How do i take care of baby mice?

Question
I recently found 2 baby mice in a dresser in my basement. i wasn't sure what do do with them so i put them in a box over a heating pad. I tried to feed them soy milk through a clean eyedropper. I'm not sure if they really drank the milk or not. I'm not sure what to do with them

Answer
Hi Bree,

I am sorry I did not see this sooner - AllExperts allows answers within three days, and since very young mice need to be fed about every couple of hours, the better thing to do in an emergency such as this would be to contact a local vet, wildlife rehabber that works with small mammals, pet shop, or even animal shelters to get quick, hands-on experience and assistance.  I hope your mice are doing okay!  Baby mice are very fragile and can be difficult to raise even if everything goes perfectly - orphans are just extremely tricky.

The first thing you need to know is how old they are.  Mice take about 3 to 4 weeks to reach weaning age, and until that point need to be fed kitten milk replacement or puppy milk replacement - regular cow's milk has lactose which can give them diarrhea and upset tummies.  For about the first week, babies, or pups as they're called, are hairless and pink.  This phase, the pinky phase, is when they are the most fragile and need to be kept gently warmed (as with a heating pad on its very lowest setting underneath the enclosure) and frequently fed.  They will be unable to use the bathroom on their own and need to be stimulated with a warm, moist cutip before feedings.  Soon after, their coat starts to come in, then their eyes open and ears detach.  Around two weeks old they will start exploring solid food on their own and need to be provided with a mouse feed mix, but will still need to be given milk to stay hydrated.  You can stop feeding milk once you notice them using a water bottle on their own.

Here is a chart for house mice to guess at their age, and therefore how much they need to be fed:  http://jaxmice.jax.org/images/literature/pupsposter-large.jpg

Here is a full, detailed explanation on how to feed pups (it is also written for rats as well as mice, so the times may be off):  http://www.rmca.org/Articles/orphans.htm

As pinkies, pups need fed approximately every two hours.  You can weigh between each feeding to make sure they are steadily gaining weight in grams.  Use a food scale if you decide to weigh them, but be very careful that you never put the pup directly on a cold surface!  Always use a container on top of the scale with something warm on the bottom, like a layer of paper towels or bedding.  As they grow up they will need fed less, but they will always tell you what they need.  If they start fussing, try feeding them.  If they need to be woken up each time you go to feed and don't want to take the milk, try again in a half hour or hour and adjust your schedule.  The same is to be said of how much milk to feed them - give them as much as they want and gently rub either side of their bellies after they are done and back in their enclosure until they settle down a bit.  Older pups may become a little fussy and particular about what position they want to eat in.  Always keep an eye on their waste to watch for loose or discolored stools that may mean a change in diet is needed.  Remember to always make sure they are dry and don't have milk on their body when they are put back in their home, since pups can chill extremely easily.

After they have reached weaning age and are eating and drinking entirely on their own, you can make the decision to rehome them or release them.  If you choose to release them, try to do so far away from your home (or they'll just return) and in a covered area free from predators.  Wild mice have strong instincts and they will find their niche quickly on their own.

I hope the little guys are doing alright, and let me know if you have any other questions.  If nothing else, at least you'll know what to do and where to go if you find any more of the little sweethearts in the future.  Best of luck, and thank you for caring so much about them!

-Tam