dude same, i just thought it was cute that she raised them with such care, at least in the future if i do end up getting a baby mouse i'll know how to take care of it. XD
It all started ten years ago when I was a student teacher and on a whim decided to hand raise a baby mouse with my kindergarten class. I did not have a clue what I was doing, but by some miracle little Jason lived and went on to be one of the most amazing pets I had ever had. I have been hooked on rodents ever since.
I'm just sitting in my bed watching this with the abandoned mouse that was in our garage in my sweater pocket sleeping, and there is never a time where I will be happier.
A heads up: after wild baby mice are weaned they go through a fear phase (2-5 weeks of age). Some hardly go through it at all but others can become very skittish and nervous and loose the bond they had with their human. You have to be very gentle and understanding with them during this time, no quick movements, no loud sudden noises and lots of love and treats. If they become permanently fearful and wild, then it is kindest to release them into the wild.......
Thank you for this ❤ a decade after this upload and the essential information you share is still helping people like me. I just found an orphaned baby mouse today and had no expectations I'd start taking care of one on this day. I just couldn't leave him to natural selection without a mother. He at least deserves a fair shot at a life whether that means domestication or being released. But this particular comment actually helps so much as does the video, thank you very much!
Here in Canada the only mice you can buy are feeder mice from pet stores. These mice are not socialized at all when they are babies, which makes most of them hard to really tame. This is why I rescued Mattie and Stu when they were still so young. Odds are they would never have been allowed to live to weaning, so the ethics of raising them from this age are not as bad, they would not have had any life had I not bought them. By hand raising them, they are super well socialized and the best pets.
Hi there! I'm a teacher in Australia and I had two class pets (mice) who I was told were both female... However, one turned out to be male, as I found out the week the female suddenly expanded like a balloon. After the litter was born, the adult mice both suddenly died! Because I didn't want my kids to be disappointed (and I'm a little soft) I hand raised 12 of them... Yeah. I know. I didn't sleep much. It was a very interesting learning curve for the kids, though... They helped me feed them during class time and I got the whole class doing it together, every two hours, paint brushes, kitten milk, warm water and ear buds... I lost 3 mice along the way, but the rest have done really well! They have started the weaning process and the babies are all very cuddly and friendly. THE PROBLEM: There is one that I'm a little worried about, though... He is smaller than the rest (noticeably), and doesn't seem to eat as much. Is there anything I can do to fatten him up/help him grow? Thank you for your videos - they guided me through the whole process! I couldn't've done it without you! Miss C xox
This is how I also started with hand raising mice, as a class project with my kindergarten kids, but I just had one, not 12. How old are your kids ? You and they did an amazing job, the kids would have learned so much. As to the little runt, not much more you can do except to continue giving him the super care you have been giving him so far. Watch for dehydration, but otherwise hope he will catch up with his siblings once he is eating adult food. Don't forget to separate the girls from the boys once they are 4-5 weeks old.
CreekValleyCritters Really? That's fantastic! Glad to know I'm not the only one who is teaching the kids about these wonderful little guys :) We did a whole project on it and wrote an information book on mice. The effect of the mice experience on the students was amazing: I had kids who couldn't write a paragraph at the beginning of the year completing a full-on information report and, not only passing, but getting A's! (I'm not sure about America but in Australia a C is a pass, a B is above grade level and an A is wayyy above grade level, quite a big deal for one kid in particular who reads far below his age... He worked very hard). Unfortunately the mouse in question (I called him Archie) stopped eating and drinking. I tried to hand feed him some formula and water, and when I got desperate I tried electrolytes, then tried electrolytes mixed with some milk, and he refused all of them... But he kept climbing into my hand and purring while he sat there, refusing to go back in with the other mice, so I think he knew he wasn't going to make it and just wanted some company. Bless him... He's in mousey heaven now. The other mice are doing ok, except for one who is losing his fur! The others just look scruffy, none of them are losing fur, they're gaining it. All about 4 weeks old, except not very big... I'm hoping at 6 weeks they will have all gained some more "adult-ish" fur. All eating dry food, all drinking formula and gradually water too... Just worried about the fur loss. Sorry to keep barging you with messages (and for this essay!) - if you don't have time to reply, I will understand :)
Tori Condo Sorry about the little runt. I had a little one like this once, she was so sweet, always wanting to sit in my hand, loved being petted despite not being hand raised, purred a lot even at an age when most mice have outgrown it, but she did not grow and stayed very small. She only lived a few weeks after I got her. Sometimes the little runts are just not destined to make it :( As to the others they sound quite normal for hand raised baby mice, they will be scruffy, some will suffer from hair loss, they will be smaller than normal, but by the time they are two months old they will look just as big and healthy as mouse raised mice :) Have they entered the hopper stage yet ? Like puppies, young mice go through a fear stage and a chewy stage (3 to 6 weeks of age). If you want to keep them tame, you have to be careful not to scare them during this time, especially with those who have extra nervous dispositions. You also have to be careful when you carry them, they jump randomly a lot at this age and can unexpectedly propel themselves out of your hand and hurt themselves in the fall. They will also start chewing on your fingers. But they learn fast, all you have to do is wriggle your fingers, say 'no' gently but firmly, and most will stop within a few days. 4 - 5 weeks old, time to separate the boys from the girls, otherwise you will soon have more mice than you can handle. Also time to stop feeding formula, except maybe as a treat, they are at the age where a mouse mother would have weaned them by now. What are you planning to do with them now ? Are you going to keep all 8 as classroom pets ? The females will be easy to keep all together, but males are more difficult to manage, you will have to watch for fighting and if there is any, be able to separate them. Males also have a much stronger odor than females. But the little boys are wonderful and I always keep at least one, although I have mine neutered which gets rid of undesirable male characteristics. I am so glad the project went so well, something like this teaches kids so much more than what can come out of a book. They will never forget this experience, it will not only help them with reading and writing, but they will have learned a lot about life and be better people because of it. It is amazing what something really meaningful and engaging can do for kids :)
CreekValleyCritters Thank you again for your reply! Sounds like you were in a similar situation to mine with my runt. Yes, unfortunately they just aren't meant to make it... Mousey heaven needs some angels! I'm gradually decreasing the supply of formula and increasing the supply of water and bigger food. Some are still chewing/suckling on the sides of the formula bowl and I don't feel like they're quite ready to go cold turkey yet. In a couple of weeks I am going to adopt them out to families (some parents of my children have requested them) and I hope to keep two females, or one female and one male (neutered... the males have gorgeous personalities, so I'm tempted to keep one). I would also like to start trying to train them to do a couple of tricks :) I will assess the personalities of them once they are old enough... They're just so small, still. They have passed the hopper stage now (only just!) and are much more coordinated. Their fur is still growing and they're very scruffy... I've just moved them to a bigger cage and they're having heaps of fun running around. I haven't encountered any nips yet. A couple of them love coming out and being held, thinking of keeping those two. It's very hard to tell what gender they are, though. I found a good website with some great instructions. It's amazing what animals do to kids... They become gentler, calmer and think about their decisions. It has been wonderful sharing this with you and reading your advice!
I ended up with 6 orphans. They were not pinkies as they had little fur and the eyes were not open but maybe 30% to half open. I tried using the brush and also a an IV which I had modified so as to make the plastic tube smaller. I amanged to get a couple of feeds every so often. They did not want to know about my milk brew(oat milk, soy milk, rice milk, and peanut butter with water to make it not so thick). So here is what I did. Mice are quite clean. They clean themselves like a cat quite often, so i found that when they started licking their left and right sides(near hind legs) I would put a drop of milk, and sure enough they would lick it up. I could barely sleep, thinking that the mice would die from starvation. After 2 days I placed some crushed oats in their bedding and found that they started nibbling it! Oh what a relief!!!
That's the same method I used for my mouse!! She would always groom her sides and hands, so I'd just wipe some formula on her and she'd lick it all off. Made sure to dry her so she didn't catch a chill and it worked!
