female mouse is killing her baby!!

Well I saw one baby today just ate up, one limb over there another limb over there. So I heard they do that when one is weak or something like that. Should I fear for the rest or what!? My plan was to make all blue babies but I dont want her to eat those, I would be more than upset.

There's numerous reasons on why she's doing it. Stress, not enough food, or just being a plain bad mother. Honestly, if she does it to another litter, I'd feed her off :/ It sounds like there's not enough food, or it's not a high enough protein level. What are you feeding and how much?

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Originally Posted by harm286

Well I saw one baby today just ate up, one limb over there another limb over there. So I heard they do that when one is weak or something like that. Should I fear for the rest or what!? My plan was to make all blue babies but I dont want her to eat those, I would be more than upset.

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Mice are scavengers so if some babies die they will eat the bodies.

There are also other reasons as previously stated, stress or diet related, or simply a bad mom.

Since you seems to want those babies bad can you foster them?

If not leave them with her wait and see.

Make sure not to disturb her, and that she has plenty of water and quality food.

The bottom line if she cannibalized her babies without any reasons I would encourage you to feed her off.

The rest of her babies are fine! thank god. I feed her everything I can from puppy chow to oatmeal and corn flakes.

I feed mine a mixture of hamster/gerbil mix and parrot/cockatiel food along with misc treats. So far, so good. I'd be wary of the puppy chow because it's so high in protein and i've read too much protein can cause sores.

I've read a couple of places now, and had the experience in my own mice, that often the first litters are more likely to be killed off. I had a few of mine who wiped out their entire first litters. 2nd time around they were fantastic moms.

never could breed mice they ate the babies every time thats why I breed asf's.

well I feed that forti diet or what ever its called too. Today I saw two more babies killed its about the 6th day I dont know if me putting my hands in the nest is a bad thing or not?? If she kills my blue guys she is gonna face my pastel, wont b pretty. But does anybody know if petco or some store might sell milk to care for the babies???

Ok first and foremost, with mice...you cannot get your scent on the babies, it will get them killled, yes. Rats don't really care at all, but mice are very specific about it.

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Originally Posted by harm286

I dont know if me putting my hands in the nest is a bad thing or not??

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That right there is why she's killing them, don't feed her because of your error. The only thing I've done with my female who had pups is put in food, change the water, and use a flash light to look into the birthing box.

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Originally Posted by Raptor

That right there is why she's killing them, don't feed her because of your error. The only thing I've done with my female who had pups is put in food, change the water, and use a flash light to look into the birthing box.

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Wells its past 6 days now thought things would be alright. First time breeder with mice geez sorry...

I have a litter that's roughly the same age. The only time my hands go into the tank is when it's time to put in more food. Otherwise, I leave her and the litter alone. Chances are, I won't touch the pups until it's time to wean at 4 weeks.

personally i wouldnt feed mice foods that are meat based especially dog and cat food.

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Originally Posted by nixer

personally i wouldnt feed mice foods that are meat based especially dog and cat food.

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The problem is, most cheaper dog foods have grain products and corn listed as the number one product. The meat products are usually way down at the bottom. It's only when you get into the more expensive, specialty dog foods is the meat higher up on the list.

I don't think there's much of an issue. I know several people who have rats and mice as pets. Both said you can give either pretty much anything as long as it isn't fried and it isn't covered in sugar. One even mentioned giving her rats a treat of baked chicken.

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well I feed that forti diet or what ever its called too.

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As mention in a previous post you need to provide high quality diet, food found in pet store are not high quality diet, I would recommend Mazuri 6 F or harlan mixed with some dog food. (without the red dye)

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Today I saw two more babies killed its about the 6th day I dont know if me putting my hands in the nest is a bad thing or not??

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As explained previously as well the lower the stress the better with mice.

Breeding mice is not that hard one you have an established colony, the hardest part is to get started and again diet an low stress are VERY important with mice.

I have bred mice for several years now and have zero case of mothers killing their youngs, the firt litters are always perfect, the only time a baby will be eaten is when it simply does not make it.

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Originally Posted by Raptor

The problem is, most cheaper dog foods have grain products and corn listed as the number one product. The meat products are usually way down at the bottom. It's only when you get into the more expensive, specialty dog foods is the meat higher up on the list.

I don't think there's much of an issue. I know several people who have rats and mice as pets. Both said you can give either pretty much anything as long as it isn't fried and it isn't covered in sugar. One even mentioned giving her rats a treat of baked chicken.

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rats are not the same as mice when it comes to dietary needs.
the reason for me saying that is because at times mice who are feed meat based foods they will tend to want it all the time one way or another.
feeding pets and feeding breeders are total different things.
oh yes also most cheap dog food contains more dyes than you can shake a stick at