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I have had one of my racks shut down for some time till just a couple months ago and I am guessing that due to the seals and o-rings drying out have had several valves that are just leakers so I just screwed them down tight and put a water bottle on those pans.I am now starting to notice that the mice that are starting to wean out are much larger in the pans with the water bottles on them, so I am curious as to why.The only thing I can think of is in the pans with auto watering they are too small to operate the valves and are not getting enough water and therefore only drink when an adult gets a drink.............. so they are not eating as much food since they are thirsty. Any other theories ?????

Tom

No other theories. I'd say your theory is right on the money. Mice and automatic watering are problematic. Been there done that. It would be interesting to know how many breeders use bottles instead of valves for their mice.

I use 32oz NONspring ball bottles for my rats and mice of all ages. They have not had problems. My mouse cage has a rabbit sized lixit and they don't have problems moving the large ball. I don't wean until 1 month of age also so they are drinking water, milk, and eating food. If I weaned at 3 weeks I could see the rabbit sized lixit being a problem for mice. I used to have a Freedom Breeder rack for rats and other then the occational flooding due to a rat putting bedding in the lixits I never had a problem with the rats recieving enough water. The valves should be adjustable. Rule of thumb, in research anyway, is one drip per second. You can see the bottles I use for rats in the background of this pic.

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Shannon in Reno
2.3 dogs
1.0 cat
Bunch O fancy rats and mice
50 something chickens
0.1 Black rat snake
0.2 Albino corn snakes
0.1 Chissel tooth kangaroo rat
0.1 Rosy Boa
0.1 Kenyan Sand Boa
1.0 Amazing Boyfriend

>>I have had one of my racks shut down for some time till just a couple months ago and I am guessing that due to the seals and o-rings drying out have had several valves that are just leakers so I just screwed them down tight and put a water bottle on those pans.I am now starting to notice that the mice that are starting to wean out are much larger in the pans with the water bottles on them, so I am curious as to why.The only thing I can think of is in the pans with auto watering they are too small to operate the valves and are not getting enough water and therefore only drink when an adult gets a drink.............. so they are not eating as much food since they are thirsty. Any other theories ?????
>>
>>Tom

I have always used bottles but would guess you are right in the theory that the valves are too hard for a baby to use. I use 4 or 8 oz bottles but rarely can a mouse use any bigger bottles. Same with rats....can't operate a 32oz bottle nearly as well as a 16oz.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

"I have always used bottles but would guess you are right in the theory that the valves are too hard for a baby to use. I use 4 or 8 oz bottles but rarely can a mouse use any bigger bottles. Same with rats....can't operate a 32oz bottle nearly as well as a 16oz.Sonya "

Interesting my rats have no problem with 32 oz bottles with ball bearing sipper tubes. I've not used straight sipper tubes with them.

Are you using bottles with straight sipper tubes or the ball bearing type? I'm curious which type are easiest for them to use?

>>Are you using bottles with straight sipper tubes or the ball bearing type? I'm curious which type are easiest for them to use?

See, mine have a spring sort of ball and it is too hard for them. Just a simple ball might not be a problem, but some of my Superpet bottles have a spring loaded one.
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Sonya

I'm not mean. You're just a sissy.
Happy Bunny

they supposedly make the auto water valves for weanling mice i still have the best luck with cheap wal mart bottles (under 2 bucks) jusr keep them clean i wean 2- 3 hunderd a week

I think I will start pulling the babies a little earlier than usual and put them in grow out tubs with water bottles on them and see how that works out. I really like the ease of the auto water system but not at the expense of taking longer to grow out the youngsters. If only I could con the better half into doing daily water bottle duty

Tom

Regarding bottles. Are straight sipper tubes easier for little mice to drink from than the ball bearing type? I have reason to suspect this is true but I'm interested in other's opinions.