should I breed?

Question
I found a male mouse when he was only 2 days old in a parking lot. He was burnt from being on the pavement and the sun. He made it and is now almost 5 weeks old. I want to give him a friend but I'm afrais to. Everything I'v read says yes and no. I dont want to bread. Should I get a femail and alow them to bread so I can keep at least 1 of the male pups with him? I have a friend who has a femail he said I could bread with Dhiren (my mouse) I know he will leave me and I would like to keep his legacy going. Can a father live with his son?  Thank You Jamie

Answer
Dear Jamie,

Bravo or Brava to you for saving the little mouse!!!  I'm very impressed.  Two days old and injured to boot, and you raised him.  Great job!!!!

I'm don't quite understand your question, but let me try.

As far as I understand you

1. have the male mouse Dhiren whom you raised
2. have a friend who wants Dhiren
3. might want to keep Dhiren
4. might want to keep a pup and give away Dhiren
5. might want Dhiren to have babies to keep the line going.

My recommendation is to keep Dhiren and not breed him.  If you give him lots of daily love, you are enough of a mouse friend to keep him happy.

Breeding mice can be catastrophic because there can be too many pups and no place to get rid of them.  Keeping them makes even more problems because males generally need to live alone, so they each need a cage!  And they must be separated from females immediately after weaning because they can be sexually mature by 4 1/2 weeks.

It sounds to me like your friend wants Dhiren and you feel if you have to give him away, you would at least like his son.  I don't think you should give him away.  He is very, very attached to you.  He would not be as happy with someone else.

Also, two males living together, even a father and son, can fight to the death.  Thus you probably couldn't keep Dhiren and a pup together.

Please write back if I have misunderstood or not answered your question, or if you have any more questions.

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha