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Is it possible to introduce new females into a group?

>>Is it possible to introduce new females into a group?

I personally gave up trying. Too often you wind up with dead mice and it isn't worth it. So the only ways I 'grow' my colony groups is to raise up babies in the group or just get in an entire group at one time. Sometimes reorganizing the groups around and totally cleaning cages can confuse them into acceptance.
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Sonya

if i introduce a new female into my group of 1.1 mice.... the new female will get beat up/killed? i need a group of like 1.2 or 1.3.... but the problem is i cant get rid of the male, hes my sisters, im just using him for a while. i guess i could try to introduce a new female, see how accepting they would be.. dave

>>if i introduce a new female into my group of 1.1 mice.... the new female will get beat up/killed? i need a group of like 1.2 or 1.3.... but the problem is i cant get rid of the male, hes my sisters, im just using him for a while. i guess i could try to introduce a new female, see how accepting they would be.. dave

Usually the male isn't a big deal about new girls so much as girls don't like new ones. Introducing a new one to your 1.1 is gonna be more dependent on individuals then trying to introduce one to a 1.4 or something where you do tend to get a gang mentality. Watch carefully and listen carefully. You will likely see fighting and screaming quickly if it is gonna happen. And DON'T do it if your present female is really pregnant or about to pop....early pregnancy would be best.
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Sonya

Ya got that right Sonya.... pregnant girls don't like newbies. And I'd suggest putting the male in a new cage for a day or two and then introduing the girls. I had to do some rearranging lately with several of my girls from different colonies and started several new colonies with this method (making sure none of the girls were pregnant) and it worked out really good. I was amazed.

MissHisssss

that my female just laid her babies a 2 days ago. i keep the male in there all the time.... so i assume shes pregnant (spelling?) again.. i forget the word for it but when shes fertilized right after giving birth.... so is there any way to add a new female? i could just try it and see, if they dont like her, my python wont have any problem dealing with her any thoughts on this? dave

If her babies are still with her.... don't even try to introduce another mouse at this time. And yes, she's probably pregnant again. If the babies are gone....put them all in a new cage and see what happens, but I don't have much faith in the outcome. Good luck,

MissHisssss

If your female has new babies, and you introduce a strange second female, the babies will without a doubt be killed within less than an hour. Either killed by the mother, because she's stressed by the prescence of the stranger, or killed by the stranger herself. No bones about it, they'll definitely be killed.

If you want to set up the male with the new female immediately, then put that pair into a new cage, and leave the momma to take care of her babies in peace.

As you were already told, the easiest way of setting up older females together is to put the male into a new cage, and then introduce both females to his cage at the same time as each other. When they first meet, they'll certainly quarrel a bit, but should become familiar with each other within ten to twelve hors. They just have to work out their order of dominance. If they're still quarrelling after 24 hours, then you'll have to keep them separated.

>>that my female just laid her babies a 2 days ago. i keep the male in there all the time.... so i assume shes pregnant (spelling?) again.. i forget the word for it but when shes fertilized right after giving birth.... so is there any way to add a new female? i could just try it and see, if they dont like her, my python wont have any problem dealing with her any thoughts on this? dave

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tricia