When to remove the babies

I recently had a mouse give birth. She was actually bought as a feeder mice for my bp's but came to me pregnant.

She has since delivered like 15 babies and I was wondering does it matter when I take them from her. Does it only depend on what they are to be used for. I know it takes like 4 weeks for them to be weaned from their mother but what about if you want them for pinkies feeders.

Please advise.

Thanks

If you need pinkies, pull and feed what you need

What method of euthanasia do you use for young mice??

Will the mother freak out if I just take her babies - I am a noob and honestly am having a hard time with taking her babies.

Please advise on the best method to put them down.

Thank you.

no the mother won't freak out - just don't have here near the babies when you grab so you don't get bit. I feed pups live. Euthanize via BP.

I need to euthanize these babies - need a humane way to do it please.

Thanks

If they are under a week old put them in a bag and freeze them (this is the method that most rodent supply people I have dealt with do it) otherwise use a CO2 method like a cooler with dry ice in it if they are under a week old the dry ice would work but they are able to go a while without oxygen.

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I have been told the best way for pinks is to just flick the top of their head.... They can survive a lot longer without Oxygen so freezing them does just that... freezes them... since they aren't fully formed yet if you flick the top of their head it's just instant death.

I finally got over the feeling of absolute despair in having to feed live (adult prey) - I really had a hard time with it.

Now i have to face this with these cute little babies - I will probably end up raising them to adults and then use them for food. - lol I am such a whimp and a softey.

My sig oth 'bout freaked when I handed him a bunch of pinkies and asked him to bag & freeze them.
It's a necessary chore, that needs to be done. I don't like cleaning smelly poop tubs, but it has to be done.

To Ilovelace - so you just put the babies in a bag and put it in the freezer??

I just want to be sure how to do this.

At what size and age would the dry ice method work??

Pretty much the most humane way is just to freeze them. As stated before, it's real hard to gas them that young. I actually don't gas them until they are almost hoppers. I actually just put them in my deep freeze on a tray, and bag em later on...

As for popping them on the head, sure it will kill them, but not everytime.

I wouldn't use a CO2 method until they open there eyes

And with freezing them they will die when there core body temp drops below 80 so they won't be alive when they start to actually freeze.

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CO2 won't kill them if they are too young. I'd second freezing them.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by L.West

Now i have to face this with these cute little babies - I will probably end up raising them to adults and then use them for food. - lol I am such a whimp and a softey.

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That is you FIRST and only problem!!!!
If you are planning on feeding them off they are FOOD;)
If you let yourself view them any other way they now become a pet:colbert:
It hurt like hell the first time I fed off one of "MY" rat pups and heard her squeak:tears:
Now I dont play with my food, mom and dads yes, offspring NO

I usually by adults each month for feeders - this litter was an accident - I feel awful because they are sooo cute.

But I will do what I have to do. I do have guilt over it though - sometimes I think I am becoming heartless or something.

But, you are right - only think of them as food.

I just want to be sure to put them down in the least distressful way possible.

During baby season I get what I need whether it's pinkie mice for hatchling hondos or rat crawlers for hatchling BP it does not matter, than the rest of the year whatever I get is generally older.

As far as euthanizing babies under 2 weeks of age keep in mind that they are hypoxia resistant therefore it is recommended to freeze them.

just remember that if you start removing or messing with the babies, mom will kill them unless you have lots of contact with them...and as stated by others on here, just freeze them or flick the head but i just put them in baggies and toss in the fridge...set it and forget it...dry ice will work at about 4 weeks and on but not as baby pinks