caring for abandoned mouse

Question
My grandma found a baby mouse a week ago.  It had fur when she found it but it just opened its eyes today.  She fed it soy milk with applesauce for a few days then got kitten formula, and it is doing well, but it is starting to jump around and doesn't seem to feel secure with her anymore.  When is it safe to put it into a cage, and will he be a pet?  She lets him eat out of the palm of her hand because that's the only way he felt safe at first. When should we try a dish for him and when should he eat mouse food?

Answer
Dear Savannah,

I hope he calms down.  His age is a very jumpy age-- they can be a little crazy between about 2-6 weeks of age.  He was about 14 days old the day his eyes opened.  If he never calms down, though, and spends his time trying to get out of the cage, and doesn't like to be handled, that will mean it is best to let him go in the wild when it's warm enough. There's a good chance he will be fine as a pet.

You can put him in a cage now.  Just put whatever you have him living in right now inside a glass or plastic cage.  Get him a wheel within a week.  You can put some food in the cage but keep feeding him by hand until he is 4 weeks old or stops wanting it.  Put solid food in the cage when he is 3 weeks old. Actually you can put seeds in your hand with the formula at that point and see if he takes them.  Also put a water bottle in the cage at that time, and introduce him to it once a day until you see him using it.  You can put a bit of butter on the tip so he will want to lick it.

Have fun with the little guy! Apparently wild mice can live longer than bred mice, so you may have a great pet for several years :)

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha