Awwww Robin I'm so sorry about Moose. I remember when he was born and later when you promoted him to a breeder. It's awful to find one gone like that with no obvious reason but it does just happen unfortunately. That's little comfort though I know.
I hope you're able to choose a nice son of his from his last litters to continue his (and Ceasar's) good line for you.
Well if you A) lived closer and B) needed a male mouse, I'd be your girl. =P
The biggest litter a mouse momma has ever given me, 16 healthy weaned small adults (well 14 now since Jenson ate 2), are ALL MALE. How the heck is that possible...or rather, how it is probable?
You know it's funny Cass but I've noticed a bit of a trend with the rats. Older male rats reaching the end of their most fertile breeding years seem to father significantly more male offspring. Younger male rats seem to father either a more balanced litter or heavier on the female side. It may just be my experience but it seems to bear out that I get a lot more male feeders from litters fathered by old male rats than I do from young male rats.
I get mostly males (12 males, 3 females for example) in litters when I'm considering holding back some girls - and now I've got mostly girls when now I may need to hold back a male - go figure!