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?