| The first thing you should consider is your mother to be mouse.Is she suitable to have young? ask yourself that.She has to be of a suitable age (3-6) months of age no earlier or later if she is being mated with for the first time.Make sure she has no diseases or defects that could be inherited by her young.The second thing to consider is the Father.The male must naturally be free of defects and faults.If you have a male but not a suitable one you have to borrow one.You can ask for a breeding male from some mouse clubs breeding lists or breeders of the same colour you are interested in.Normally the female moves in with the male for mating as the female may be territorial.Be warned do not atempt to pick up or disturb the mother on the last day or pregnancy as this may lead to miscarriges or hurting the babies. A female mouse is pregnent from anywhere between 18-21 days. Before your mouse has babies make sure you give her extra food and water.There are many rumors about leaving the dad in with the mum.The main reason is because as soon as she has babies she can fall pregnent again as soon as she has her babies.Or the dad may eat the babies.This one isn't as clear the main reason is if the babies arn't his if she was with another male.The average litter is 8-10 babies though they can have 1-20.Give your female mouse as much food as she will eat.Give her lots of beddings,hay and/or paper for building her nest and if it is possible a nesting box.Some breeders will leave two female mice together while breeding as some mice really do help with the babies.But do not try this unless you are certain as there have been a lot of cases of the other female stealing all the babies and starving them to death because she doesn't have any milk.When two females have there litters together it is easier to have one litter box then two which results in fights but you may not want to parenting mums together if they have similer coats and looks.How could you tell them apart?.You will know when your mum is going to have birth as she is rounder and "lumpy".When the mum mouse is giving birth she cleans the baby (which is born in a sack) and repeats her procedure for the next arrival very carefully.After her delivery the babies are lying clean and warm underneath her.If any babies are born sick and there are to many she will eat them.If you disturb her while giving birth she may freak and eat them to.You will know when she has had her baies because she will be suddenly slim and you can hear little squeaks from her nest.At and around 6-9 days the babies coat will start to grow,if the mother is calm you should be able to touch and tame the babies after she is removed from the cage.Make sure you have rid your hands of strange smells.At 12-15 days the babies little eyes will open and they start to leave the nest and explore gaining courage every day to go out longer and further.A few days later the first off the babies may try mums food.Please do not seperate the babies and the mum before 4 weeks of age.When the mum has weaned the babies seperate the male and female so no unplanned for litters will arrive.The females can live happily with there mum though.Make sure if you do not want to keep all the babies you know good homes for EVERY single one to go to new homes.If you decide your taking them to a pet shop make sure it is a good one and that they will go to responcible owners. |
