Breeding feeder mice

[Sputnik]

Does anyone here breed their own mice for feeding? How convenient is it?
When I only had a couple of corns, it wasn't really worth considering, but with all these wonderful new additions to the family, I might change my mind.

[adamanteus]

I know Inge (CrazyHedgehog) does, and pretty successfully too. I used to, be these days I just wouldn't have the time!

[CrazyHedgehog]

I Do...
I am lucky enough to have a really good handyman as a partner..I cleared the shed, and he converted it for me into a mouse house, fully insulated, even the door, heated in winter and cooled in summer...we just used big plastic tubs, put holes in the lids and one for a water bottle....

http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/medium/mousecages.jpg

The mice are just too damn cute though...
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/juvmouse.jpg
You can see from the last picture that we added a lot of holes, it stops condensation build up and keeps them healthier.

Below...all the mice have a house and at least one thing to play with
http://www.thamnophis.com/thamphotos/data//500/mousehouse.jpg

[GarterGuy]

Very nice setup Inge!

Roy

[krystalirelan@southslope.]

we did for a wile but then, after a year of success the momsstarted to eat the babies. i don't know why. we did not change anything. the pet store owner said we needed to give them more protien but that did not work either. so i gave it up. if you buy them frozen the house smells better.:)

[CrazyHedgehog]

we did for a wile but then, after a year of success the momsstarted to eat the babies. i don't know why.

Mice only breed well for about 10 months, the first and last litters can often be eaten, as the first one, they are scared and not sure what to do/ and then the last, they just have not got the energy to feed them. To get round this have an older mom mouse in with the first litters, she seems to calm them and help the new mother. I always note the dates, and use the mice for feeding by the time they are 10 months old.


if you buy them frozen the house smells better.:)

If you have a cool partner who builds you things you can have them in the shed so the house does not smell.!!...and yes they are VERY smelly, we clean each tank at least twice a week and they still smell a bit!!

We consulted with the RSPCA as to how to kill them humanely etc and have just followed their guidelines. Haven't bought mice in ages!!

[Sputnik]

What a fantastic setup! Not sure if I'm quite ready for something as impressive as that. :)
How do you humanely kill the mice?

Is there a good frozen rodent supplier in the UK? My petshop prices are getting a bit expensive.

[chloe]

I used to use frozen direct, they are quite reasonable, but now i breed my own too.

http://www.frozendirect.com (http://www.frozendirect.com/shop/home.php?cat=248&xid=055c4f79470cd558eb0303000114f5ec&store_language=US)

[Sputnik]

Just spotted this site: Frozen Mice and Reptile Food at Ice Mice (http://www.icemice.co.uk)

Well, will have to think about it. Thanks for all your advice. :)

[adamanteus]

Just had a look at the Ice Mice site....looks good, might just give them a try.

[Sputnik]

They do seem quite reasonable, don't they? I just didn't realise that postage would be so much, but then I just never really thought about it. I guess it just is quite expensive sending frozen items safely.

[adamanteus]

I didn't look at postage costs yet. I'll have to go back and read it through more carefully. I'd probably but a few hundred at a time though.

[Sputnik]

I think it's £9.95 and yes if you buy that many in one go, it would certainly be worth your while.

[adamanteus]

Yeah, I see what you mean. May as well keep buying them at the pet shop. I'd have to buy 1,000 to make it worth bothering.

[GarterGirl]

It would be hard
for me to feed
those cut mice to snakes.
They're just so cute!

[CrazyHedgehog]

I looked into it for ages, Ice Mice were the cheapest by far and you only have to buy a few hundred to make it cheaper than the petshop even with the postage.

I used to use frozen direct though after Chloe gave me the link, a little more expensive, however they let you pay with paypal so it makes it really easy if you have an ebay paypal account.

Adult mice have to be gassed with C02 gas, a slow release at first and they start yawning and just go to sleep, as soon as they lose consciousness, full C02. According to RSPCA its just as humane to break their necks quickly, but I couldn't bring myself to do that!

For pinkies, they have not grown full nerve endings until about 1 week old, so you can freeze them direct, in tissue on a prefrozen tray in the freezer. Apparently they feel no pain and just go to sleep.

[CrazyHedgehog]

Yeah, I see what you mean. May as well keep buying them at the pet shop. I'd have to buy 1,000 to make it worth bothering.

How much do you buy pinkies for? 45p each in wales...

100 x 45p = £45.00 locally

100 x 19p = £19.00
Plus post = £9.95
Total to post = £28.95 at Ice Mice

Buy a few hundred and it really pays for itself!!

Having over 20 snakes, I used to buy in the thousands, still cost a packet, but cheaper than the shops...
Mouse food is sooooo much cheaper...

[Stefan-A]

I paid something like 57€ for 30 5g mice 3 weeks ago and my butt is still sore. If I didn't live with allergics, I'd start breeding my own feeders.

[Sputnik]

I might just start with one male and two females, just for the pinkies. My only real concern is, that I'll find them too cute to kill. When I was 11 I shocked my mother by bringing home a pinky I had found in a stable and was trying to rescue. Now what do I do...? I have turned EVIL! :o

[adamanteus]

How much do you buy pinkies for? 45p each in wales....

I'm paying 22p each at the moment.

[Lulu Bennett]

i pay 35p per pinkie.

how do you kill the mice??

[Elliot]

You kind of make a little gas chamber, attached with a hose to a Co2 tank, you can use a tank like you'd use for paintball.

[Josh]

I could never keep up with all those rats.

[Lulu Bennett]

elliot that is a horrible thought :(

[Elliot]

elliot that is a horrible thought :(

It's painless actually, you add some until they start to yawn, then they pretty much go to sleep, and when they go to sleep you turn the Co2 up all the way.

[Stefan-A]

elliot that is a horrible thought :(
You just need a morbid sense of humour. ;) And like he pointed out, it's quite merciful.

[Lulu Bennett]

i think i was happier being blissfully ignorant to the matter. i think i will stick to paying 35p/pinkie.

[Elliot]

i think i was happier being blissfully ignorant to the matter. i think i will stick to paying 35p/pinkie.

lol sounds good to me Lulu :D

[adamanteus]

i think i was happier being blissfully ignorant to the matter. i think i will stick to paying 35p/pinkie.

21p in Denton....five minutes drive from your place.

[CrazyHedgehog]

that is a good price,.. I am considering making the whole shed into a massive mouse farm and selling them on. there seems to be great profit in frozen mice..its got to be worth it!

[adamanteus]

that is a good price,.. I am considering making the whole shed into a massive mouse farm and selling them on. there seems to be great profit in frozen mice..its got to be worth it!

Do it, Inge...I'll be a regular customer!:)

[ScimitarX]

We buy all our mice from wholesalers, not sure what we pay for the pinkies, but we get a discount when we buy 200 We sell them for 20p. We run a business selling reptile equipment and the food, also livestock when our animals breed.

[CrazyHedgehog]

wow, if your selling for 20p, you must get them really cheap!
who is your wholesaler?

[ScimitarX]

Yeomans Meats, they are based in Eastwood near Nottingham.