mouse is pregnant what do i do?

Question
QUESTION: About 3 months ago a zoo game me 2 baby mice ( 2 weeks old at the time) we assumed they were both females. Around 1 week ago, i noticed one was a male. 5 days ago i noticed the female was building a little nest and was not at all her self. She usually legs it when i open the lid but even when i pick her up she just doesn't make an effort to run away. She isn't fat in any way but i am guessing she is pregnant. i don't know. THANKS :)

ANSWER: Dear Sophie,

I think you're right. Mice often show behavioral changes during pregnancy, and nesting is a big clue.

Have fun with the babies! There are a lot of questions about pregnant and baby mice in my archives if you have more questions; or feel free to write again.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

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QUESTION: THANKS! What do i do when they are born? should i stop handling both of them? How many babies do they tend to have when they have their first litter? At what age should i start handling the babies? Will she eat them? How long do you reckon it will be till they are born? Sorry about all the questions its just i have never had mice before nevermind pregnant mice. I'M SO EXCITED! Don't worry if you cant answer all the questions. sorry!! but THANKS Natashan  :) :) :) :) :)

ANSWER: Dear Sophie,

You can continue to handle the mice as long as the mother doesn't get cranky and nip you or run away more than she usually does. Only hold her for a short time though.  Unfortunately, unless you want another litter of babies 3 weeks after the first, you have to take the father out when she looks a little fat, because if the babies are born he may mate with her that night.  Mice hate living alone but usually boy mice have to live alone because they fight with males and mate with females. He will need lots of extra love an attention, and he can be with the others when they are out. Give the mom some extra protein such as cheese or scrambled egg at this time.

Mice have anywhere from 1-20 babies at a time, but most litters are 8-10.  Most first time mothers are fine, but it is true that the occasional mouse gets confused or upset and eats her babies. I have never had this happen but it does happen.  To avoid this, don't hold the mom at least the first three days after birth and make very sure there is nothing to stress her-- no loud noises, don't clean the cage, don't move the cage, etc.  

When the babies are a week old they will have some fur and you can carefully hold them.  Take mom out and put her someplace safe. Pick up the babies very gently and handle them together for a few minutes. Put the babies back in the nest before you put mom back in.  As the days progress you can do this twice a day and hold them for longer. Until they are too wiggly to manage, take them out together but you can hold each one separately, keeping them warm, for a minute or two, gradually increasing the time. When they are 2 weeks old they will begin to open their eyes. Soon after, they will enter what is known as the flea stage, because they hop so high.  I call it the popcorn phase, and if you have ever watched a pan of popcorn popping you will understand why-- there may be a time when they all jump around the cage. This is a dangerous time because they weigh next to nothing and have strong legs, so they can jump straight up up to two feet. When you hold them-- it will be singly by this time--  you will need to hold onto the base of the tail with one hand and hold them on the other, or keep them cupped in your hand, until they calm down, each time you hold them.  I have a habit of taking them and wrapping them in threes in the bottom of my Tshirt and holding them there until they have calmed down.  Then I carefully take them out just one at a time and hold them. if you do this every day, even twice a day, they will calm down pretty soon and be super sweet.  Some mice are more jumpy than others, so your scenario might not be as difficult as I am describing.

When they are barely  4 1/2 weeks old (31 days) you need to take the males out of the cage.  Start to sex them the day you first hold them, using this chart:

http://www.thefunmouse.com/info/sexing.cfm

You had better start trying to find homes for the males as soon as possible. They will live together for a while but eventually they may start to fight. Sometimes brothers who have never been separated will live together peacefully, but you must be prepared for each boy to possibly need his own cage eventually.  The father will almost certainly fight with them after a while.

Have fun with the babies!  

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha




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QUESTION: Hi Natasha,
         its sophie. Sorry to bother you again but my mice have stopped building a nest and have kinda destroyed the one they had. She is still not herself. I gave them scrambled egg this morning and they hated it hahaha but my hamster loved it. Was she ever pregnant, or is she still. I'm confused again. THANKS! :) :) :) :)

Answer
Dear Sophie,

It's hard to know what is going on in a mouse's mind. Perhaps she didn't like how she had arranged the decor, and decided to start over. Most likely she is still pregnant.  It is possible but rare for a mouse to spontaneously abort her babies. All you have to do is wait to watch her turn fat.  If she isn't pregnant now, she soon will be, living with a boy.  

Best of luck and have fun!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha