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female mouse eating babies?!

dmlove Jun 17, 2003 10:04 AM

well i have 6 mice....2 males 4 females...(one male is not sexually mature, so pretty much only 1 male)

well ive had 2 of the females have babies several times...but each time they eat their babies...what can i do!??! i havnt had a pinky in a while...they seem to have given up breeding...idk!! AAAHH help!!
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~David - KDRKreatures
My Main Herps-
1.2 Bearded dragons (Ralph, Artemis, Cheech)
1.0 Veiled Chameleon (Chiquito)
1.0 Ringneck Snake (Striker)
1.1 Eastern Box Turtles (Athena and Mercury)

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Replies (3)

Kuch Jun 17, 2003 02:25 PM

Many people will tell you that if a mouse eats more than one litter, than she's probably not a fit mother and you should feed her off and find another breeder female.

That may be true, but all my moms were eating their babies when I realized that food I was feeding them was only about 12% or 14% protein. I got some puppy food (Purina One - something like 27% protein) to mix with their feed and my mamas haven't eaten a baby since and I have more mice than I know what to do with.

I think I read somewhere that breeding mothers need at least 20% protein in their diet. Maybe that's not exactly right, but they do need a lot of protein.

sonya Jun 17, 2003 04:24 PM

>>well i have 6 mice....2 males 4 females...(one male is not sexually mature, so pretty much only 1 male)
>>
>>well ive had 2 of the females have babies several times...but each time they eat their babies...what can i do!??! i havnt had a pinky in a while...they seem to have given up breeding...idk!! AAAHH help!!
>>-----

Are both males in the same group? That may be some of your trouble. Males will compete to reproduce and if two are in the same group one will kill the other eventually. Also have found that if there are two males the mature 'dad' tends to not do his reproductive duties. Take it down to one male and he will breed. Go Fig. If they are already in two groups you may have the protein issues and need to start with some higher protein foods.
If your protein is up and your males separate it is time for new girls.
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Sonya

nz Jun 17, 2003 06:04 PM

Do you know which female(s) is/are the culprid(s). If not you should keep an eye on them and find out. If they are set up in groups of 1.2 and the females are still eating the pinks I would feed them Nutro Natural dog food. I feed it to my mice and dwarf hamsters and have had record breeding numbers every time! I also suppliment that with fresh vegitables, nuts, bread and cereal. If that doesn't work I would feed the cannible female off and get some new females. You can get some that are already pregnant so you don't have to wait long.

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