I recently was given the opportunity to raise 4 baby mice that were approximately 9 days old at the time. (Unfortunately the runt of the litter passed away around 2 weeks old) With your and Matilda’s help I successfully raised 3 healthy baby boys and they’re almost 4 months old!! So on the behalf of Feisty, Ives, Roo and I, we’d like to say a big big thank you for all your help!!
Baby's name: "Barney" (found in barn). Small video on youtube soon, took footage today. She a very affectionate baby. Now owns real estate: terrarium (20 gallon) with proper metal lid because likes jumping straight up. How long does jumping go on? Last formula feeding is at midnight, then rest through the night. She has food/water in her abode at all times. Eating well, but still likes the brush. You became a godmother across the miles! Barney and I say thank you for your wisdom & guidance.
This is just so amazing. Im raising an orphaned mouse now that appears to be about 10 days old. His eyes just opened. Im introducing baby cereal and formula in the morning for breakfast. Thank you so much for making these. Its really been a huge help.
It is very difficuilt to find a suitably sized cage for mice at the pet store. This is one reason why I build all my own cages. If you buy from a pet store a large terrarium or a large small bird flight cage (bars no further apart than 1/4 inch) are the best, but they are expensive. I bought my big tank from a pet store half price because it was slightly damaged and they had used it. I then built a stand and a cat-proof lid for it.
We need more people like this in society. You are a genuinely nice person, even feeding Matilda every two hours. The series of videos are excellent. You deserve more subscribers! Thanks for the tips! You have some adorable little mice there.
I totally agree, what a lovely caring person this is :) heart warming to see them show such care and kindness to this cute little mouse and her family. I have so much respect for such people.
Was raising two abandoned baby mice. One didn’t make it so I’ve been feeding every single hour panicked. Cupcake is now 10 days old but still looks 6-7 days old. I want him to make it more than anything 🖤 I hope I check back here in a year and still have my lil best bud with me
This is why I have not sold my horse, although I no longer ride or have the means to care for her. I have seen where horses end up and never want her there. I got her as a weanling, gave her a great attitude to riding and going places,made sure she got the best training I could afford, just in case I needed to place her somewhere if I could no longer keep her. So now I free lease her to people I trust. This way she gets the best care, gets used and I always know where she is and that she is O.K.
Just like parenting but in a whole new ball game with mice not human children just as fun nerve recking sleepless nights worrys pain in the rear at times with them but in the end it's all worth it to see them blossom into a beautiful adults they become🙄💛human beings and animals alike🙄💛🐟🐿🐹🐭🐶🐺
If you are just giving him water right now, then he will not have any poop to poop, but should be peeing. What formula are you feeding him ? Is his tummy bloated looking ? Or is he very skinny and wrinkly. You may want to get some electrolytes for babies.
I want to thank you so much for posting these videos. I have commented a few times before while facing the challenges of taking care of my baby deer mouse, and you replied so willingly. My boyfriend and I found her when she was about 6 or 7 days old. She is around a month old now, and she is growing normally! And healthy! She is apart of the family, and probably the most spoiled mouse ever! haha She loves her grapes, cheese, and sunflower seeds! I cannot thank you enough!
Are you a wildlife rehabilitator ? What formula do you feed them ? How do you feed them, syringe, eyedropper or paintbrush ? What is your success rate ? Do your baby mice go through a scruffy phase ? Do you have anything else to add to my series on raising baby mice ? I am curious since you seem way more experienced at raising baby mice than I am.........
Does your baby have any symptoms of dehydration ? Sometimes dehydration can lead to the bum becoming swollen and red, at least this is what happened to my kittens when they were dehydrated. As soon as they became hydrated again the swelling went away. Check out the video on dehydration in this video series.
CreekValleyCritters Thank you so much for the helpful information on raising a baby mouse. I rescued two baby mice that were destined to be snake food, or left for death (their mother was eaten). This was nine months ago, and I followed all of your information and advice to a T and they became healthy, happy adults. I love them to pieces, and they are so extremely loyal. Thanks so very much :) From a fellow Canadian!!
There really is nothing like a hand raised mouse. These two are my little buddies and have made me quite the mouse enthusiast!! I used the puppy milk formula (Esbilac) and it seemed to do them well :) my doe was really fussy with it, but that just made it a little more work for me is all. She still turned up happy and healthy at 27 grams. I absolutely adore your videos and have watched them many times over. I am trying to figure out how to buy or build things like you do for my mice. Unfortunately I live in the GTA and all vets that I have asked charge upwards of 300 to neuter male mice. So my male lives alone :( but I play with him lots :)
I had a mouse in my kitchen and unknowingly I used a glue pad to catch him. Then I started reading how dangerous those were. I managed to get him loose with vegetable oil. He seems to be fine. He is very young. I have him in a box with toilet paper tubes and paper towels and 2 small lids, one with plain water and another with Rice Krispies with a little milk. I have another container with some cookie crumbs for him. I'm going to keep him. Thanks for sharing your video
Sounds like he is a little wild house mouse:) Wild mice live a lot longer than domesticated mice, you could have him for 2-5 years. Just curious, what formula did you feed him ?
You just might have saved the life of 4 very yound wild mice with this. They are too old to give formula but haven't figured out the lapping water properly part, yet... thanks so much for the crisp bread tip!!!
I found a baby mouse 8 days ago, and its eyes still aren't open (it was quite young when I found it). I'm SO RELIEVED that I'll be able to wean it soon and actually sleep through the night!
Did they all survive ? How young were they when you started hand raising them ? What formula did you feed them ? Why are rats easier, is it because they are larger and easier to handle ? Sorry for all these questions but I am curious.........
I found a mouse who was all alone, eyes still closed. It's been 24 hours and now his eyes are open! He doesn't look dehydrated or anything! Thank you so much for your videos. I can't thank you enough!
@MozartnMonroe I feed various weaning foods: crushed rodent block soaked in milk/formula/water, baby cerial mixed with water/milk/formula, crispbread soaked in water/milk/formula and crushed adult mouse food. I make sure they have a jam jar lid with water available, with a little bit of crispbread to help them learn how to drink. I give them greens, fruits and healthy table scraps as well. Weaning starts at around 2 weeks old and ends when they are eating just adult food at around 3 weeks old.
@MrWhenwherewhat The smaller tank I got from Total Pet in Quesnel, it was being sold as a reptile terrarium. The large tank I got from Total Pet in Prince George. I asked if they had a used/damaged one for a reduced price, so they evicted some hamsters from their display tank and sold it to me for half price. It was used and had a slightly damaged lid, I made a much better lid for it myself. I also made the stand myself, they are very expensive if you buy them.
Such great videos! Found a baby mouse about 1 week old on Aug 31. Spent the next 2 weeks feeding him every 2 hours. He is now doing very well. Using his wheel and eating a variety of food. I had no idea of what to do with him after finding him and your posts were so helpful.
@leungclj There will be more videos on Stuart and Matilda, but they will be music videos, easier and more fun to make than educational videos. I have a ton of incredible footage of both of them, I will be making mousy videos for a long time to come, especially now that I have managed to teach clever little Mattie a few tricks :)
(Thank you! This is the only informational video I was able to find in a short amount of time! I wish there were more of these, but for now I'm just hoping this baby mouse will make it through the night.)
@zoltexryzal Stuart's home is so big and there are only two mice, so I clean it about every two weeks. Now I clean even less because I give him and Mattie so much free run time in my studio, plus they have several playground areas outside the cage. I basically let my nose tell me when it is time for cleaning :)
OH,,if only I had these guides raising my little Yogi. Would have saved a lot of learning the hard way, at least I had a few pointers from a vet,lest Yogi may not have made it. Thanks for this wonderful tutorial.
