Quote Originally Posted by Deborah View Post
I will have to disagree, to successfully breed mice as feeder you need to provide them with maximum security.

Handling them too much will lead to cannibalism, checking on them however is different and can be done, over handling will cause stress - stress will cause cannibalism.

I don't handle my mice except on cleaning day, I do however check on them opening their tubs everyday, which make them less skittish and use to my presence.


How do you think hobby breeders breed mice? Handling does not stress a mouse that is tame. With small time mouse breeders, handling is your best bet, because you won't have to worry about stressing the females by picking babies out. I've had plenty of mice that have been handled throughout the pregnancy and raising of the litter, along with daily handling of each litter from day one, all without any problems. I only hear of major cannibalism stories in feeder breeders, it's not as common in fancy breeders because these folks have tame mice.