Question
Finch the mouse
Hello, Natasha -
my girlfriend found a baby mouse near what we theorize was his dead mama, and he is currently home with us. Obviously he is a wild mouse, and our plan is to raise him until he is able to be released in the area where he is found, but I'm so far surprised at how difficult it is to find specific information online.
I've attatched a picture of him, and I am having a hard time pinpointing how old he is, which would effect what he would eat, I suppose. He is pretty active, and we fed him a little formula, which he ate heartily, and we attempted to coerce him to go to the bathroom, but he's so small I have no idea if the moisture on his belly was from pee or from the warm water on the end of the Q-tip. Is there a better way to do this where we'll actually know?
I am a little pessimistic of his chances of making it, since all babies do best with mama, but will do what I can. Hopefully he is still around and kicking when you get back to us.
Thanks in advance.
AnswerDear Sam,
Your little mouse looks to be between 2-3 weeks old, which gives it a good chance to survive if it started out healthy. As such it may have already started eating solid food but may also still need formula. Most people use KMR (kitten milk replacement) or Pedialyte as formula. It's worth finding out what the mouse can do by itself first. At this age it should be able to go to the bathroom by itself, though if it doesn't do so (urination is less likely to be a problem, but if it doesn't poop) you will need to massage its tummy gently until it does.
Start out by placing a couple of test foods in the box close to the mouse. Give it a bit of bread soaked with milk or KMR, a bit of cracker, and a bit of bread with some butter, and let it be for maybe 2 hours. It's ok for it to go 2-3 hours between feedings, though mama mouse feeds them every half hour, especially as it's not such an infant. If it eats by itself, your job is that much easier. You will still want to offer formula, but you can give yourself 4-5 hours off instead of only two between feedings.
When you give it formula, give it as much, drop by slow drop, as it will eat. If it will eat other things, leave it cracker bits and small seeds (sesame, flax, hulled sunflower) in the box or cage at all times. Within a week it will be ready to eat on its own.
When you let it go, bring it to a place where it might be able to make a nest, perhaps a meadow, and leave it some nesting material and some food in a box to help it begin its life on the right paw.
squeaks n giggles,
Natasha
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