Mums fighting over babies

[selarep]

Hi!

Hope someone could give me their opinions.

I have started breeding mice, and I had a few pregnant females of which a couple have just given birth.

I placed the pregnant females together in a large tub cause I read somewhere it is better so the mums can sort of help each other out with the litters. However, the mums are fighting over the babies and moving them around.

There is even one female who still has not given birth but takes away the babies.

Is this normal? Should I have each female with their litter in separate tubs?

Thanks!

[selarep]

Just thinking about the issue.

Would it be best if I kept the pregnant ones separate until they have actually given birth and then keep all the litters with their mums together?

[kc261]

If they are just moving the babies around, but the babies are fine, then don't worry about it.

If you separate them, and then put them back together, that would probably be disastrous. Mice are territorial, and introducing new cage mates can cause fighting. You definitely do not want to do that when they have new pinks.

[selarep]

Thanks for your reply.

I kept them together put I placed in a large cardbox has a hide.

I had small little hides made out of bowls for them and thats why I think they where moving babies from one to the other. Now that they are all together they seem to have calmed down.

Thanks again