Patch Of Fur

[rob190364 2,594]

Went out for a quick session to keep the farmer happy on Sunday and on the last warren of the day one of my jills came out with a big patch of fur missing on her back....only it wasn't bald, just a patch where the fur is proper short. How it would look if someone got some hair clippers and just shaved a big chunk off her. Anyone got any idea how that could happen? there's no baldness, blood or scratches or anything, just a 2 inch patch of short hair, all the same length. Can't work out how on earth that could happen! The only thing I can think of is if there is some rough piece of metal or wire buried underground and she's squeezed under it? Anyone else any ideas?

[paulus 26]

rat with a pair of scissors

 

What is Barbering?
Barbering refers to the excessive and compulsive cleaning in which the fur is actually nibbled off or pulled right out of the skin. Rats in a cage with a cage-mate may barber each other leaving bald spots on the other rats fur.

What Causes A rat To Barber?
There are many reasons a rat may barber himself or a cage-mate. The most common are because of mites, ticks, fleas or lice. These tiny insect may be hard for a human to see on a rat but they can itch your rat's skin and make him chew the fur off to get rid of the itching.

Baby rats may barber their mother's stomachs when their teeth come in and some lactating mother rats may barber their own stomachs if there is any irritating around the nursing sites.

Other reason might be because of skin ulcers, lesions, small cuts or abrasions. Rats will sometimes over groom any small cuts they get on their skin, leading to barbering.

A rat might also barber when they are stressed, annoyed, or lonely.

[rob190364 2,594]

just to note, the patch wasn't there before she entered the warren, she was entered alone so another ferret didn't do it, and it's on the back of her shoulders so she definitely couldn't have done it herself.

[dogger 100]

shes rubbed it on something causing her summer coat to come out leaving her new winter coat exposed which will be shorter until it fully comes in

[The one 8,598]

shes rubbed it on something causing her summer coat to come out leaving her new winter coat exposed which will be shorter until it fully comes in

+1

[foxtails 272]

a rat with scissors im going for lol thats mad though aint it, never heard of that happening before, but i suspect shes squeezed through a gap with something sharp taking her fur off ? mystery

[GreyRake 108]

Same thing happened to me this morning. The jill is in the middle of a moult. Entered her with a dark head, she bolted three the came out with a white head haha mad.

[AndyKelly 251]

mine look like they been attacked by sweeny todd!!!!!