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Post by bigsis7 on Dec 7, 2008 14:44:42 GMT -5
Ok, so I may be able to get my dad to let me breed feeder mice. So I have a few questions for those of you who breed them. If you breed other feeders like gerbils or hamsters feel free to answer these questions too!
1. How many pounds food do they go through a month? How many mice does it feed?
2. How many pounds of litter do they go through a month? How many cages is it used for and how often is the cage cleaned out?
3. How often do supplies need to be replaced (such as cage, water bottle, food dish)?
4. On average how much time do you spend caring for the mice?
5. Do you let them out of the cage to play? Like in a play pen or do you keep them in the cage?
6. Where do you keep the mice? Do they smell?
7. Anything else you would like to mention?
Thank you for you time!!
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Post by whipple on Dec 7, 2008 16:18:49 GMT -5
1. How many pounds food do they go through a month? How many mice does it feed?This depends on how many mice you are keeping. Also, feeding leftovers, raw veggies, fresh foods really keeps the costs down. Rodent blocks are not all that great by themselves. They were created to keep the variables in lab rats/mice down as near to zero as possible.
2. How many pounds of litter do they go through a month?Again this depends on how many mice you have, how deep you make the bedding, and where you get the litter. You can get huge bags of shavings. Many people don't advocate using shavings, and I would agree for the breeders. But with the feeders, it wont make much difference in the time they are around. How many cages is it used for and how often is the cage cleaned out? In the beginning 1:3 is a good male:female ratio, later moving upto 1:5 when you figure out your best possible breeders. So if you want 20 breeders, you will end up with at least 6 cages. This is including the grow out cages. I always changed the bedding about once or twice a week, depending. Try to change before a litter is born or once they are nearly independant of their mother, otherwise the mother gets nervous.
3. How often do supplies need to be replaced (such as cage, water bottle, food dish)?If you're using glass tanks, they wouldn't need to be replaced unless cracked or broken. Plastic bins will need replacing once they are worn too much, unless you want mice escaping. Although I have never had to replace anything. With adequate stimulation they wont need to chew their cages, although they will anyhow. Water bottles need to be rinsed everyday, and cleaned at least once a week, usually when the litter is changed. They only need to be replaced if there is a build-up that cannot be got rid of or if they are broken. But again, with proper maintenance, this should be years.
4. On average how much time do you spend caring for the mice?I would say daily care takes about 5 minutes per cage. Cleaning and litter changes take about 1/2 hr per cage. Sorting the mice pups takes about 10 minutes max in my experience. All in all it takes less time then a trip to a petstore.
5. Do you let them out of the cage to play? Like in a play pen or do you keep them in the cage?My mice always stayed in the cage. Other than getting them used to my hand being in there for food and cleaning, nothing else. Its much harder feeding tame mice than biters. But they do get wheels, tunnels, ect. I try to make sure they enjoy the lives they have.
6. Anything else you would like to mention?Breeding mice is fun! But you do have to be dedicated. Also be aware of the mouse hunting ferrets. Oh, and start small. A couple of trios should be good in the beginning.
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Post by bigsis7 on Dec 9, 2008 10:21:11 GMT -5
Thank you!!!
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Post by animalsgetrevenge on Dec 9, 2008 15:52:43 GMT -5
Since I am really new to this I can only answer a few questions but I will do my best.
2. How many cages is it used for and how often is the cage cleaned out? I am currently using 4 cages: 2 wire cages for rats (3 in one, 2 in the other), 1 20 gallon for 6 female mice, and 1 10 gallon for 2 males. The cages are cleaned once a week. Once I have babies ready to be weaned, I will use another wire cage for the rat pups and a 25 gallon tank for the mice pups until they are ready to be dinner!
3. How often do supplies need to be replaced (such as cage, water bottle, food dish)? Not for many years, unless the mice or rats chew through something or a watter bottle starts to leak. Sometimes rodents chew their water bottles or dishes, so use glass/ceramic.
4. On average how much time do you spend caring for the mice? For the 5 rats and 8 mice I currently have I spend about 5 minutes a day everyday feeding and changing water. One day per week I spend about 45 minutes removing old bedding, replacing bedding, and scrubbing/replacing water bottle, dishes, wheels, and nest boxes and toys.
5. Do you let them out of the cage to play? Like in a play pen or do you keep them in the cage? They mice stay in their cage, but I am trying more to socialize the rats so they can have individual time with me. All my rodent cages have wheels for exercise.
6. Where do you keep the mice? Do they smell? The male mice smell, but the females do not. I keep them in a walk in closet in the ferret room. The rats were just moved from the closet to the ferret room itself, they aren't TOO stinky.
also.... about food: I mix my own food which is very inexpensive. Half the things I picked out of out kitchen... just stuff we never eat like old pasta, cereal, oat meal, dried beans, etc. I had some ferret kibble and cat kibble that I don't need so I threw that in. Also, I got a ton of free pet food samples online and I put those in two for variety. I went to the store and picked out a 5 grain oatmeal, puffed rice, puffed Kamut, wheat noodles and a few other things. I have enough food to fill a 20 gallon tank and I only spent about $20 on it. I have no idea how long it will last but I am guessing a long time!
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Post by bigsis7 on Dec 10, 2008 12:52:14 GMT -5
Thank you AGR!
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