Help! litter of 13 DEAD!

[Captain Penelope]

HELP! I just woke up this morning to find my mother mouse of a litter of thirteen dead! she had plenty of food and water, but I guess 13 babies were too many for her..

What do I do? I called a petstore and they said that is highly unlikely that i can hand-nurse them and that they probably wont make it..

Not to be insensitive, but should I feed them now? give them to a petstore to freeze? I dont want them to suffer and die

[Laooda]

You might be able to get a nursing female to foster the litter... maybe if you purchased a mom and a few babies, and rubbed all the babies together so they smell the same? Not sure how mice do... but I've split up large rat litters with no problems...Or like you mentioned freeze them for use later? Best of luck!

[kc261]

You didn't say how old the babies are. I'm kind of guessing that they were just born and maybe the mother died due to some sort of complication.

Anyway, if you want to try to save the babies, google "orphan mouse" and you'll find lots of info. I don't have personal experience with this, but this page seemed good:
http://www.thefunmouse.com/info/orphanedmice.cfm

If you can't find a mother to foster them, it will be a lot of work to hand raise them, but it is possible. But you will likely feel very bonded to them, and then feeding them off will be hard, and if the mother died due to birthing issues, they may not be the best ones to keep as breeders.

I don't think there is anything "insensitive" about feeding them off now. They were bred & born to be feeders, right? It is at least better that they go to that use than they just die with no purpose.

I've read somewhere that freezing is considered the most humane way to dispatch of very young mice (like before they get fur maybe?), but I've also seen that disputed here on bp.net, so you might want to look in to that before you proceed. Whether you freeze them or use CO2, you can do it at home. See stickies about making a CO2 chamber if you don't know how.

[cassandra]

I had a momma mouse die pretty soon after giving birth, for whatever reason. I euthanized the babies (break necks) as I couldn't get my other momma mouse to take them. Happens. =P

[Brimstone111888]

Freezing is best for fuzzies and pinkies, because they are not as susceptible to CO2 and suffocation.

[MarkS]

I euthanized the babies (break necks) as I couldn't get my other momma mouse to take them. Happens. =P

How do you break the necks of something as squishy as a pinky? I just put them in a ziplock bag and put the bag in the freezer.

[wilomn]

If you pinch their heads gently you will crush their tiny brains and kill them instantly.

If you crush them too hard though you get brains everywhere.

It's quick and easy for you and painless for the mouses.

[Jenn]

Dear god could we please change the subject.

[littleindiangirl]

How do you avoid getting the insides all over when squishing the brain? I'm pretty positive I don't have that gentle of a touch if I were to go that route and just make a big mess lol.

[Beardedragon]

How old was she? I have a females mouse that had a litter of 13 and she is doing horrible. The babys are weaned but she still is breathing really hard and acting worn out. Shes going to be fed off next feeding.