is Raising feeder mice for you?

[Loren]

I will probably take half of the pinks right away, so the others will have a fair chance at getting fed by mom.

Thats the best technique in my opinion. Thinning out litters helps babies grow much better and faster. When different aged litters are being nursed at the same time by multiple mothers, its really important to watch for to much competition by the older babies, and thin out as needed. Either cull the oldest few in the pile, or just feed off the new pinks.

[infernalis]

For the last couple months, we have separated the mice into 5 breeding pairs.

2 adults per tote, it seems to have a better balance.

This particular gal is one fertile momma, she has around 10 babies a litter.

Strange question, I could research it, but how many nipples does a mouse have??

Oh and I just walked in there to check on her, 10 more babies within this last hour, so I set up another box, and took out the male and the weans so mom can focus on the newborns.

[Zephyr]

Okay, both of my females are pregnant again.
Will they just bunch up the babies and care for them all?

[infernalis]

Okay, both of my females are pregnant again.
Will they just bunch up the babies and care for them all?

Most likely Kyle.

When I had about six adults in one tote, they would group all the babies together and multiple moms would nurse the tots.

[infernalis]

update....

The little mouse just got adopted by a new mom, been suckin' nip for a while now.

Seems I had a mom with only 4 babies left, So I put little "Guinea" (The scruffy hair makes it look like a micro guinea pig) in with her, and she checked it out for a minute or two, gave it a bath and laid down for some good ol suckle time.

Should be fine

Here is the preggo mom, just before she burst.

[Hornets23]

I had a mouse that used to have a lot more than ten babies but some of them didnt make it either time. Sorry wayne...not too sure how many nipples they have.

[infernalis]

Maximum occupancy at this restaurant is 10

[infernalis]

This morning I found the "new" family all snuggled together.

The mice took that little one right in. People could learn something from this behavior.

[Lori P]

I found a very young mouse-- I guess fuzzy size-- in the water bowl yesterday morning, almost dead. :-( (The one tank I haven't gotten a water bottle for yet....) Anyway, I dried him and held him for a long time to warm him up, then tucked him under one of the mommas... no idea if it was his momma, but she immediately started grooming him all over and in no time he was dry and more mobile. This morning I can't even tell which one he was.

Of course, on the flip side, last week I caught a young mother in another tank not only finshing off her litter---- but later, stealing other newborns and eating them!!!!!! She was part of Fluffy's dinner that night....

[Zephyr]

Well, ma picked off a couple babies here. The tan and white one burst last night. :P
There's a good... I'd say 4-5 babies left though, all looking healthy with milk spots.