@AnimalGuardian71 Try to get goats milk, it really is the best for baby mice. It will also need to be kept warm for another week, electric heater pads on the lowest setting are best for this. Since it is at weaning age and has lost its mother only very recently, it has a very high chance of survival :) Look at all the videos in my series 'Raising a Baby Mouse 1-10', they will tell you all I know about raising baby mice. If you have more questions as you go along, don't hesitate to ask :)
Is his bum area raw and red ? Sometimes it can get inflamed if you are not careful, a little Vaseline can help......Is he still fur-less with eyes closed ?
Update on "Lucky".My wife found (her) at work 3 months ago (May 20th). She is doing very well. We handle her each day, and she seems happy. We found Matilda's video;s very helpful.
@AuzzieJoey His terrarium is not what I mean by studio. My studio is a room in the barn where I do my art and keep my mice cages. He gets to run around that a few hours everyday, a ton of space and so a ton of exercise, although he does like to spend a significant portion of that time on my lap being petted :) All that activity does not make much difference to his waistline though, he gets fatter all the time. He is starting to look like a slightly flattened white cow patty, he is so fat lol :D
+Nightstar I make most of it myself, but some of it I find at dollar stores, dollshouse/miniature stores, craft stores, toy stores, pet stores and out in nature. This is what is so fun about mice, you can get very creative :)
Thank you so much for the reply, I'm heartbroken as he passed away this morning :( he was doing so well until the 6am feeding I don't know what happened by 10am feeding he was gone
just touching base to let you know that our little topo is alive and well, all thanks to your videos. he was a bit slow to wean completely and i doubt he'll ever be tame enough to train, but i'm def. his mommy. he climbs into my hand from his taj mahal of home-made cages, and rides on my shoulder when i walk around the house. we have a cat and two dogs, so he has a little ball for him to run around the house. it's very gratifying to watch him chase the cat.
Her behavior sounds healthy. You could dilute her formula 25% electrolytes and 75% formula.......A lot of raising baby mice is 'feel', this is why it is so tricky. There is not too much I can suggest so far away. Just keep on doing the best you can. It sounds like she really trusts you :)
Hello! I have seen the 10 parts of this video and I loved it. I have 4 mice: Berry, Padme, Mus and Paquito. I would like that you give me some tips on feeding, because I think Paquito is allergic. Thank you!
The best place to go with feeding questions (and anything else to do with mice) is the website 'The Fun Mouse'. What are your little mouse's symptoms of allergy ?
CreekValleyCritters since november 2013, Paquito looked like he was wet, then his hair began to fall. A few days later, he started having yellow crusts in areas without hair. I went to the vet and the doctor told me to take away the creams because these damaging his skin, the doctor prescribed some vitamins (glicopan pet) and told me to change the feed (concentrate varied) and give him ratonina, because my mouse was poorly fed, and for that reason had lowered immunity. Paquito is from a litter of 8 mice, all mice ate the same thing, but Paquito was the only one that presented these problems. However, my baby was cured quickly. So what you think? Do you think he is allergic? PD: thanks for giving me the link of the website! :)
Ana Lucía Pérez Rivas Is he better now ? What sort of cremes were you putting on him ? If he is better now, how are you keeping him different now than before ?
another thank you for these videos! we've been raising a baby field mouse found while blowing leaves (he was about 3 days old) and these have been a godsend. we started ours on kitten formula and when i realized his chances looked good, i made a batch of your formula and he LOVED it. am going to start him on cereal/crackers today. and will have to find him a decent cage this weekend. hope to find some cool decor like you have.
Are you keeping her outside or in the house with you. If you are keeping her in the house and the house is a good temperature for you then it will also be for her. She will need the additional heat for only a week or two more, then a nest with warm nesting material will be enough if she is in the house with you. You will soon need to decide if you want to release her or keep her as a pet. Is she a field type mouse or a wild house mouse ?
If its eyes have been open for four days already it is past time for it to be weaned. You need to follow my video on weaning exactly and make sure it has water and food available at all times. Only feed it with an eyedropper if it is not eating on its own. Usually once they are eating on their own they no longer want to feed from the eyedropper and then are fully weaned. This usually only takes a day or so.Once it is eating and drinking on its own it can regulate its liquid intake and rehydrate.
I spent my whole life trying to rid my properties if mice. Today my kids found an orphaned baby mouse...I guessed 2 days old, but by your video, probably more like 9 days old. Now I'm a mouse-Dad too...thank you for all the support. I learned a ton!
@peugene10 Have you seen my video 'Cleaning Stuart's Cage' ? It shows how I clean it and if you look in the comments section I describe in detail how I do it. It always comes out very clean.
This Sunday it’ll be two weeks till I can start giving this mouse I’m raising food for the first time. He’s going well to the toilet, drinking plenty and trusting me more. He came into our work as I work at a vets. I offered to do this for him and it’s very rewarding! It’ll be sad when I let him free into the Wild, but I know a happy country field with many other mice for him to go to. Thank you for your videos.
My wild baby house mouse, now 7 weeks old, found at 7 days old, eyes closed, took a while to want to wean, liked millet seeds/ mouse nuggets from pet store. I followed all directions from Creek Valley Critters, but used soft paint brush instead of Q-tip to stroke/stimulate tummy after ea feeding: 2 hours apart for 8 days, often took 10 minutes to get her to pee/poop. She is one special affectionate sweetie. Many people don't know how wonderfull a mouse can be, but you have to give it your time.
So I inherited 5 baby mice that were about at the 6-7 day mark last week. We followed the brush feeding tips in your vids and now have thembweening on to the baby cereal and bread. Thanks for posting! Helped us save 5 little lives
Day 7.Just finished a normal feeding where she took the formula off the regular brush balancing on my fingers/hand, reaching for the brush with big eyes, during frequent breaks setting new speed records in her exercise tub. Now in her bed roll made of polar fleece, in reach of finely sliced lettuce, watered cracker, millet, crushed sunflower seeds, water, in an array of the smallest bottle caps I could find. Thanks again for being available in this first crisis. Got through it with your support.
@anna12345cats2 'The Fun Mouse' website has an great section on taming mice. Once they are no longer afraid of you, you need to set up a fun mousy playground outside of their cage. Once they learn that you mean they get to go there, they will be very pleased to see you and happily climb onto your hand to be taken there. When they are taking food from your hand and climbing onto you happily, you can start thinking of training them to do tricks, this will make them really bond to you :)
He is very sweet, calm and trusting. He loves being held and never tries to jump or run away. I don't think he's entered the hopping stage yet, but he loves his new habitat and climbs the wire, explores his tunnel and uses his wheel (and he hasn't even had his new cage/tank for a full day). He's a quick learner and I feel very intelligent. I love him to bits, but I do miss the hand feedings/babying him. I guess the little guy is all grown up and I couldn't be prouder. Thanks for your help :)
Once they are 4-5 weeks old they are old enough to breed, this is when you must separate the males from the females. Initially keep the males together, but if you see any fighting then they must be separated and live alone. With field mice sexing can be a little more difficult, compare the mice to each other to see the difference.
@ThePittieluver If you get a baby mouse over a week old (fuzzy 7-8 days old) you are much more likely to be successful. Things to keep in mind: only get a baby destined for snake food, only get one if you have the following: money $100-$200 to set up for a baby mouse and the adult later, time as you will need at least a week off school/work, good fine motor skills so you can hold the baby and not crush it, commitment to do the research, see the project to the finish and care for an adult mouse.
Thank you so much for sharing Matilda's journey (and yours and Stuart's) through the first days of her life. You're my hero. Those little critters are very lucky to have found such a kind man such as yourself. I nearly cried at all the cuteness. :)
thank you so much for your help...i have raised my orphaned baby rat(meezu) of 4 days old very well by watching ur vedio...this helped me alot in solving litte little problems facedown during raised my little meezu🐀...thnks alot...now my meezu is 3 mnths old healthy beautiful active nd happy too...we both love each other alot...while seeing ur vedio of matilda i alwz dreamt of when my meezu will be like matilda...so thank u for helping me through ur vedios in raising my meezu... this comment is dedicated to my meezu🐀 coz i love my meezu alot ...
