I think a lot of what Alicia said is unnecesary work. Lol With a lot of mice, you just don't want to spend that much time every day. But if it works, it works.
I have a mouse rack. I use kiln-dried pine and feed hog feed. Mice are clean animals, unless they are sick. I think their health reflects their enviroment. You shouldn't put in or take out any mice once a colony is established. (except the feeders) Not even to let the females nurse. Tanks suck, they make the smell a lot worse. I have a 6-tub rack, and a single 10-gallon smells worse than the whole rack. I clean there tubs out sundays and wednesdays. Constantly messing with them will stress them out. 1 male per cage, I wouldn't put more than 4 females. (I use 3)
Honestly, when I first started out, I threw 3 mice together and I learned from that... I had 1 infertile in that group, but the other female has mothered (and grandmothered) over 300 mice. Not to mention the other colonies I have started.
P.S. Don't give up if the mom eats her babies, sometimes they'll do that the first few litters before they get a hang of it.
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