newborn wild mice

Question
I just found 2 little baby mice in my backyard (our cat killed the mother.) They haven't even opened there eyes yet. I was wondering what kind of habitat we should make for them and what kind of foods they will eat. All we have is a shoebox to put them in, but we can get a 10 gallon aquarium if needed. Thanks so much for all your help!


Answer
The babies are less than two weeks old.  If they have a nice coat of fur, they are over one week.  The first thing you might want to do is call around to local pet stores to see if they have nursing mothers who might take the mice in.  Make sure to let them know if you want the mice when they are weaned.

However, raising them is not impossible.  You will need to give them some replacement formula.  Many people have been successful with a kitten formula, but one source has suggested using infant rehydration formulas such as Pedialyte, Infalyte, or Rehydralyte.  I think the kitten formula is probably the best.  

First off, put them in a warm, safe place-- an aquarium with a sturdy lid is good-- with some soft bedding (kleenex is ok; or shredded cloth, or cotton) and a warm cover such as a piece of soft cloth-- they need darkness.  The cage should also be light during the day-- don't put them in a closed box.  The best way to keep them warm is with a heating pad on low.  Make sure it does not get hot.  A light can be used as well, with the bulb close to the cage.  Again, be very careful not to fry the mice!  Make sure one part of the cage is warm and one cooler so they can move from an uncomfortable temperature.

You will need to feed them with a little syringe.  Every 2-3 hours is a minimum:  The mom feeds them every half hour!  Hold them by the 'scruff of their neck'-- that is, the loose skin just behind their heads.  Give them one drop at a time and wait a few seconds till it swallows before giving another.  Give them as much as they will eat.  You will see the white formula in their tummies when they are full!!  Panya suggests that you can additionally put a little fromage frais near the nest or offer it to them.

A baby with fur but closed eyes is between 1 and 2 weeks old.  At 2 weeks they will open their eyes.  This is called the 'flea' stage and they will suddenly become terrified of everything, even you.  They can jump up to two feet in the air because they weigh almost nothing and they have strong hind legs.  You will probably need to catch them to hold them.  Don't chase them around the cage with your hands because that is very frightening for them.  Use your hands to approach them slowly and then hold onto the very base of their tails (by their butts).  Immediately place them on the other hand and you will probably need to keep hold of that tail until they get calm on you.  I often wrap them in  my Tshirt bottom for a few minutes so they recognize my smell and it calms them down.  Make sure they have a wheel and a water bottle in the cage at this point.

This is also the time to start offering them real mouse food.  Get a bag of mouse and rat food at your pet store.  There are several brands. If they don't have this then get a hamster/gerbil mix.  Howevder they need to keep being nursed with the formula until they want to stop or at about 3 1/2 weeks.  You can really tell the age because in my experience the eyes start opening on the 14th day.  It's also time to get them a little mouse wheel.

At 4 1/2 weeks they can become sexually mature.  If you have a boy and a girl, you'll have 1000 mice before you know it.  Check their tummies:  Girls have nipples and boys don't.  As they get older, boys look like they are developing a big butt but it is actually their testicles.  Two girls live together easily.  Two boys tend to fight, but it isn't always bad.

Let me know what happens and feel free to ask more questions, even as they grow.  You can also read some of my back answers for other kinds of advice for older mice.

Good luck and have fun!

squeaks n giggles,

Natasha