@MegF142857 If you get a baby whose eyes have just opened, it depends very much on its personality how tame it will get. I have heard of people getting baby mice at that age or a bit older, spending tons of time with them and having them become super tame. But then I have also heard of people getting baby mice just before their eyes opened at 11 days old and they do not become tame at all. Good mice breeders breed for temperament and socialize their baby mice, their mice are often very tame.
Water is good, it will keep him hydrated. But you must buy him goats milk or kitten/puppy formula as soon as you can, otherwise he will die for sure. It is very difficult raising a baby mouse. Watch all my videos in the series 'Raising a baby Mouse 1-10' and follow the instructions the best you can. If he lives you will have one of the best pets ever, but it is a lot of hard work and little sleep. The only other option is to return him to the pet store where a mom mouse can take care of him.
@ITG2Kay How is little Gadget doing ? I am so glad you were successful with her. A lot of people who contact me for advice on raising baby mice fail. I feel so bad, they love their little guys so much and then they die. Sometimes I wonder if it is a good thing for me to make these videos, they may make things look a little too easy, it takes a lot of skill and luck to successfully raise a baby mouse............
@alexisu8 Goats milk is by far the best thing to feed baby mice, try to get some if you can. Baby mice also need to be kept warm and clean. Electric heater pads work best for this, but you can also improvise something. A soft cloth, tissue paper or anything else soft, fluffy, warm, dust free and clean makes the best nest for baby mice. You should look at my whole video series on how to raise a baby mouse, it will tell you all I know. Good luck with the little one........
@sianheaven I suspect the white spot on his chest is either hair coming in or it may be milk in his stomach showing through his skin. It also could be dandruff which is very common in handraised baby mice as their fur starts to grow in. They are ready for weaning once their eyes open at around two weeks old.......
1 week ago today my daughter found a baby mouse or rat next to its dead mother, I have been hand rearing since she opened her eyes Sunday just gone and is so energetic eating brilliantly and growing well. I’m so happy she’s survived and is lapping formula up herself and starting to nibble on other bits too. I think she’s part of the family now because I’ve become very attracted to her. Her name is now mini mouse 🙂 she knows my voice and shoots around like a little rocket. X
Most mice,once they have grown out of the baby stage, are fairly clean, they tend to only go in corners. Only un-neutered males pee on everything. I put Yesterday's News kitty litter in the corners. This way the cage stays clean and smells good for about a week. Cleaning is easy, just take out the fleece, put into washing machine, replace with a fresh, clean one and put in new Yesterday's News kitty litter. Much cheaper, easier, looks nice and the mice love it, it feels good to mousy feet :)
I found a baby deer mouse yesterday, and I have been caring for her. The only problems I'm having are trying to figure out how old she is. she has hair, but her eyes aren't yet open but I do see tiny little teeth in her mouth and I can already see her little rows of teats, but she doesn't seem to be ready to eat solid food yet. can you help me determine how old she is and how long til I can start weaning her? I also have trouble making her eat. takes about 30 minutes to get her to suck on the brush three times. Is she okay? maybe she's just a really fussy baby? I give her pre-mixed liquid kitten formula mixed with equal amount of water. She seems to like it when she latches on, but she is SO squirmy and fussy for the first 20 mins trying to feed her! Also, she hasn't pooed yet since I've had her, but she has peed several times (in my hand lol) I have been doing the belly and butt rubs but all I get is pee. Her stomach isn't tight at all though, so I don't think it's bloat, but I don't know. This is my first time raising a baby mouse. Please help :)
Wild mice take a little longer to mature than domesticated mice. My guess is that she is 10 to 14 days old. You start weaning them once their eyes open, which should be any day now. They are usually reluctant to eat in the first day or so that you have them, they have to learn how. Kitten formula is great as long as it is mixed with 2x the recommended amount of water. You could mix a little corn syrup or honey in it to make it a little sweet, fussy babies often will feed better once you do this. She should start pooping once she is eating well.
Thank you SO much!!!!!! I've been worried to death about her. But she's certainly full of energy and squirmy as a little worm, and I just saw her in her little cage (I put a square bottle of warm water in with her that she cuddles up to) and she was grooming herself for a good 30 seconds, so I think that's a good sign. Yeah I made a new small batch of formula and added more water to protect against constipation. I sure do hope she opens her eyes soon, I am dead tired from night feeding and it's only been one night! lol. Thanks again for your quick reply!
I am your enthusiastic supporter/client on "everything mousy", could extend to being a children's book/cd supporting kids on how to be a human being in the realm of our connectedness that makes all life precious. Lost my 29 year old Arab, Karti, this past April, found my little mouse in his barn, a tiny messenger and I believe no accident. Thank you for the largess of your heart.
Today my co-workers and I caught five baby mice at the garden center where we work. We think their mother is the mouse we found deceased yesterday. I have them at home now and am following your guidelines. You'll be glad to hear they are doing well and I plan to keep them as pets. It helped that their eyes were already open and they know how to eat. :-)
Do you have food and water out for her all the time in her cage ? If so then she is eating and drinking when you are not looking and is fine. If not then put some out for her right away and monitor her. As long as she appears active and healthy, is pooping and peeing then she is fine.
The rest of the comment: Deer Mouse Ranch is a real good source for info and many thanks to both you guys and them ! We are prepared to keep these mice if they seem to be domesticated too much, but the original plan was to release them. I've rehabbed many species and it's always a big help to hear what other have done in case my 'tricks' don't work on one that I have. Your formula was a BIG help ! Many many thanks - that alone probably saved all 4 the first week of life with us. Kudos !
If he is a wild mouse, they can take longer to wean. It is important to 'read' him to know what to do, every mouse is different. Keep on offering him weaning food, encourage him to eat it by offering it to him on a paint brush. Continue with 3-4 hour feedings for as long as he is interested. Eventually one day he will become weaned, they all do.
She sounds like a healthy little mouse with a high energy level, like Mattie. These mice are often extra loud when they are babies. Does she purr as well ?
@AuzzieJoey I am lucky to have a studio that is safe for my mice. I set it up so it has lots of fun things to climb on and explore. Stuart has fun and gets his exercise at the same time. If I did not have the studio I think he would sleep all the time, he is only active if he sees a point in being so. Very different from Matilda who literally bounces off the walls, she has so much energy :)
@MegF142857 When I got Matilda I actually wanted an older baby, 7 or 8 days old, but all they had were pinkies. I did not want to do that hour and a half long drive to the breeder all over again, so I got her as a four day old. It turned out to be good since I wanted to make an educational series on how to raise a baby mouse, a pinky was much better for that. But next time I am starting with a 7 or 8 day old fuzzy, much less work and stress :)
@peugene10 It is work but I don't find it very difficult. The bedding can get expensive though, luckily I only have to clean it every two or three weeks.............
Thanks so much for being here and making these videos! My boyfriend and I have been raising 2 baby field mice. We've had them about 1.5 weeks and they are now 2.5 weeks and we are trying to wean then but having trouble with one! Thank you so much for this help!
I just watched 10 videos on how to raise mice by hand. I do not own mice nor have ever owned mice. Procrastination is beautiful.
krumpll LMFAO SAME
dude same, i just thought it was cute that she raised them with such care, at least in the future if i do end up getting a baby mouse i'll know how to take care of it. XD
Dude, same! I watch this whenever possible, but nor am i getting a baby mouse or have one😁Hopefully getting tho! 😍
TopFurret 😂😂😂
I NEED THIS BABY MOUSE!!!SO CUTE!!!!!!!!
It all started ten years ago when I was a student teacher and on a whim decided to hand raise a baby mouse with my kindergarten class. I did not have a clue what I was doing, but by some miracle little Jason lived and went on to be one of the most amazing pets I had ever had. I have been hooked on rodents ever since.
I'm just sitting in my bed watching this with the abandoned mouse that was in our garage in my sweater pocket sleeping, and there is never a time where I will be happier.
Awww 💕🐁
Dude defo rolled over
Same ❤
Omg I want updates from this!
So beautiful. You can clearly tell that you genuinely care about them and love them.
A heads up: after wild baby mice are weaned they go through a fear phase (2-5 weeks of age). Some hardly go through it at all but others can become very skittish and nervous and loose the bond they had with their human. You have to be very gentle and understanding with them during this time, no quick movements, no loud sudden noises and lots of love and treats. If they become permanently fearful and wild, then it is kindest to release them into the wild.......
Thank you for this ❤ a decade after this upload and the essential information you share is still helping people like me. I just found an orphaned baby mouse today and had no expectations I'd start taking care of one on this day. I just couldn't leave him to natural selection without a mother. He at least deserves a fair shot at a life whether that means domestication or being released. But this particular comment actually helps so much as does the video, thank you very much!
Here in Canada the only mice you can buy are feeder mice from pet stores. These mice are not socialized at all when they are babies, which makes most of them hard to really tame. This is why I rescued Mattie and Stu when they were still so young. Odds are they would never have been allowed to live to weaning, so the ethics of raising them from this age are not as bad, they would not have had any life had I not bought them. By hand raising them, they are super well socialized and the best pets.
Hi there!
I'm a teacher in Australia and I had two class pets (mice) who I was told were both female... However, one turned out to be male, as I found out the week the female suddenly expanded like a balloon.
After the litter was born, the adult mice both suddenly died! Because I didn't want my kids to be disappointed (and I'm a little soft) I hand raised 12 of them... Yeah. I know. I didn't sleep much. It was a very interesting learning curve for the kids, though... They helped me feed them during class time and I got the whole class doing it together, every two hours, paint brushes, kitten milk, warm water and ear buds...
I lost 3 mice along the way, but the rest have done really well! They have started the weaning process and the babies are all very cuddly and friendly.
THE PROBLEM: There is one that I'm a little worried about, though... He is smaller than the rest (noticeably), and doesn't seem to eat as much. Is there anything I can do to fatten him up/help him grow?
Thank you for your videos - they guided me through the whole process! I couldn't've done it without you!
Miss C xox
This is how I also started with hand raising mice, as a class project with my kindergarten kids, but I just had one, not 12. How old are your kids ? You and they did an amazing job, the kids would have learned so much. As to the little runt, not much more you can do except to continue giving him the super care you have been giving him so far. Watch for dehydration, but otherwise hope he will catch up with his siblings once he is eating adult food. Don't forget to separate the girls from the boys once they are 4-5 weeks old.
CreekValleyCritters Really? That's fantastic! Glad to know I'm not the only one who is teaching the kids about these wonderful little guys :) We did a whole project on it and wrote an information book on mice. The effect of the mice experience on the students was amazing: I had kids who couldn't write a paragraph at the beginning of the year completing a full-on information report and, not only passing, but getting A's! (I'm not sure about America but in Australia a C is a pass, a B is above grade level and an A is wayyy above grade level, quite a big deal for one kid in particular who reads far below his age... He worked very hard).
Unfortunately the mouse in question (I called him Archie) stopped eating and drinking. I tried to hand feed him some formula and water, and when I got desperate I tried electrolytes, then tried electrolytes mixed with some milk, and he refused all of them... But he kept climbing into my hand and purring while he sat there, refusing to go back in with the other mice, so I think he knew he wasn't going to make it and just wanted some company. Bless him... He's in mousey heaven now.
The other mice are doing ok, except for one who is losing his fur! The others just look scruffy, none of them are losing fur, they're gaining it. All about 4 weeks old, except not very big... I'm hoping at 6 weeks they will have all gained some more "adult-ish" fur. All eating dry food, all drinking formula and gradually water too... Just worried about the fur loss.
Sorry to keep barging you with messages (and for this essay!) - if you don't have time to reply, I will understand :)
Tori Condo Sorry about the little runt. I had a little one like this once, she was so sweet, always wanting to sit in my hand, loved being petted despite not being hand raised, purred a lot even at an age when most mice have outgrown it, but she did not grow and stayed very small. She only lived a few weeks after I got her. Sometimes the little runts are just not destined to make it :(
As to the others they sound quite normal for hand raised baby mice, they will be scruffy, some will suffer from hair loss, they will be smaller than normal, but by the time they are two months old they will look just as big and healthy as mouse raised mice :)
Have they entered the hopper stage yet ? Like puppies, young mice go through a fear stage and a chewy stage (3 to 6 weeks of age). If you want to keep them tame, you have to be careful not to scare them during this time, especially with those who have extra nervous dispositions. You also have to be careful when you carry them, they jump randomly a lot at this age and can unexpectedly propel themselves out of your hand and hurt themselves in the fall. They will also start chewing on your fingers. But they learn fast, all you have to do is wriggle your fingers, say 'no' gently but firmly, and most will stop within a few days.
4 - 5 weeks old, time to separate the boys from the girls, otherwise you will soon have more mice than you can handle. Also time to stop feeding formula, except maybe as a treat, they are at the age where a mouse mother would have weaned them by now. What are you planning to do with them now ? Are you going to keep all 8 as classroom pets ? The females will be easy to keep all together, but males are more difficult to manage, you will have to watch for fighting and if there is any, be able to separate them. Males also have a much stronger odor than females. But the little boys are wonderful and I always keep at least one, although I have mine neutered which gets rid of undesirable male characteristics.
I am so glad the project went so well, something like this teaches kids so much more than what can come out of a book. They will never forget this experience, it will not only help them with reading and writing, but they will have learned a lot about life and be better people because of it. It is amazing what something really meaningful and engaging can do for kids :)
CreekValleyCritters Thank you again for your reply! Sounds like you were in a similar situation to mine with my runt. Yes, unfortunately they just aren't meant to make it... Mousey heaven needs some angels!
I'm gradually decreasing the supply of formula and increasing the supply of water and bigger food. Some are still chewing/suckling on the sides of the formula bowl and I don't feel like they're quite ready to go cold turkey yet.
In a couple of weeks I am going to adopt them out to families (some parents of my children have requested them) and I hope to keep two females, or one female and one male (neutered... the males have gorgeous personalities, so I'm tempted to keep one). I would also like to start trying to train them to do a couple of tricks :) I will assess the personalities of them once they are old enough... They're just so small, still.
They have passed the hopper stage now (only just!) and are much more coordinated. Their fur is still growing and they're very scruffy... I've just moved them to a bigger cage and they're having heaps of fun running around. I haven't encountered any nips yet. A couple of them love coming out and being held, thinking of keeping those two. It's very hard to tell what gender they are, though. I found a good website with some great instructions.
It's amazing what animals do to kids... They become gentler, calmer and think about their decisions. It has been wonderful sharing this with you and reading your advice!
Tori Condo Thanks for sharing your beautiful story with me :)
I ended up with 6 orphans. They were not pinkies as they had little fur and the eyes were not open but maybe 30% to half open. I tried using the brush and also a an IV which I had modified so as to make the plastic tube smaller. I amanged to get a couple of feeds every so often. They did not want to know about my milk brew(oat milk, soy milk, rice milk, and peanut butter with water to make it not so thick). So here is what I did. Mice are quite clean. They clean themselves like a cat quite often, so i found that when they started licking their left and right sides(near hind legs) I would put a drop of milk, and sure enough they would lick it up. I could barely sleep, thinking that the mice would die from starvation. After 2 days I placed some crushed oats in their bedding and found that they started nibbling it! Oh what a relief!!!
That's the same method I used for my mouse!! She would always groom her sides and hands, so I'd just wipe some formula on her and she'd lick it all off. Made sure to dry her so she didn't catch a chill and it worked!
Great idea. Ure so nice to do all that
I recently was given the opportunity to raise 4 baby mice that were approximately 9 days old at the time. (Unfortunately the runt of the litter passed away around 2 weeks old) With your and Matilda’s help I successfully raised 3 healthy baby boys and they’re almost 4 months old!! So on the behalf of Feisty, Ives, Roo and I, we’d like to say a big big thank you for all your help!!
Baby's name: "Barney" (found in barn). Small video on youtube soon, took footage today. She a very affectionate baby. Now owns real estate: terrarium (20 gallon) with proper metal lid because likes jumping straight up. How long does jumping go on? Last formula feeding is at midnight, then rest through the night. She has food/water in her abode at all times. Eating well, but still likes the brush. You became a godmother across the miles! Barney and I say thank you for your wisdom & guidance.
This is just so amazing. Im raising an orphaned mouse now that appears to be about 10 days old. His eyes just opened. Im introducing baby cereal and formula in the morning for breakfast. Thank you so much for making these. Its really been a huge help.
Nicole Hunter do you still have the mouse? If so how is he doing?
It is very difficuilt to find a suitably sized cage for mice at the pet store. This is one reason why I build all my own cages. If you buy from a pet store a large terrarium or a large small bird flight cage (bars no further apart than 1/4 inch) are the best, but they are expensive. I bought my big tank from a pet store half price because it was slightly damaged and they had used it. I then built a stand and a cat-proof lid for it.
We need more people like this in society. You are a genuinely nice person, even feeding Matilda every two hours. The series of videos are excellent. You deserve more subscribers! Thanks for the tips! You have some adorable little mice there.
I totally agree, what a lovely caring person this is :) heart warming to see them show such care and kindness to this cute little mouse and her family. I have so much respect for such people.
Na they need to get stomped
Hc 437 This is the most retarded comment Ive ever seen
Kindness to rodents isn't a virtue.
so adorable i just died from a cuteness overdose
Was raising two abandoned baby mice. One didn’t make it so I’ve been feeding every single hour panicked. Cupcake is now 10 days old but still looks 6-7 days old. I want him to make it more than anything 🖤 I hope I check back here in a year and still have my lil best bud with me
This is why I have not sold my horse, although I no longer ride or have the means to care for her. I have seen where horses end up and never want her there. I got her as a weanling, gave her a great attitude to riding and going places,made sure she got the best training I could afford, just in case I needed to place her somewhere if I could no longer keep her. So now I free lease her to people I trust. This way she gets the best care, gets used and I always know where she is and that she is O.K.
you must be sooooo tired but u know it will be worth it to see a little life running and living happily and its all worth it
Just like parenting but in a whole new ball game with mice not human children just as fun nerve recking sleepless nights worrys pain in the rear at times with them but in the end it's all worth it to see them blossom into a beautiful adults they become🙄💛human beings and animals alike🙄💛🐟🐿🐹🐭🐶🐺
If you are just giving him water right now, then he will not have any poop to poop, but should be peeing. What formula are you feeding him ? Is his tummy bloated looking ? Or is he very skinny and wrinkly. You may want to get some electrolytes for babies.
I want to thank you so much for posting these videos. I have commented a few times before while facing the challenges of taking care of my baby deer mouse, and you replied so willingly. My boyfriend and I found her when she was about 6 or 7 days old. She is around a month old now, and she is growing normally! And healthy! She is apart of the family, and probably the most spoiled mouse ever! haha She loves her grapes, cheese, and sunflower seeds! I cannot thank you enough!
Are you a wildlife rehabilitator ? What formula do you feed them ? How do you feed them, syringe, eyedropper or paintbrush ? What is your success rate ? Do your baby mice go through a scruffy phase ? Do you have anything else to add to my series on raising baby mice ? I am curious since you seem way more experienced at raising baby mice than I am.........
Little Stuart...
Little Matilda...
THEY ARE SO SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!
Does your baby have any symptoms of dehydration ? Sometimes dehydration can lead to the bum becoming swollen and red, at least this is what happened to my kittens when they were dehydrated. As soon as they became hydrated again the swelling went away. Check out the video on dehydration in this video series.
CreekValleyCritters Thank you so much for the helpful information on raising a baby mouse. I rescued two baby mice that were destined to be snake food, or left for death (their mother was eaten). This was nine months ago, and I followed all of your information and advice to a T and they became healthy, happy adults. I love them to pieces, and they are so extremely loyal. Thanks so very much :) From a fellow Canadian!!
That is wonderful :) Nothing quite like a hand raised mouse.....
One more thing: what formula did you feed them, just curious.....
There really is nothing like a hand raised mouse. These two are my little buddies and have made me quite the mouse enthusiast!! I used the puppy milk formula (Esbilac) and it seemed to do them well :) my doe was really fussy with it, but that just made it a little more work for me is all. She still turned up happy and healthy at 27 grams.
I absolutely adore your videos and have watched them many times over. I am trying to figure out how to buy or build things like you do for my mice. Unfortunately I live in the GTA and all vets that I have asked charge upwards of 300 to neuter male mice. So my male lives alone :( but I play with him lots :)
How old is she ? Does she do it all the time in rhythm with her breathing or only at certain times like when you are picking her up ?
Sweet precious tiny life!!! My sister raised mice. They are such adorable babies!!!
A lot of people have success with kitten formula.....did you dilute it and if so how much ? Is she going through a scruffy stage ?
It is lovely to see how you genuinely care for these cute little animals and i love that :)
Just curious: did you water down his food or give it to him straight? Is he going through a scruffy stage?
I had a mouse in my kitchen and unknowingly I used a glue pad to catch him. Then I started reading how dangerous those were. I managed to get him loose with vegetable oil. He seems to be fine. He is very young. I have him in a box with toilet paper tubes and paper towels and 2 small lids, one with plain water and another with Rice Krispies with a little milk. I have another container with some cookie crumbs for him. I'm going to keep him. Thanks for sharing your video
Sounds like he is a little wild house mouse:) Wild mice live a lot longer than domesticated mice, you could have him for 2-5 years. Just curious, what formula did you feed him ?
You just might have saved the life of 4 very yound wild mice with this. They are too old to give formula but haven't figured out the lapping water properly part, yet... thanks so much for the crisp bread tip!!!
Sounds great. Are his eyes open ? How old is he now ? How long have you been feeding him my formula ? Just curious........
I found a baby mouse 8 days ago, and its eyes still aren't open (it was quite young when I found it). I'm SO RELIEVED that I'll be able to wean it soon and actually sleep through the night!
Did they all survive ? How young were they when you started hand raising them ? What formula did you feed them ? Why are rats easier, is it because they are larger and easier to handle ? Sorry for all these questions but I am curious.........
I found a mouse who was all alone, eyes still closed.
It's been 24 hours and now his eyes are open! He doesn't look dehydrated or anything!
Thank you so much for your videos. I can't thank you enough!
@MozartnMonroe I feed various weaning foods: crushed rodent block soaked in milk/formula/water, baby cerial mixed with water/milk/formula, crispbread soaked in water/milk/formula and crushed adult mouse food. I make sure they have a jam jar lid with water available, with a little bit of crispbread to help them learn how to drink. I give them greens, fruits and healthy table scraps as well. Weaning starts at around 2 weeks old and ends when they are eating just adult food at around 3 weeks old.
It's people like you, +CreekValleyCritters that remind me people are doing good deeds in life for the benefit of another :)
You're amazing.
+WeirdTaylorGaming i couldnt have said it better
G Wooldrik :)
+WeirdTaylorGaming XD ;)
@MrWhenwherewhat The smaller tank I got from Total Pet in Quesnel, it was being sold as a reptile terrarium. The large tank I got from Total Pet in Prince George. I asked if they had a used/damaged one for a reduced price, so they evicted some hamsters from their display tank and sold it to me for half price. It was used and had a slightly damaged lid, I made a much better lid for it myself. I also made the stand myself, they are very expensive if you buy them.
