All about baby mice

Question
QUESTION: My mouse ran away last week and after 2 day  we caught her the mouring after we caught her, we were playing with her let her on the floor and she ran away! After an hour we got her Earily  2day I got her out and let her run on the floor and she ran away again (Of course :() It was just me so I was in my room for 45 minutes trying to catch her and finally I did (Again) Now Im worried she nows are room so well she nows where she can escape to and we cant get her! I want her to have freedom but I cant spend every day spending a hour trying to catch her! I have a ball but its ready to break and Its unsafe. My mom wont let us buy a new one even though I have the money Also the lid of the ball is gone and she doesn't wanna get a new on and the old lid pop up!All Im asking is what should I do about this!

ANSWER: Dear Caraline,

It may seem like your mouse is running away to have fun, but it's more likely she is panicking.  It can be terrifying for a mouse to be loose even for a short while, and can seriously alter their personality if they are out longer.  A pet mouse should *never* be on the floor.  You can let her run on your bed (on a towel or dirty clothes to protect your blankets; let her explore inside the clothes for a treat), on a table with objects to climb on (nothing that will roll off the table though) or on your clothing (being careful not to get tickled and squash the mouse).  And of course don't use the dangerous broken ball.

Best of luck and safety in your mouse play.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha


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

QUESTION: I need to know EVERYTHING about having baby mice Number 1 thing thought how to tell who are the boy from the girls! Thanks I need EVERYTHING to do about Baby mice

ANSWER: Dear Caraline,

First easy answer:  How to sex mice:

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

This answer gives links to videos all about reproduction and babies:

http://en.allexperts.com/q/Mice-3824/2008/8/mouse-reproduction-mating-babies.htm

It will takes three weeks (21 days) after mating for the babies to develop.  If you want to avoid new babies 3 weeks later, take the male out before the female gives birth.  

The babies, or 'pups,' are born hairless and about the size of a baked bean.  The average litter is between 8 and 12 babies, though I have had a litter of one, and one of 18. They are dark pink. She nurses them every half hour.  Do not disturb the nest for the first week (only if it is easy to do so without disruption, you may peek quickly just to see
the little things!  They are funny-looking pink wiggly blobs with big black eye spots).  You may hold her when she comes out to run in the wheel or if she makes it easy to pick her up, and then only for a few minutes.  She has a tough job to do.  If she gets
upset she may try to move them out of the nest; this is dangerous.  If it happens,
gently return the babies to the nest and return her to it as well.  Anytime babies fall/crawl out of the nest-- sometimes there will still be babies hanging onto her teats as she exits the nest!-- gently return them to the nest asap.  She would do it, but you might as well keep them as warm as possible.  

After a week, the babies will have fur.  With someone else helping, begin to
gently hold them (warm hands!) once or twice a day for perhaps 5 minutes.  You
may have a tough time getting them out because she may disapprove!  When she is
on the wheel, take it out with her in it (I hope it is a stand-alone; otherwise
you have to scoop her out of it) and let someone watch her while you take out
the handful of pups.  Let them get used to your smell (hold both your hands
closed and very gently breathe into them).  Make sure they don't jump and hold them
over the bed, not the floor.  

At two weeks they will begin to open their eyes and go nuts!  The whole world
suddenly becomes a terrifying place.  They will be afraid of you.  They still
need to be held at least once a day for five+ minutes to get tame. This phase is
often called the 'flea' stage, or I call it the 'popcorn' stage.  They weigh
almost nothing and have strong hind legs, so they can jump up to two feet in the
air!  To get them out, try opening the nest and scooping them out before they
have a chance to run.  If you need to catch them (don't chase them around the
cage if you can help it), you may grab the base of the tail (near the butt) and
then immediately place the mouse on the palm of the other hand, keeping a gentle
hold on the tail until the baby is calm enough not to jump.  As soon as I get
them out I wrap them in the bottom of my T-shirt (pulling it up towards my face)
until they are calmer.  Then I let them out carefully one by one into my
gently closed hand.  When they are calm in my hand I hold them for another minute or
two, then put them back.  

Be prepared at any stage for the babies or mom (if you upset her) to nip you.
Don't throw them up in the air!  Most likely it will not break the skin and not
really hurt, just surprise you.  If the skin is ever broken (a real bite),
wash it thoroughly with hydrogen peroxide or antibiotic and watch carefully for
signs of infection.  You might want to let your doctor know but it will probably
be fine.  If a mouse bites you it means she is terrified, hurt, startled, or
defending her nest.  Try not to repeat the mistake, but if a mouse bites several
times, you may need to change your relationship with her.

At 3 to 3 1/2 weeks they will eat real food (mouse seed) and a week later will
begin to become sexually mature.  At 4 1/2 weeks separate the girls from the
boys (girls stay with mom) so you don't have any more unexpected pregnancies.
The boys may begin to fight after a while, so have a contingency plan for them!
Your pet store or vet may be able to suggest a way to give some away to happy
homes so you do not end up with too many mice. Do keep at least two girl babies
for mom to have as friends.  It's a pity to keep a single mouse because they
need each other.  

I have written a lot about taking care of pregnant mice and raising babies.  Do a little research in my archives so I don't have to repeat it all!  Other questions are always welcome.  Have fun!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha

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

QUESTION: OK I got 13 little babies (Born 2 day) And from looking at 'em on looks weried well all 12 have the balck spots as eyes one dosnet. It likes he/she has no eyes should I be worried?

Answer
Dear Caraline,

It is possible that the mouse is blind.  It's also possible that it has pink eyes, if the wild mouse carried a recessive gene for albinism.  If it is blind, don't worry, it will never know that other mice can see.  It will just be a special mouse who needs a little extra care. I've seen blind mice and they are perfectly happy.

I actually love the mice who are somehow different.  It's easy to give them extra attention and they can turn out to be especially sweet.  Mice get scared a lot by what they see, so it might be tamer just by that very fact.

Enjoy all the mice!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha