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  1. #1
    BPnet Veteran cassandra's Avatar
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    Abandoned babies?

    So my mouse's cage was really starting to reek, so I broke down and cleaned her cage, replacing the bedding. I moved the momma mouse and then her babies, trying not to touch them, to a holding box while I cleaned it out.

    I know I touch some of the babies and now looking in the clean cage, she has moved 4 of the babies out of the nest.

    Are these babies permanently abandoned because of human touch? I can feed them to Jens - they are a little small, but all 4 would be a meal for him - or should I leave them be and see if she takes them back into her nest?
    0.1 ball python (Cleo), 0.1 surinam bcc (Carmen)
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  2. #2
    BPnet Veteran TekWarren's Avatar
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    Re: Abandoned babies?

    If they where just out recently it could be nothing...leave them and see what happens. If this is her first litter or the mother is very stressful she may kick them out but I haven't had this happen personally. In the past I have scooped out all the bedding around the nest leaving the nest in tact. Generally now with my african rats I can clean/move the babies within a few days/week of birth and their are no issues.
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  3. #3
    BPnet Veteran SatanicIntention's Avatar
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    Re: Abandoned babies?

    How old are they? If around a week or so, I wouldn't worry about it. She's probably just setting up house again. I usually just throw them back into the nest if they're still out in 30 minutes or so.

    You can always just cover her cage part way with a dark pillowcase or something to help her feel more secure. I usually don't mess with babies for the first couple of days, but after 3-4 days, I get them all out, count them, check milkbands, and moosh them around in the bedding again so they smell mousey.

    Good luck with 'em!
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  4. #4
    Registered User PipeDADDY's Avatar
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    Re: Abandoned babies?

    hmmm..... I clean my mice once a week. babies or no... The babies are usually at the bottom of the cage, so I pick them up and move them to the cleaned cage. I have noticed after the "move", the babies are active and crawl around and out. Mom usually takes care of them and gather everyone back up and back into the nest.

  5. #5
    BPnet Veteran cassandra's Avatar
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    Re: Abandoned babies?

    Thanks guys...yeah, I forgot to mention, they are a week old today and looking great otherwise - chubby and starting to get a sheen of fur fuzz. I can only assume the momma is a first timer, but I have no idea as she was a surprise preggers feeder mouse.

    I'll try the cover up trick and scoop them back into her a nest if she hasn't in a while...cute little squeakies. =)
    0.1 ball python (Cleo), 0.1 surinam bcc (Carmen)
    1.0 sunglow motley corn (Jenson), 1.0 albino burmese (Lourdes)
    1.0 cat (Nicky), some mooses and ratters, 1.0 hubby (Rick)

  6. #6
    Steel Magnolia rabernet's Avatar
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    Re: Abandoned babies?

    Quote Originally Posted by cassandra
    I'll try the cover up trick and scoop them back into her a nest if she hasn't in a while...cute little squeakies. =)
    You think they're cute now? Wait until they turn into popcorn (aka - hoppers). Now THAT'S cute!

  7. #7
    BPnet Veteran cassandra's Avatar
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    Re: Abandoned babies?

    Quote Originally Posted by rabernet
    You think they're cute now? Wait until they turn into popcorn (aka - hoppers). Now THAT'S cute!
    We'll see if Jenson lets them live that long, hehe...=)
    0.1 ball python (Cleo), 0.1 surinam bcc (Carmen)
    1.0 sunglow motley corn (Jenson), 1.0 albino burmese (Lourdes)
    1.0 cat (Nicky), some mooses and ratters, 1.0 hubby (Rick)

  8. #8
    BPnet Veteran cassandra's Avatar
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    Re: Abandoned babies?

    Update: I put a light kitchen towel over the cage and since last night, the momma took all the babies back into her nest, so I guess all is well in her little mousey world. =)
    0.1 ball python (Cleo), 0.1 surinam bcc (Carmen)
    1.0 sunglow motley corn (Jenson), 1.0 albino burmese (Lourdes)
    1.0 cat (Nicky), some mooses and ratters, 1.0 hubby (Rick)

  9. #9
    BPnet Veteran cassandra's Avatar
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    Re: Abandoned babies?

    Update: And then there were 9! Jenson made friends with two them, lots of hugs and kisses...=)
    0.1 ball python (Cleo), 0.1 surinam bcc (Carmen)
    1.0 sunglow motley corn (Jenson), 1.0 albino burmese (Lourdes)
    1.0 cat (Nicky), some mooses and ratters, 1.0 hubby (Rick)

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