are newer to Daisy Fields or are considering adopting from me.

Anyone who knows me knows how passionate I am about my rats and the lines I'm working on. There's a lot more to breeding than producing pretty babies, and a lot of thought goes into the pairings I choose and how I raise my litters. Health, temperament, and genetics will always come before appearance for me.

The recent mite situation

I want to address the tropical rat mite situation because I know it's a concern, and I don't want to ignore it or pretend it didn't happen.

After getting a new batch of bedding, a couple of my cages ended up with tropical rat mites. My rats had their usual health checks before pickup, but the mites weren't caught at the time. I suspect the new bedding may have been the source, although I can't say that for certain.

I didn't see further signs outside of those couple of cages, but I decided to treat my entire colony anyway. I'd rather be cautious than risk leaving a potential problem untreated.

I'm also working on a new process for treating my bedding to help reduce the chances of this happening again. Obviously, this wasn't something I wanted to deal with, but it's given me a reason to look at my current practices and see where I can improve.

I understand how upsetting it is to find parasites in your rats, especially when you already have a mischief at home. I would never want an adopter to feel like their concerns don't matter. I also think it's important to be honest about what we know and what we don't. The timing of an infestation doesn't always establish where it originated or what caused a separate health problem, and I don't want to make assumptions about something that hasn't been confirmed.

I can't promise that health issues will never happen. These are living animals, and sometimes things happen despite the precautions we take. What matters to me is taking concerns seriously, addressing them, and learning from the experience.

I'm also a closed rattery, meaning I don't offer meet-and-greets. This is intentional because I want to limit unnecessary exposure to outside animals and people and reduce the risk of introducing illnesses into my colony.

A little about my housing and care

I know people have different preferences when it comes to rat cages, and that's okay! What matters to me is that my rats have appropriate space, ventilation, cleanliness, enrichment, and opportunities to socialize. There's more to good husbandry than the name or style of the cage someone uses.

I'm always looking for ways to improve my setup and care practices. I don't think any of us should stop learning just because we've been doing things a certain way for a long time.

Why I don't handle babies from birth

I've talked about this recently, but I want to explain my reasoning a little more because I know my approach isn't what everyone is used to.

During the first few weeks, I focus on observing the babies, monitoring their development, and watching their personalities emerge. As they get older, I introduce structured, positive interaction and work on getting them comfortable with people.

My goal is to breed for naturally friendly, confident temperaments, not just familiarity with handling. A baby getting used to being picked up doesn't necessarily mean it has the genetic temperament I'm looking for in my lines.

That doesn't mean the babies are ignored or that socialization isn't important to me. I want to understand their natural responses as they develop and then build on that with positive experiences as they grow. Genetics and socialization both matter, and I want to give both the consideration they deserve.

I put a lot of importance on temperament because I want my rats to be good companions, not just pretty ones.

My lines, my goals, and pricing

Coat varieties are often what initially catch people's attention, but they're only one part of my breeding program. I'm working toward improving the health and temperament of my lines while continuing to develop the genetics I'm interested in.

Some varieties take a lot of time and careful selection to improve, and that work doesn't happen overnight. My prices reflect the costs of raising and caring for my rats, as well as the time and effort involved in developing my lines while maintaining the health and temperament I want.

I won't sacrifice those things just to produce a particular look. Sometimes progress means taking things slowly, changing plans, or making difficult decisions about which rats to breed.

My girls are pets first. Their health and happiness come before breeding plans, and I'm intentional about giving them breaks between litters and limiting how many litters they have.

Why all of this matters to me

I don't believe being an ethical breeder means never having a problem or getting everything right every single time. I think it means being willing to learn, take concerns seriously, and take accountability and make changes when something could be done better.

It also means caring about what happens after a rat leaves my home. I want my adopters to feel comfortable coming to me with questions, whether it's next week or years down the road. If life ever takes an unexpected turn and someone can no longer keep their rats, they will always have a home here.

I put a lot of time and love into Daisy Fields, and I'm proud of the progress I've made with my lines. I still have plenty of goals I'm working toward, and I know there will always be more to learn.

I don't expect everyone to agree with every decision I make, but I do hope people can understand the thought behind them. At the end of the day, I do this because I love rats and want to keep improving the quality of the companions I produce.

Thank you to everyone who has supported me and Daisy Fields, trusted me to help find your new companions, and followed along with what I'm building here. It genuinely means a lot to me.

10/29/2026

If you have recently adopted from me don't forget to leave me a review on facebook and google! I appreciate you all!

CRTH Horizon for tax!

10/28/2026

Spoken for!

I have two dwarf girls 👀 for a new mischief! One is dwarf harley and one is dwarf werewolf! This amazing and unique pair is so sweet and so outgoing. They will have you wrapped around their little paws immediately! Reach out if interested. Pet only! I have not ever consistently had dwarves so if you've been wanting dwarves, don't wait!

Denver, Colorado

10/28/2026

DAISY Annabelle had 7 girls 6 boys last night. Perfect delivery. She had 1 male werewolf and 3 females. No werewolves will be avaliable. All staying

10/28/2026

More bundles and items avaliable that benefit my rats and SMOL BEANS Rat Rescue of Colorado - Rehab, Rescue, Rehome
Message me to inquire, shipping possible with large order, recipient pays shipping.

10/28/2026

Edit to clarify: I do NOT ignore my babies, I just breed for temperament and handle with intention to evaluate them and build on their genetic temperament and confidence. I do not rely on handling to socialize.

Why don't we handle babies from birth to make them friendlier?

There's a pretty common misconception that the more you handle baby rats from the day they're born, the friendlier they'll be as adults. I understand why people think this, but there's a difference between getting a rat used to being handled and actually breeding for good temperament.

Temperament is heavily influenced by genetics. Confidence, fearfulness, and even a tendency toward defensive aggression are things we need to pay attention to when making breeding decisions. You can absolutely help a rat build positive associations with people through proper socialization, but you can't handle a genetic predisposition out of them.

A baby that's handled constantly by the same person might become very comfortable with that person. That doesn't necessarily mean they're naturally confident or friendly. They may simply be accustomed to that particular person and situation. When they're older, in a new home, around unfamiliar people, or put in a situation that makes them uncomfortable, those underlying tendencies can become much more apparent. Fearful or defensive behaviors, including biting, can still develop even in rats that seemed perfectly comfortable as babies.

This is also why we need to be careful about temperament testing. If we're trying to evaluate how naturally confident a baby is, constantly exposing them to the same person can make it harder to get an accurate picture. We're trying to evaluate the temperament we're breeding for, not just how well a baby has learned to tolerate us.

That doesn't mean babies shouldn't be handled at all! Obviously, we need to monitor litters, check on mom and babies, and provide appropriate care. As they get older and reach the appropriate developmental stages, positive interactions and socialization are incredibly important. There's just a difference between appropriate early care and trying to make babies friendlier by handling them from birth.

Personally, I'd rather put my effort into breeding rats with naturally good temperaments and then build on that foundation through proper socialization. Handling should help a rat develop trust, not be used as a substitute for breeding for temperament in the first place.

The goal isn't just to raise rats that are comfortable with their breeder. It's to raise rats that have the temperament to become confident, friendly companions in any good home.

One of my Slasher Line keeper girls as tax! She needs a horror name!