Mice eating babies

[hungba]

I wouldn't feed her off until she's had at least 2 litters in your care.

That's if she was eating her own babies. She wasn't. She was eating the OTHER females babies. I know this because she is very pregnant now looks like she is ready to burst.

[Andrew21]

No. i've had females that eat their tubmates' litters one time, then never do it again. Do what you want. I wouldn't be so anxious to kill her yet though. But that's just me.

[youbeyouibei]

I'd hold off at least two litters also. I had female rats do that same thing as far as eating their and other females litters, all of which were first time moms. Give her at least two litters to determine if it's just her being a new mom and unfamiliar with how things work before you go and feed her off. I did that with my rats and they've all since become excellent moms and great producers after the initial "hiccup" of killing their first litters. Not all of them did it but enough of them to make me wonder that same thing you're pondering as to whether it was an isolated thing or just a "bad" animal. Entirely up to you but I'd recommend giving her/them at least two litters worth of time/experience and if it doesn't work out, feed her/them off and start over. Good luck!

[hungba]

Well I wasn't going to kill her I just want to put her separate so that she doesn't eat other females babies. She has eaten two entire litters already.

I put her in a separate bin, and guess what, today she gave 8 pinkies. She hasn't eaten them yet either.

I'm rather confused about protein levels. I am told here that the protein level should be high enough. The blocks I use have 22% protein. However, another website specifically about mice breeding says that it should NOT be higher than 13% or the mice will get "hot spots" which are sores that hurt?

Also I looked at Mazuri website their mice and rat diet is 23% protein, but their mice breeder blocks are 16%?
THe fact that feed protein are measured as "not less than" etc. doesn't help either.

[Andrew21]

My feed is 18%. My mice have all been fine. I think 22% would be fine. If you have too low of protein the mothers will eat the babies. So it'd be better to err on the high side.

*disclosure* I've never fed my mice anything less than 18% so i don't have real life experience with that particular situation. But I have read it many many times.