quick question,

[musicalKeyes]

My second mouse to drop is not doing a very good job. She seems very inattentive of her six babies, and twice now I've checked on them and found them cold and without milk bands, not to mention the time she left three of them strewn about the cage. She also leaves the nest wide open, which makes them cold. So my question is, can I possibly take a few and put them with the other mom? Her babies' eyes just opened (although they are a few days behind because of my water bottle fiasco ) and I'd let the bigger ones rub all over the pinks before I put her back in, and watch carefully. I'm afraid that if she rejects them, both moms won't take them. But I think even giving just three of the pinks to the other mom will help.

I mean, I've done this with chickens and ducks, but they don't exactly have a good sense of smell. Will this work, or are the babies too far apart?

Sorry for the long-winded post, and thanks!

[don15681]

I've seen new mothers uncare for their pinkies and they did not survive. mother mice are known for stealing each others young in the same tank. In different tanks she might or might not accept them. You got to place them in another tank if the mother shows no interest in them and you have to do it before they go down hill, health wise. The new mother will kill them if they are too weak. so if you are going to move them, don't wait too long. sorry but it's a chance, I seen new mother accept them and not accept them. If you have a male in there and they are not his, he could kill them. you have to place them where they have the best chance to survive.