Helping the Mother Care for Her Babies
Watch the mother closely for signs of aggression or carelessness. If the babies you are caring for have a mother, she will likely keep them alive. However, female mice are often careless towards their young, may abandon a litter, and may even eat some of their offspring. If the mother stops feeding her young, or if she eats any babies, place her in a separate cage If the mother is aggressive or does not care for the infants, you will need to feed and care for them yourself.
Find a foster mother if the mice are orphans. If you know where to find another nursing female, she may accept the orphaned baby mice as her own. This is the best option, both psychologically and physically, for the babies but it is not always possible, especially if they are over 1.5 weeks old. Quickly find a nursing mother from a pet store or breeder. Rub the foster babies with bedding from the new mother’s cage to let them absorb her smells. Place the babies in the mother’s tank. Keep an eye out for signs of aggression, excessive squeaking, or abandonment.
Watch the babies for signs of diarrhea and dehydration. Even if a biological or surrogate mother is taking care of the newborn mice, diarrhea and dehydration are common problems you may encounter when raising newborn mice. Dehydration occurs alongside diarrhea and can kill the babies if not treated. A swollen tummy, lethargy, and yellowish discharge from the anus are signs of diarrhea. Replace the mother’s milk or formula with an electrolyte solution for human infants. Take the babies to a vet to ensure they are healthy.
Feeding Baby Mice
Prepare formula to feed the mice. Your local pet store will carry many different formula options, such as Kitten Milk Replacer or Esbilac, that can be used to feed baby mice. Human formulas Enfamil (the kind without iron) and Soyalac can also be used. Whole, raw goats milk will nourish the babies as well. Slightly warm the formula or milk before feeding; do not use hot or cold formula. Powdered formulas will need to be mixed with water per the directions on the container. The babies must be warm before feeding, or they won’t be able to digest the formula properly. If this happens, the formula will ferment in their bellies, causing diarrhea. You can keep the babies warm by placing a heating pad on a low setting underneath their enclosure.
Use a small syringe, small nursing bottle, or absorbent string for feeding. You can also use an eyedropper. If you are using a syringe or bottle, suck liquid up into the container to prepare for feeding. If you are using string, simply dip it into the formula until it is dripping.
Place small drops of food into the mouth. Take care to not squeeze the syringe or bottle with much force. If you see liquid bubbling from their noses, stop feeding immediately. When the mice have round, full tummies, they do not need any more food.
Feed the mice frequently. Mice ages 0-1 week need feedings 6-8 times a day; mice 1-2 weeks need feedings 5-6 times a day; mice 2-3 weeks need feedings 4 times a day; and mice 4 weeks old only need feedings 3 times a day. Space each feeding a couple of hours apart. You will also have to feed the mice during the night.
Stimulate the babies after feeding so they use the bathroom. Use a cotton ball or your finger, and gently brush over their private areas. A small amount of liquid will come out, but if the baby is dehydrated, nothing may come out. Rub until there is no more liquid.
Wean the babies after 3 to 4 weeks. For the first several days of weaning, provide a small amount of moistened rodent pellets for the weaning mice; drizzle water over the pellets to prepare them, then place them in an easily accessible area. Soon, the mice will be nibbling at the soaked crumbles. When the mice appear to be getting stronger, try feeding them regular rodent pellets.
Provide healthy pellets and water once the babies are weaned. Pet supply stores have rodent chow available, whether it comes in blocks or pellets. Choose a formula that is 16% protein, 18% fiber, and less than 4% fat to raise healthy mice. You no longer have to wet the pellets once the babies are weaned. You can provide apples, bananas, broccoli, and other snacks, but remember that mice have tiny stomachs and should not overeat. Mice usually drink 3-7 ml of water per day. Hang a small animal water bottle in the cage, and keep it filled. Before weaning, the mice were getting water from their food. Once they begin to eat dry food, the water bottle is necessary.
Providing a Suitable Living Environment
Provide a cage with at least 1 cubic foot (0.3 cubic meters) of space per mouse. This amount of space is necessary even if the babies are not fully grown. Your local pet store will have many cages to choose from, but be sure to buy one big enough.
Choose a proper cage. Mouse cages should not provide spaces where the mice can escape and should have a solid floor (without wire grates). Plastic cages will often become damaged after cleaning, so opt instead for metal and glass cages or aquariums that can withstand thorough cleanings. Mice are very good at chewing, so choose a cage without protruding parts and wires the mice can chew on. Provide hiding spots for the mice, such as small boxes or cardboard tubes. Using a cardboard box for the babies is only a temporary option, as mice will quickly learn to chew through the box and escape.
Provide clean bedding in the cage. Wood shavings or shredded, recycled paper products will suffice. Avoid cedar and pine shavings. Clean the bedding as soon as it is soiled, which can be as often as twice a day, and disinfect the entire cage every 3 to 4 weeks.
Keep the cage between 75°F (24°C) and 90°F (32°C). This will keep the babies warm and comfortable. Use your at-home heater and air conditioner to monitor the temperature.
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