Discussion
Question for any vets/anyone with experience of breeding mice...
Our daughters 'rescued' 3 baby mice that can't be much more than 4 days old from our neighbours shed today. I know we should have left them alone but our neighbour hates mice and was all for leaving them out - the local cats (ours included) would have dealt very quickly with them. Anyway, that didn't happen so now we have 3 very small mice in a box that are being fed with watered down kitten/cat milk every 4 hours. I have told them that the mice will almost certainly die as they are too young to survive without their mothers care, but is there anything else we can do for them to make them more comfortable ?
Our daughters 'rescued' 3 baby mice that can't be much more than 4 days old from our neighbours shed today. I know we should have left them alone but our neighbour hates mice and was all for leaving them out - the local cats (ours included) would have dealt very quickly with them. Anyway, that didn't happen so now we have 3 very small mice in a box that are being fed with watered down kitten/cat milk every 4 hours. I have told them that the mice will almost certainly die as they are too young to survive without their mothers care, but is there anything else we can do for them to make them more comfortable ?
As you say there is a pretty good chance they'll die however:
Stimulate their bowels. A little while after any decent feed they'll need a poo, you may need to stimulate to get them going by rubbing their bits/belly with a wet tissue or similar.
Otherwise, a box with a bit of old rag/towel etc in to keep them warm enough and they'll be ok.
They should be weaned at about 3 weeks, maybe a few days less, so then will need seeds, insects, fruit/veg etc.
Stimulate their bowels. A little while after any decent feed they'll need a poo, you may need to stimulate to get them going by rubbing their bits/belly with a wet tissue or similar.
Otherwise, a box with a bit of old rag/towel etc in to keep them warm enough and they'll be ok.
They should be weaned at about 3 weeks, maybe a few days less, so then will need seeds, insects, fruit/veg etc.
Thanks for that. They seem to have lots of energy which presumably is a good sign and they respond quite well when picked up. Daughter has just bought them downstairs for a feed because the squeaking was keeping her awake. They have been trying too stimulate bowel movements with no success so far.
Mubby said:
awww good luck with them, Id love some harvest mice they are so sweet!
you seem to have forgotten to attach the photos, lol
They are wood mice and have survived the night. They seem to be quite strong still and are also quite noisy, although they are cuddled up asleep together at the moment.you seem to have forgotten to attach the photos, lol
rasto said:
They have 3 very dedicated 'carers', my eldest daughter in particular seems to be a natural when hand feeding them with a syringe. Our youngest daughter is now making plans for where they will live when they grow up.
So you'll be off buying a Rotastack*?!?! *Other hamster/mouse homes are available!
rasto said:
They have 3 very dedicated 'carers', my eldest daughter in particular seems to be a natural when hand feeding them with a syringe. Our youngest daughter is now making plans for where they will live when they grow up.
awwww! i think mice are good in tanks, hard to find a cage with small enough bars! and they of course wont be that big so not huge is required!from a good mousey website
- Life expectancy: 1-3 years (varies according to background, "strain")
- Sexually mature: 4-7 weeks (both males and females)
- Cycle of heats: 4-5 days, continuing all year round
- Gestation period: 19-21 days
- Size of litter: 4-14 (even more), average 12 babies
- Pigment starts to show: from 3rd day forward
- First coat has developed: at 10 days
- Eyes open: 12-13 days
- Nursing period: approximately 3-3,5 weeks
- Weaning age: males 3,5 weeks, females may be weaned at 4 weeks
- Separate to single sex groups: 3,5 weeks
- Life expectancy: 1-3 years (varies according to background, "strain")
- Sexually mature: 4-7 weeks (both males and females)
- Cycle of heats: 4-5 days, continuing all year round
- Gestation period: 19-21 days
- Size of litter: 4-14 (even more), average 12 babies
- Pigment starts to show: from 3rd day forward
- First coat has developed: at 10 days
- Eyes open: 12-13 days
- Nursing period: approximately 3-3,5 weeks
- Weaning age: males 3,5 weeks, females may be weaned at 4 weeks
- Separate to single sex groups: 3,5 weeks
Well despite me not giving them any chance of surviving, the babies appear to have thrived ! They are now wearing some nice fur coats, but their eyes are still closed and they are still a bit wobbly on their feet. We think we have 2 boys and 1 girl and the jury is still out on what to do with them. I favour releasing them in some nearby woods, but I suspect that won't be a popular choice with my daughters. They have been really good at looking after their charges and take it in turns to get up for the 3AM and 6AM feeds !
Edit: of course if anyone on here is interested in providing a home for them please feel free to contact me ;-)
Edit: of course if anyone on here is interested in providing a home for them please feel free to contact me ;-)
Edited by rasto on Wednesday 30th May 20:49
I was a bit out with my days (I was obviously thinking of their gestation and I think hamsters can mature more quickly)
Find a local wildlife charity maybe.
You could phone somewhere like Secret World Somerset for advice. Releasing should be possible but they'd have to be 'dehumanised' first.
Hamster food should be suitable for weaning onto proper food.
Find a local wildlife charity maybe.
You could phone somewhere like Secret World Somerset for advice. Releasing should be possible but they'd have to be 'dehumanised' first.
Hamster food should be suitable for weaning onto proper food.
bless...can we have some more pics?
not sure how much chance id give them of surviving if released...hard to know how much learning a mouse requires to survive on its own.....
considering they'll prob only live a couple of years could you not let your daughters keep them? If its a real problem im sure i could give them a home
not sure how much chance id give them of surviving if released...hard to know how much learning a mouse requires to survive on its own.....
considering they'll prob only live a couple of years could you not let your daughters keep them? If its a real problem im sure i could give them a home
The first one died just after it had been fed and the other one seems to not have enough energy to eat.Gassing Station | All Creatures Great & Small | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff