Feeder Colony Production Forecaster

Estimate how many feeders your colony will produce and whether you're meeting your target demand. A rough planning tool to help you size your operation.

Other feeder tools: Check our Rack Space Planner to estimate capacity, and the Feeder Profit Estimator to calculate ROI for your operation.

Colony Setup

Selecting a type auto-fills typical values below

Typical ratio is 1 male : 3-5 females

Leave at 0 if you just want to see production estimates

Reproduction & Growth

Typical for rats: 8-12 (avg 10)

Typical for rats: 6-8 (22d gestation + 30d between)

Typical: 75-90% (varies by husbandry quality)

Time from birth to sellable/usable size

Production Forecast

Feeders Per Week

11.4

Feeders Per Month

50

Time to Steady Production

5 weeks

Demand Comparison

You are under-producing by approximately 8.6 feeders per week compared to your target of 20.

Summary

With 10 breeding females producing an average of 10 pups per litter, 7 times per year, and a 85% survival rate, your colony will produce approximately 50 feeders per month (11.4 per week).

To meet your target demand, consider adding more breeding females or sourcing additional feeders from ReptileKitchen.

How It Works

The calculator uses a simple formula:
Monthly Production = Females x Litters/Year x Litter Size x Survival Rate / 12
Weekly production is derived by dividing monthly by ~4.345 weeks per month.

Default Assumptions (2024-2025 Data)

Based on published rodent reproduction research and breeder community data.

  • Rats: 10 pups/litter, 7 litters/year (22d gestation + 30d between), 85% survival, 5 weeks to feeder size
  • Mice: 7 pups/litter, 8 litters/year (20d gestation + 25d between), 80% survival, 4 weeks to feeder size
  • ASFs: 6 pups/litter, 6 litters/year, 80% survival, 5 weeks to feeder size

Disclaimer: These calculations are estimates for planning purposes only. ReptileKitchen does not guarantee specific breeding outcomes. Your results may vary significantly based on genetics, husbandry practices, environmental conditions, and many other factors. Always conduct your own research and consider consulting with experienced breeders.

Feeder Colony Production Forecaster | ReptileKitchen | ReptileKitchen