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Post by AnimalFarm2006 on Jan 17, 2009 19:21:19 GMT -5
Current Number of Breedable Females: 0 Current Number of Breedable Males: 0 Number Litters Produced: 0 Number of Offspring Produced: 0 Current List of Cages: Five gallon plastic tank, Wire hamster cage, and A 20 gallon tank in the garage.
I just wanted to start my thread on my breeding mice colony like someone recomended. ^.^
Next sat i am getting 2 femals, and one male, plus i will finaly get the ferrets etc. XD I am already feeding my hamster natural foods like some left over oatmeal (in the round thing kind), elbow noodles, a dog bone crunched up, the regular mix that came with hammie. I also have rabbit feed, and guinea pig feed. Can i mix some of that into the food?
I was wondering if anyone has a food chart, or list for the rodents? i would love to have it so i can post it on my bulleten board in my room.
Also, Does feeding mice to ferrets realy save you money on kibble? I'm hoping that if they take too the mice well, I could get them to eat raw the days they do not eat mice. Can I just feed them raw once a day, maybe some added soupe, and than feed them soupe and a couple mice one day a week? or what would you guys recomend/do to your own ferrets...
I know I know lots of questions. I've read the posts you guys sent me, but i still would like the fine details to things.
Thanks a ton, cara
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Post by Heather on Jan 17, 2009 21:39:45 GMT -5
Does growing your own mice save you money...hmmm I'm asking myself that. I haven't quite reached that point yet but it does offer them another protein source that they all really like and I have to pay almost $3 a frozen mouse up here, so all the males that I've produced so far have become ferret food. All the little girls have gone into the breeding program. It probably would save you money once you're set up and feeding only a couple of ferrets, but I have to get my mouse population up to a degree that it will feed 16 ferrets...well 14 my two newb rescues haven't graduated to prey yet, though they have been offered it. My guys eat a mix of raw ground, raw whole (or frankenprey) and prey. So in answer to your question about can you feed prey and raw....Yes, of course . Are you going to feed kibble along with your raw? Once a day isn't probably sufficient amount of food unless you plan to feed enough to cover the whole day. I prefer to feed multiple times during the day, so that they meats used are as fresh as possible. My guys have eaten mouse once this week, but they've also eaten 2 whole adult rats and half a 3 lbs rabbit (this is the prey they've eaten, so it comes with all its insides and outsides still there ). They've also eaten a couple of pounds of ground rmb (raw meat and bones) mixed with offal and raw eggs and some squash (I have a couple of IBD and lymphosarcomas ferrets and they seem to benefit from the squash or pumpkin) and 5 lbs of quail parts. So what you suggest is doable but must be refined to fit your business. Good luck, it's a wonderful adventure and a real learning experience ciao
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Post by harrisi on Jan 18, 2009 6:33:20 GMT -5
I was wondering if anyone has a food chart, or list for the rodents? i would love to have it so i can post it on my bulleten board in my room. Are you talking about for the mice or got the hamster? If for the mice, I can post up some info on the feeding of natural foods and what not and also the good and the bad food.
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Post by AnimalFarm2006 on Jan 21, 2009 12:52:01 GMT -5
I'm talking about the mice, but i plan to use a lot of the foods for Hammie as well.
Thanks, cara
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Post by AnimalFarm2006 on Feb 1, 2009 21:40:24 GMT -5
I never did pick up the mice, or the ferrets because both people had emergency plans pop up. I couldn't this week, so maybe next saturday i will finaly get my dang mice.
Also, I will not be getting the two ferrets, and the FN, so i'm hoping to find a cheap FN on craigs list, or i'll get mum to get one for my b-day in march.
Bleck, I have bad luck.
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Post by AnimalFarm2006 on Feb 4, 2009 21:54:03 GMT -5
Howdy again,
Question- Gerbels, or Mice? I have the option of getting gerbles, or mice. Mice people are taking forever to respond, while the gerble people are just like "Take them please!"
Thanks, cara
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Post by animalsgetrevenge on Feb 5, 2009 1:55:11 GMT -5
I'm breeding mice and it's been really easy for me. I dislike gerbils with a passion and have never owned or breed them so I'm no help. How about both?
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Post by AnimalFarm2006 on Feb 6, 2009 17:01:30 GMT -5
Update- I am getting two females, and one male gerbil tomorow. Yay
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Post by harrisi on Feb 7, 2009 4:11:09 GMT -5
Keep us updated! I am thinking about breeding gerbils but not sure what kind of work they would be as I cant find any feeder gerbil info on the internet
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Post by AnimalFarm2006 on Feb 7, 2009 23:03:58 GMT -5
Change of plans again. XD The place i went too acualy had mice. I called because the last time i went they didn't have any. They had them in a back room.
So I have 2 females, and one male mouse in a hamster trail type cage. The cage is pretty safe as it went though three years of a tedy bear hamsters weight, and the wheel wouldn't catch the tail.
They are on the same type of food as the hamster, but with added ferret food for protein.
I heard them like sqealing, and the male like has big ding a lings, so maybe they are going to mate soon.
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Post by AnimalFarm2006 on Feb 10, 2009 11:09:14 GMT -5
Update&Question-
Do mice make nests if there not pregnant? The one fat female i have has been putting the toliet paper up on the edges of the little house they always sleep in.
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Post by harrisi on Feb 10, 2009 14:03:39 GMT -5
Sometimes they make what appears to be a nest, most of the time they are actually pregnant.
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Post by AnimalFarm2006 on Feb 11, 2009 17:59:25 GMT -5
I switched the mice to the wire cage untill i can get my tank from the property because the hamster cage house thing was creating condensation and they were sleeping at the entrance for air. Food- Right now the hamster/mice are on a mix of ferret food, a sprinkle in every dish, store bought hamster food, these noodles that they do not like and are going to change once i run out, Cheerios, crispy rice once i mix it, and oats. Hammie doesn't like veggies, but the mice seem to enjoy having a peice of romain, or carrot. Anything other people would recomend, or change?
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Post by harrisi on Feb 12, 2009 2:35:40 GMT -5
I would mix up oats, puffed rice, bran, ferret kibble, dry pasta and maybe a few dried veggies and free feed that to them. Sounds like your doing good with them though!
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Post by josiesmom on Feb 12, 2009 7:18:36 GMT -5
Also give your mice bones to eat! I'll toss in the bones that the ferrets haven't finished off and the mice gnaw on and eat these. many of the bones have bits of dried meat on them which the mice love. If I've cooked some meat with bones, I'll give the mice the bones. Breeders especially need these minerals and proteins from the bones. It will cut down on any cannibalism also!
Essentially you get to feed several animals with one bone!
Cheers, Kim
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