Such great videos! Found a baby mouse about 1 week old on Aug 31. Spent the next 2 weeks feeding him every 2 hours. He is now doing very well. Using his wheel and eating a variety of food. I had no idea of what to do with him after finding him and your posts were so helpful.
How did you feed the mouse?
@leungclj There will be more videos on Stuart and Matilda, but they will be music videos, easier and more fun to make than educational videos. I have a ton of incredible footage of both of them, I will be making mousy videos for a long time to come, especially now that I have managed to teach clever little Mattie a few tricks :)
(Thank you! This is the only informational video I was able to find in a short amount of time! I wish there were more of these, but for now I'm just hoping this baby mouse will make it through the night.)
Just curious: what formula are you feeding them and how old were they when you started ?
I love you for loving them :)
@zoltexryzal Stuart's home is so big and there are only two mice, so I clean it about every two weeks. Now I clean even less because I give him and Mattie so much free run time in my studio, plus they have several playground areas outside the cage. I basically let my nose tell me when it is time for cleaning :)
OH,,if only I had these guides raising my little Yogi. Would have saved a lot of learning the hard way, at least I had a few pointers from a vet,lest Yogi may not have made it. Thanks for this wonderful tutorial.
@AnimalGuardian71 Try to get goats milk, it really is the best for baby mice. It will also need to be kept warm for another week, electric heater pads on the lowest setting are best for this. Since it is at weaning age and has lost its mother only very recently, it has a very high chance of survival :) Look at all the videos in my series 'Raising a Baby Mouse 1-10', they will tell you all I know about raising baby mice. If you have more questions as you go along, don't hesitate to ask :)
Loved your set up for them...luxury :) Lucky mice to have you as their owner ^_^
Is his bum area raw and red ? Sometimes it can get inflamed if you are not careful, a little Vaseline can help......Is he still fur-less with eyes closed ?
Update on "Lucky".My wife found (her) at work 3 months ago (May 20th). She is doing very well. We handle her each day, and she seems happy. We found Matilda's video;s very helpful.
@AuzzieJoey His terrarium is not what I mean by studio. My studio is a room in the barn where I do my art and keep my mice cages. He gets to run around that a few hours everyday, a ton of space and so a ton of exercise, although he does like to spend a significant portion of that time on my lap being petted :) All that activity does not make much difference to his waistline though, he gets fatter all the time. He is starting to look like a slightly flattened white cow patty, he is so fat lol :D
Where did you get all the equipment for the tank? I'm sure my mouse would love it but don't know where you buy stuff like that.
+Nightstar I make most of it myself, but some of it I find at dollar stores, dollshouse/miniature stores, craft stores, toy stores, pet stores and out in nature. This is what is so fun about mice, you can get very creative :)
+I hate you stampylonghead go to no.3
You are so sweet to take care of this little baby the way you do!
Thank you so much for the reply, I'm heartbroken as he passed away this morning :( he was doing so well until the 6am feeding I don't know what happened by 10am feeding he was gone
+Amber Kowalski Oh I am sorry. Sadly this is what often happens when one tries to hand raise baby mice, even if one has done everything right :(
just touching base to let you know that our little topo is alive and well, all thanks to your videos. he was a bit slow to wean completely and i doubt he'll ever be tame enough to train, but i'm def. his mommy. he climbs into my hand from his taj mahal of home-made cages, and rides on my shoulder when i walk around the house. we have a cat and two dogs, so he has a little ball for him to run around the house. it's very gratifying to watch him chase the cat.
I had one like that his name was Little Jack but he died this morning and I'm really sad.
Her behavior sounds healthy. You could dilute her formula 25% electrolytes and 75% formula.......A lot of raising baby mice is 'feel', this is why it is so tricky. There is not too much I can suggest so far away. Just keep on doing the best you can. It sounds like she really trusts you :)
Hello! I have seen the 10 parts of this video and I loved it. I have 4 mice: Berry, Padme, Mus and Paquito. I would like that you give me some tips on feeding, because I think Paquito is allergic. Thank you!
The best place to go with feeding questions (and anything else to do with mice) is the website 'The Fun Mouse'. What are your little mouse's symptoms of allergy ?
CreekValleyCritters
since november 2013, Paquito looked like he was wet, then his hair began to fall. A few days later, he started having yellow crusts in areas without hair. I went to the vet and the doctor told me to take away the creams because these damaging his skin, the doctor prescribed some vitamins (glicopan pet) and told me to change the feed (concentrate varied) and give him ratonina, because my mouse was poorly fed, and for that reason had lowered immunity. Paquito is from a litter of 8 mice, all mice ate the same thing, but Paquito was the only one that presented these problems. However, my baby was cured quickly. So what you think? Do you think he is allergic?
PD: thanks for giving me the link of the website! :)
Ana Lucía Pérez Rivas Is he better now ? What sort of cremes were you putting on him ? If he is better now, how are you keeping him different now than before ?
another thank you for these videos! we've been raising a baby field mouse found while blowing leaves (he was about 3 days old) and these have been a godsend. we started ours on kitten formula and when i realized his chances looked good, i made a batch of your formula and he LOVED it. am going to start him on cereal/crackers today. and will have to find him a decent cage this weekend. hope to find some cool decor like you have.
how old is stuart, then?
11 months old
CreekValleyCritters I see he is pretty bigger than Matilda, nice videos and work
Edison91 r😎
Are you keeping her outside or in the house with you. If you are keeping her in the house and the house is a good temperature for you then it will also be for her. She will need the additional heat for only a week or two more, then a nest with warm nesting material will be enough if she is in the house with you. You will soon need to decide if you want to release her or keep her as a pet. Is she a field type mouse or a wild house mouse ?
Do you find good homes for all your baby mice ? Do you ever ship live mice to good homes ?
If its eyes have been open for four days already it is past time for it to be weaned. You need to follow my video on weaning exactly and make sure it has water and food available at all times. Only feed it with an eyedropper if it is not eating on its own. Usually once they are eating on their own they no longer want to feed from the eyedropper and then are fully weaned. This usually only takes a day or so.Once it is eating and drinking on its own it can regulate its liquid intake and rehydrate.
@pedelpopper It depends on the vet, I have spent between $40 and $110 for mouse neutering...........some city vets will charge more........
I spent my whole life trying to rid my properties if mice.
Today my kids found an orphaned baby mouse...I guessed 2 days old, but by your video, probably more like 9 days old.
Now I'm a mouse-Dad too...thank you for all the support.
I learned a ton!
@peugene10 Have you seen my video 'Cleaning Stuart's Cage' ? It shows how I clean it and if you look in the comments section I describe in detail how I do it. It always comes out very clean.
This Sunday it’ll be two weeks till I can start giving this mouse I’m raising food for the first time. He’s going well to the toilet, drinking plenty and trusting me more. He came into our work as I work at a vets. I offered to do this for him and it’s very rewarding! It’ll be sad when I let him free into the Wild, but I know a happy country field with many other mice for him to go to. Thank you for your videos.
My wild baby house mouse, now 7 weeks old, found at 7 days old, eyes closed, took a while to want to wean, liked millet seeds/ mouse nuggets from pet store. I followed all directions from Creek Valley Critters, but used soft paint brush instead of Q-tip to stroke/stimulate tummy after ea feeding: 2 hours apart for 8 days, often took 10 minutes to get her to pee/poop. She is one special affectionate sweetie. Many people don't know how wonderfull a mouse can be, but you have to give it your time.
So I inherited 5 baby mice that were about at the 6-7 day mark last week. We followed the brush feeding tips in your vids and now have thembweening on to the baby cereal and bread. Thanks for posting! Helped us save 5 little lives
Day 7.Just finished a normal feeding where she took the formula off the regular brush balancing on my fingers/hand, reaching for the brush with big eyes, during frequent breaks setting new speed records in her exercise tub. Now in her bed roll made of polar fleece, in reach of finely sliced lettuce, watered cracker, millet, crushed sunflower seeds, water, in an array of the smallest bottle caps I could find. Thanks again for being available in this first crisis. Got through it with your support.
