5 baby mice

Question

The babies   I work at a pet store and while cleaning under a sink, we found 5 baby mice in a nest. our manager was going to literally throw them out so i took them home. we have kmr, a heating pad, and bedding for them. some act fine, but there is one or two that are just getting weaker. From what i can tell, they look to be just under two weeks old. do you have any suggestions for me? We feed them every 2/3/4 hours but sometimes they wont have anything to do with the syringe.

Answer
Hi Riley,

Oh my goodness they are beautiful!  The best thing I can recommend is to try stimulating the genitals of ones who will not eat to help them potty (with a moist q-tip/cotton swab), as sometimes their systems need a little help getting started, and to experiment with different feeding positions.  Sometimes you can puddle a little KMR in the creases of your palm (as long as they don't get super messy) and they may be interested in licking it up themselves.  I think you are pretty spot on about the age, as I was going to guess around 10-12 days from the photo.

This link is great for both orphaned mice and rats (because it is also for rats, the numbers on feeding times may need adjusted to better fit your pup's schedule):  http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm

Unfortunately, raising orphaned pups can be very, very difficult.  Even when everything is done perfectly you may still have some losses - it is just really tough to do a momma mouse's job!  You may be able to ask for help from a local vet who work with mice, local rescues (they may not do mice but they MIGHT know somebody who does), or even wildlife rehabilitators (if they work with rodents).  You can also hunt around for local mouse breeders, as most have experience with orphaned litters and might be able to help you troubleshoot if there is anything you can change, but it sounds like you really are doing a wonderful job.

Best of luck, and please let me know if I can help anymore!
-Tam