My mouse breeding setup(tell me if its ok)

hey i started breeding mice about a week ago. i cant upload pics but i can explain what im doing.

i have a 15qt tub, i cut out a section and put mesh on the lid, i put aspen in it, a food bowl,hide, water bottle, and of course a male and a female in it.

after the female has a "golf ball" size thing in her stomache, i separate them.

when the female gives birth, i let the babies stay with her until they are weaned. when i wean them i put the male back in with the female and they do their thing, then i keep repeating the process. ;)

i am going to euthanize them using c02 and freeze them.

is this a good plan?

I don't remove my males and have never had a problem with them being in there with the mother. I think there are several people on here who do separate and have not had a problem with that either, so you should be good. Obviously if you remove your male you can control how many litters you have which is good, but I have heard of people who breed mice for pets having issues re-introducing the male after he's been separated from the females.

Good luck with them!

I never separate. Its a pain to separate 24 breeding groups every 3 weeks.

The males are good fathers if properly fed and hydrated. Using high quality lab block and not bagged food from store.

back to back breeding in mice is fine but i dont recommend with rats.

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

I never separate. Its a pain to separate 24 breeding groups every 3 weeks.

The males are good fathers if properly fed and hydrated. Using high quality lab block and not bagged food from store.

back to back breeding in mice is fine but i dont recommend with rats.

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so after the female gives birth, i just leave the male in there? will he eat the babies?

theres always the chance of them eating the babies just as much as the mother eating them too. Thats where the good quality food comes in. Food from pet stores is not enough to keep them full.

If you dont need many mice then separate the male. cause youll end up with babies ever 3-4 weeks on the dot if the male does his job.

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

theres always the chance of them eating the babies just as much as the mother eating them too. Thats where the good quality food comes in. Food from pet stores is not enough to keep them full.

If you dont need many mice then separate the male. cause youll end up with babies ever 3-4 weeks on the dot if the male does his job.

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well i will keep the male in if you say so. how often do your males eat the babies?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

theres always the chance of them eating the babies just as much as the mother eating them too. Thats where the good quality food comes in. Food from pet stores is not enough to keep them full.

If you dont need many mice then separate the male. cause youll end up with babies ever 3-4 weeks on the dot if the male does his job.

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and i have Forti-diet lab block for food. and lettuce.

that forti food is garbage and with that food you will expirence babies being eaten. Also the lettuce isnt needed.

I use Mazuri 9f to feed all my mice and rats. and i never had a them eat babies unless they were stil born.

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

that forti food is garbage and with that food you will expirence babies being eaten. Also the lettuce isnt needed.

I use Mazuri 9f to feed all my mice and rats. and i never had a them eat babies unless they were stil born.

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where can i get that mazuri? and hwo much is it?

if your lucky your local feed stores will carry it for 25-32$ per 50lbs bag.
If not they youll have to order form mazuri.com which is costly on shipping.

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

if your lucky your local feed stores will carry it for 25-32$ per 50lbs bag.
If not they youll have to order form mazuri.com which is costly on shipping.

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is this it?

http://www.petsmart.com/product/inde...ductId=2754059

yes thats it but very expensive at that size. $6 per 2lbs compared to $30 for 50lbs

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

yes thats it but very expensive at that size. $6 per 2lbs compared to $30 for 50lbs

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okay well the botom line is that would i produce baby mice if i used that forti diet crap? thats all i really care about ill separate the M and F as long as i get baby mice!

yes you will get babies, but with a low quality food the male or female will eat the babies. Dont matter if you separate them or not. Must provide freshwater daily and food at all times other wise they kill each other.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by flameethrower

yes you will get babies, but with a low quality food the male or female will eat the babies. Dont matter if you separate them or not. Must provide freshwater daily and food at all times other wise they kill each other.

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i gota tell you the truth that made me laugh the way u said that lol.

well im doing just that. when i run out of the crappy food ill buy some of that mazuri stuff.

and thanks for the help btw :)

If they eat their babies it means they are missing something in their diet.. I feed mine Sow cubes (pig feed cubes) and never have had an issue as long as they have food and water. I am proud to say I havent had a killing in a long long time. If i do I kill off that colony only because I do not want and cannot have that type of waste in my colonies. So i say you should be A-O.K.!!