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Post by bluedove on Mar 30, 2009 2:34:57 GMT -5
I ended up getting 15 quart bins for my colonies: www.sterilite.com/ProductDetail.html?ProductId=76&Section=Storage(They measure 17 1/4”L x 11 7/8”W x 6 5/8”H and have been altered with wire mesh for ventilation.) I had thought that I could place 3 females with 1 male in these full time, and then move out the young as they wean... but now it occurs to me that I could potentially have upwards of 30 mice in the bins if all my females birth about the same time... Now I'm thinking that's a recipe for overcrowding and will result in the litters being killed off. Would a ratio of 2 females to 1 male be better for these smaller bins? Or should I introduce the first female, wait a week and introduce the next female to try and get them on different birthing cycles? Or am I just over analyzing and this will be plenty of room? Keep in mind I'm having to use water bowls right now and will be adding an exercise saucer to each bin: www.petsmart.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3155596
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Post by harrisi on Mar 30, 2009 5:18:28 GMT -5
1.2 mice would be fine. They are not very big at 4 weeks old anyway and thats the time they need to be taken out and put into a growing on bin.
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Post by whipple on Apr 2, 2009 22:26:43 GMT -5
1:2 would be good. That way you can also figure out which are the best breeders and keep them for the future, then you can get a bigger bin for 1:5. Or I'd do that, doesnt mean you have to. Oh, and get wheels. Those saucer things are usually ignored. Or chewed.
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Post by harrisi on Apr 3, 2009 6:56:30 GMT -5
My mice used to like the saucers but they would pee on them then sleep in them or run on them so I had to keep washing them after I had culled them so they were nicer to feed.
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