first babies?

Brenda G. Kent wrote:
:: Okay question...my female has been in her cage with a juvenile
:: male. He has been seen mounting or trying to mount her often. She
:: usually squeaks and runs away as he is doing this. She looks
:: heavier than the rest of the mice....question of a "duh" nature:
::
:: is she expecting you think?

Erm.... yes!

Males and females can both breed at age 50 days but it has been noted that
conception has taken place at 35.
The fact that you've noticed she runs away means nothing, he will be at her
24 hours a day when she's in heat, at least once or twice he must have
managed 'it'.
 >> Stay informed about: first babies? 

Dear Bren,

A pregnant mouse kind of looks like she has a mouse-sized basketball
sticking out of each of her sides. A fat mouse just looks generally round
all over. Given the fact she's been with a male, it's likely that she is
pregnant. They only "show" in the last week, so it shouldn't be too long if
it is to happen. Good luck!

Meghan

"Brenda G. Kent" <wt211.RemoveThis@victoria.tc.ca> wrote in message
news:Pine.GSO.4.58.0411221409530.26955@vtn1.victoria.tc.ca...
> Okay question...my female has been in her cage with a juvenile male. He
> has been seen mounting or trying to mount her often. She usually squeaks
> and runs away as he is doing this. She looks heavier than the rest of the
> mice....question of a "duh" nature:
>
> is she expecting you think?
>
>
> Bren
>
> --
>
>
> "On a withered branch,
> a crow has now alighted.
> Nightfall in autumn."
> -- Basho, 1679
>
>
 >> Stay informed about: first babies? 

Another good hint to pregnancy vs. obesity is the location of the
fatness. An obese mouse will be kinda round all over (like Meghan
said), but a pregnant one will have the bulk of the weight a bit
further back, kinda "behind" or "below" her rib cage. My chubby male
looks round like an apple when he stands on his hind legs, while my
pregnant female looked much more like a pear when she stood up.

I hope this helps, and good luck! Keep us posted on what happens, 'k?

:o)

Linda


"Meghan" <meghan112rats RemoveThis @ncia.net> wrote in message news:<3Xwod.5162$Pd2.2138800@monger.newsread.com>...
> Dear Bren,
>
> A pregnant mouse kind of looks like she has a mouse-sized basketball
> sticking out of each of her sides. A fat mouse just looks generally round
> all over. Given the fact she's been with a male, it's likely that she is
> pregnant. They only "show" in the last week, so it shouldn't be too long if
> it is to happen. Good luck!
>
> Meghan
>
> "Brenda G. Kent" <wt211 RemoveThis @victoria.tc.ca> wrote in message
> news:Pine.GSO.4.58.0411221409530.26955@vtn1.victoria.tc.ca...
> > Okay question...my female has been in her cage with a juvenile male. He
> > has been seen mounting or trying to mount her often. She usually squeaks
> > and runs away as he is doing this. She looks heavier than the rest of the
> > mice....question of a "duh" nature:
> >
> > is she expecting you think?
> >
> >
> > Bren
> >
> > --
> >
> >
> > "On a withered branch,
> > a crow has now alighted.
> > Nightfall in autumn."
> > -- Basho, 1679
> >
> >
 >> Stay informed about: first babies? 

I hope this helps, and good luck! Keep us posted on what happens, 'k?

:o)

Linda


thanks...again..will do. Oh one more question..what is the gestation
period for mice?

Bren

--


"On a withered branch,
a crow has now alighted.
Nightfall in autumn."
-- Basho, 1679
 >> Stay informed about: first babies? 

"Brenda G. Kent" <wt211.DeleteThis@victoria.tc.ca> wrote in message
news:Pine.GSO.4.58.0411231951180.17399@vtn1.victoria.tc.ca...
> I hope this helps, and good luck! Keep us posted on what happens, 'k?
>
> :o)
>
> Linda
>
>
> thanks...again..will do. Oh one more question..what is the gestation
> period for mice?
>
> Bren
>
> --
>

Having just been thru this.. 3 weeks.. :)

clean the cage out a few days before ya think she's due, then don't disturb
her again til they're about a week.. .(is ok to check the nest if she's out
of it and doesn't get upset over it... use the eraser end of a pencil so as
not to leave a scent behind..)

Davina
 >> Stay informed about: first babies? 

clean the cage out a few days before ya think she's due, then don't
disturb
her again til they're about a week.. .(is ok to check the nest if she's
out
of it and doesn't get upset over it... use the eraser end of a pencil so
as
not to leave a scent behind..)

Davina



Hmm..well I have no idea when she is due...but I clean her cage weekly.
The eraser end is a great idea! thanks. I was thinking I would not disturb
the mama and babies for around ten days actually...just giving food etc.

Thanks alot Davina.

Bren

--


"On a withered branch,
a crow has now alighted.
Nightfall in autumn."
-- Basho, 1679
 >> Stay informed about: first babies? 

before she gives birth you should remove the male to his own cage. I've seen
males kill their babies as they emerge. usually there's no problem, but when
there is it's quick.

feed the mother some protein foods, like dry cat food or hard boiled egg.
growing babies is hard work and sometimes the mothers become starved for
protein to the point that they'll eat their own young. egg works very well,
and just about any mouse will eat dry cat food. peanut butter is good too.

be ready to separate the males from the females at about four weeks. have
cages standing by. I recommend those large plastic storage boxes with eighteen
inch tall sides - cheap, light, easy to clean.

as the babies grow give them a plastic exercise wheel to play on. it's
hilarious watching them learn how to use it.
--

"I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the father, but
through me." john 14:6
 >> Stay informed about: first babies? 

thankyou F!

What a font of info you are!

Blessings
Bren

--


"On a withered branch,
a crow has now alighted.
Nightfall in autumn."
-- Basho, 1679
 >> Stay informed about: first babies? 

"Flykiller" <flykiller.RemoveThis@aol.com.com> wrote in message
news:20041124024339.06183.00000668@mb-m27.aol.com...

>
> feed the mother some protein foods, like dry cat food or hard boiled egg.
> growing babies is hard work and sometimes the mothers become starved for
> protein to the point that they'll eat their own young. egg works very
well,
> and just about any mouse will eat dry cat food. peanut butter is good
too.
>


Our momma pretty much ignored the peanut butter, boiled eggs and any wet dog
food we put in.. but, I was mixing up some stuff to hide pills in for our
dog w/ a heart condition and tried some of that on her and she loved it.
Basically I mixed a pouch of wet dog food, a small jar of meat based baby
food,(i usually use those to make dog biscuits..) some left over chicken and
rice soup (home made.. just broth, chicken and boiled rice), a raw egg and
some oats to thicken it. didn't measure just dumped and mixed til i had a
thick mix, pread it around the bottom of a pan, baked at 350 til it was
soild (was still soft in the center though). broke that up and she loves
it! she'll run right up and start nibbling away on that the second i put it
in her bowl. they all like the hard dog food, too, but not as much as this
stuff.
(the dogs love it too.. )

Davina
 >> Stay informed about: first babies?