Feed & heating racks for mice

[alphaomegakennel]

My name is Jennifer and I'm new to the forum. I decided to start breeding mice again after almost a one year break. This will be my first time breeding mice in a rack however.

Questions are: What do you use to keep the mice warm? They will be located outside in a shed. Luckily, I live in NE Florida so it doesn't get extremely cold. Thought about using reptile heating lamps or strips. I've tried just heating with a room heater and it doesn't work the best.

Also, what feed do you use? I used Mazuri 16% protein before and also an comparable off-brand. My current options are: FMR Rodent Pellets 25% protein and 6.5% fat or Mazuri Lab Blocks 6F, 9F, or 11F. I'll be feeding approx. 40 breeders plus litters and selling them to reptile owners (I don't own any myself).

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

[alphaomegakennel]

Yikes! Wrong location to post. How do you delete it? This forum is different than most.

[Nate]

Took care of it for you

[Mike Cavanaugh]

My name is Jennifer and I'm new to the forum. I decided to start breeding mice again after almost a one year break. This will be my first time breeding mice in a rack however.

Questions are: What do you use to keep the mice warm? They will be located outside in a shed. Luckily, I live in NE Florida so it doesn't get extremely cold. Thought about using reptile heating lamps or strips. I've tried just heating with a room heater and it doesn't work the best.

Also, what feed do you use? I used Mazuri 16% protein before and also an comparable off-brand. My current options are: FMR Rodent Pellets 25% protein and 6.5% fat or Mazuri Lab Blocks 6F, 9F, or 11F. I'll be feeding approx. 40 breeders plus litters and selling them to reptile owners (I don't own any myself).

Any suggestions would be appreciated!

Look out for the BUGS!!!! It would depend on what kind of shed you are talking about. I would not consider a shed in NE florida myself... It gets too hot out there! You would have to have a wood shead, with instalation and all.... and a window for an AC unit. Most say you need to keep temps under 85 degrees. A normal summer day in NE florida is about 90 degrees. That would put the average shed temp at about 110 degrees! AND THERE WOULD BE BUGS!!!!

[alphaomegakennel]

Actually, in my fours years of breeding I never had bugs and the rodents were always in a shed. I did install an exhaust fan and that helped the aroma and temperature considerably.

[Seneschal]

>.> I wouldn't keep mine in a shed. I'm in NE florida and...the temperatures range wildly from 90F to 103F...and in a shed even with the exhaust fan, it'd get way too hot for the poor little things. Maybe in your garage you could get away with it, or in a screened porch since it's more open...but a shed seems to be too closed in.

[alphaomegakennel]

I housed them in a cell block shed so it was cooler inside than outside, had the exhaust fan running, and a moisture collector in the room. On really hot days I would open the door with a gate up and box fan running. The shed was located in the shade as well. I never had a problem with them getting too hot - more with them getting too cold in the winter b/c of the cell block shed.