mama mouse eating babies

Question

Rika's New Babies 7 ho   QUESTION: Dear Natasha,

New Mama Rika is taking wonderful care of her new babies...they are 7 hours old now. I have only looked at them through the bottom of the nest, as you can see in the photograph. I am worried about one of the babies...do you see the one with the red arm...is that an injury from birth? Or could it just be her/his coloring pre hair...I am worried, I know there is nothing I can do, I just wanted to see what you think. And should I remove Edward from his home. I worry if I seperate him he will become depressed and sad. I don't see him as a threat to his babies. He has been in the nursery to visit a few times. I read that the males who are present during everything, recognize the babies as their own...is this true is your opinon? Thank you so much for your time and help.

Warmly,
Patricia
(Iddy, Rika, and Edwards mice mommy)

ANSWER: Dear Patricia,

CONGRATULATIONS TO RITA!!!!!!!!  YAY!!!

I laughed when I got your 4 messages.  I hope you saw in my status I would be away for 2 days due to traveling and no Internet (I still have no Internet at home, am at a friend's house).  I will "refuse" the other questions because I have to do something with them and they no longer let me send you're welcome messages.

Try to leave the babies alone for a week.  I  know that will be hard!  You can peek, but they are so delicate that I like to leave the situation to the mommy mouse.  Edward can certainly stay and help with the babies.  The only reason to remove him would have been to avoid immediate mating after the birth, but he probably already took his chance.  

As for the baby you are worried about, the best bet is not to worry.  It could be a harmless birth defect such as a birthmark.  Even if it turns out to be something disfiguring, because it is hereditary, there is nothing to be done- and mice never know when they are disfigured anyway.  There is no social stigma attached!

The very best of luck!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha


PS Thanks for all the pictures.  Your Rita looks just like my Valentine, and her sister looks just like Valentine's half-wild babies (a surprise one day in my cage of 'virgins'-- a wild mouse snuck into the cage).





---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your reply...sadly 3 baby mice were dead in the cage. And one was just a head. I have been crying and so very upset. I think one was the one with the damage arm, because one of the dead babies arms was all chewed off. I am terribly upset, this has really affected me emotionally. Now this morning she has removed two more of the babies and there was some blood. I counted 6 left in the nest, and they all seem to be in good health. The two that are removed are still alive, but I can see blood on them. I don't understand or know what to do. I mean, I guess there is nothing I can do. Rika has been away from the babies for a while this morning, she is running in the wheel and playing with her sister, and with Edward a lot. I saw her carry the babies and they were screaming, it is breaking my heart. I just wanted everything to be okay and now I feel so upset. I will do as you said and leave them alone, I did remove the dead babies yesterday, they were not in the nest. My children and I buried them in a special place. I just fear I will be buring two more today :( What do you think is happening? I thought everything was going well. It almost seems like she is getting rid of the ones that have "bruises" or that are missing a limb....do mice do that? I was so happy yesterday I cried with joy, since lst night I have been crying with saddness.

Warmly,
Patty
(Iddy, Rika and Edwards mice mommy)

Answer
Dear Patricia,

Rita shouldn't be mated again.  It seems her body just isn't producing healthy pups.  Probably the entire first litter was defective, which is why they either aborted or were born and killed.  This litter also has had genetically defective pups, as you saw with the bruises and missing limbs.  Maybe some of the pups will be normal and grow up; maybe not. However, after Rita's experiences, she may even be confused and kill healthy pups.  

I'm so sorry this happened.  Even Rita's sister shouldn't be mated because she may carry the same defective genes.  This may also be why she hasn't gotten pregnant yet.  She may even have been pregnant and aborted before it was noticeable.

Keep the girls together.  Harry should probably live alone, unless you really, really want more mice.  If you get him a girl and she has trouble then we know it's his genetics that are wrong.  When a mouse lives alone it needs extra love and should be placed near the other cage so they can still communicate.

I'm so sorry.

squeaks,

Natasha