Wild mouse Birth

[racinghamster]

Hi. Do you know what species of mouse she is? Are you in the UK? Mice enjoy selected millets and will enjoy a basic rat food or even a low protein hamster mix if this is easier for you to buy. Right now, the mum and babies will require a slightly higher protein since the babies are growing. Dry mealworms added to a mix will be a good choice, but not overloaded!

The mum will have wild instincts and pass those on to the babies if you don`t attempt to handle them. Mouse babies should be fully weaned at four to five weeks of age. If your plan is to then release them, do so in a safe area with food and shelter where they can be familiar. If they become too tame, yo need to determine whether they would survive long in the wild, but if you have no intention of keeping wild mice captive, this will be your only solution.

Let us know how they are doing and how the little ones are growing. They will ping around like little ping pongs when their eyes open! x

[Ceretrea]

For mice intended for release, the best thing to feed them is birdseed, millet sprays, some cooked chicken but they won't find that in the wild. If the babies get too dependant on kibble or human food they won't be able to forage when released. Rosehips, dried is fine, any seeds intended for wild birds, mealworms are all best options. A water bottle now is safer but a bowl when the babies are bigger.

Limited contact, place the cage in a quiet, dim area and when you release you can use a cardboard box with water source and a couple of handfuls of food. The mice will find their own way out and over a few days will happily relocate elsewhere. I'd say a week after the youngsters eyes are open is ideal. Assuming weather conditions are favourable. I've done a few soft releases and not had a problem yet.