That formula sounds good, where did you find the recepe ?
@anna12345cats2 'The Fun Mouse' website has an great section on taming mice. Once they are no longer afraid of you, you need to set up a fun mousy playground outside of their cage. Once they learn that you mean they get to go there, they will be very pleased to see you and happily climb onto your hand to be taken there. When they are taking food from your hand and climbing onto you happily, you can start thinking of training them to do tricks, this will make them really bond to you :)
He is very sweet, calm and trusting. He loves being held and never tries to jump or run away. I don't think he's entered the hopping stage yet, but he loves his new habitat and climbs the wire, explores his tunnel and uses his wheel (and he hasn't even had his new cage/tank for a full day). He's a quick learner and I feel very intelligent. I love him to bits, but I do miss the hand feedings/babying him. I guess the little guy is all grown up and I couldn't be prouder. Thanks for your help :)
Once they are 4-5 weeks old they are old enough to breed, this is when you must separate the males from the females. Initially keep the males together, but if you see any fighting then they must be separated and live alone. With field mice sexing can be a little more difficult, compare the mice to each other to see the difference.
This is one reason why I enjoy mice so much, they are the perfect pet for the creative, artistic person :)
@ThePittieluver If you get a baby mouse over a week old (fuzzy 7-8 days old) you are much more likely to be successful. Things to keep in mind: only get a baby destined for snake food, only get one if you have the following: money $100-$200 to set up for a baby mouse and the adult later, time as you will need at least a week off school/work, good fine motor skills so you can hold the baby and not crush it, commitment to do the research, see the project to the finish and care for an adult mouse.
@peugene10 I have, see my video 'Cleaning Stuart's Cage'. It has more detailed instructions in the comments section underneith.
Thank you so much for sharing Matilda's journey (and yours and Stuart's) through the first days of her life. You're my hero. Those little critters are very lucky to have found such a kind man such as yourself. I nearly cried at all the cuteness. :)
thank you so much for your help...i have raised my orphaned baby rat(meezu) of 4 days old very well by watching ur vedio...this helped me alot in solving litte little problems facedown during raised my little meezu🐀...thnks alot...now my meezu is 3 mnths old healthy beautiful active nd happy too...we both love each other alot...while seeing ur vedio of matilda i alwz dreamt of when my meezu will be like matilda...so thank u for helping me through ur vedios in raising my meezu...
this comment is dedicated to my meezu🐀 coz i love my meezu alot ...
@topcatex Once their eyes are open and they are eating on their own, you no longer have to worry about helping them to pee and poop.
@MegF142857 If you get a baby whose eyes have just opened, it depends very much on its personality how tame it will get. I have heard of people getting baby mice at that age or a bit older, spending tons of time with them and having them become super tame. But then I have also heard of people getting baby mice just before their eyes opened at 11 days old and they do not become tame at all. Good mice breeders breed for temperament and socialize their baby mice, their mice are often very tame.
Water is good, it will keep him hydrated. But you must buy him goats milk or kitten/puppy formula as soon as you can, otherwise he will die for sure. It is very difficult raising a baby mouse. Watch all my videos in the series 'Raising a baby Mouse 1-10' and follow the instructions the best you can. If he lives you will have one of the best pets ever, but it is a lot of hard work and little sleep. The only other option is to return him to the pet store where a mom mouse can take care of him.
@ITG2Kay How is little Gadget doing ? I am so glad you were successful with her. A lot of people who contact me for advice on raising baby mice fail. I feel so bad, they love their little guys so much and then they die. Sometimes I wonder if it is a good thing for me to make these videos, they may make things look a little too easy, it takes a lot of skill and luck to successfully raise a baby mouse............
@alexisu8 Goats milk is by far the best thing to feed baby mice, try to get some if you can. Baby mice also need to be kept warm and clean. Electric heater pads work best for this, but you can also improvise something. A soft cloth, tissue paper or anything else soft, fluffy, warm, dust free and clean makes the best nest for baby mice. You should look at my whole video series on how to raise a baby mouse, it will tell you all I know. Good luck with the little one........
@sianheaven I suspect the white spot on his chest is either hair coming in or it may be milk in his stomach showing through his skin. It also could be dandruff which is very common in handraised baby mice as their fur starts to grow in. They are ready for weaning once their eyes open at around two weeks old.......
1 week ago today my daughter found a baby mouse or rat next to its dead mother, I have been hand rearing since she opened her eyes Sunday just gone and is so energetic eating brilliantly and growing well. I’m so happy she’s survived and is lapping formula up herself and starting to nibble on other bits too. I think she’s part of the family now because I’ve become very attracted to her. Her name is now mini mouse 🙂 she knows my voice and shoots around like a little rocket. X
Most mice,once they have grown out of the baby stage, are fairly clean, they tend to only go in corners. Only un-neutered males pee on everything. I put Yesterday's News kitty litter in the corners. This way the cage stays clean and smells good for about a week. Cleaning is easy, just take out the fleece, put into washing machine, replace with a fresh, clean one and put in new Yesterday's News kitty litter. Much cheaper, easier, looks nice and the mice love it, it feels good to mousy feet :)
@FalconFlightWarrior They came from different breeders but from the same original stock, so they are distantly related.
I found a baby deer mouse yesterday, and I have been caring for her. The only problems I'm having are trying to figure out how old she is. she has hair, but her eyes aren't yet open but I do see tiny little teeth in her mouth and I can already see her little rows of teats, but she doesn't seem to be ready to eat solid food yet. can you help me determine how old she is and how long til I can start weaning her? I also have trouble making her eat. takes about 30 minutes to get her to suck on the brush three times. Is she okay? maybe she's just a really fussy baby? I give her pre-mixed liquid kitten formula mixed with equal amount of water. She seems to like it when she latches on, but she is SO squirmy and fussy for the first 20 mins trying to feed her! Also, she hasn't pooed yet since I've had her, but she has peed several times (in my hand lol) I have been doing the belly and butt rubs but all I get is pee. Her stomach isn't tight at all though, so I don't think it's bloat, but I don't know. This is my first time raising a baby mouse. Please help :)
Wild mice take a little longer to mature than domesticated mice. My guess is that she is 10 to 14 days old. You start weaning them once their eyes open, which should be any day now. They are usually reluctant to eat in the first day or so that you have them, they have to learn how. Kitten formula is great as long as it is mixed with 2x the recommended amount of water. You could mix a little corn syrup or honey in it to make it a little sweet, fussy babies often will feed better once you do this. She should start pooping once she is eating well.
Thank you SO much!!!!!! I've been worried to death about her. But she's certainly full of energy and squirmy as a little worm, and I just saw her in her little cage (I put a square bottle of warm water in with her that she cuddles up to) and she was grooming herself for a good 30 seconds, so I think that's a good sign. Yeah I made a new small batch of formula and added more water to protect against constipation. I sure do hope she opens her eyes soon, I am dead tired from night feeding and it's only been one night! lol. Thanks again for your quick reply!
I am your enthusiastic supporter/client on "everything mousy", could extend to being a children's book/cd supporting kids on how to be a human being in the realm of our connectedness that makes all life precious. Lost my 29 year old Arab, Karti, this past April, found my little mouse in his barn, a tiny messenger and I believe no accident. Thank you for the largess of your heart.
Today my co-workers and I caught five baby mice at the garden center where we work. We think their mother is the mouse we found deceased yesterday. I have them at home now and am following your guidelines. You'll be glad to hear they are doing well and I plan to keep them as pets. It helped that their eyes were already open and they know how to eat. :-)
This is adorable and SO AMAZING how you did all this work for mice to live. Matilda and Stuart are so cutee
@brownowhitecat I would say a mouse is fully grown at around three months old..........but they can start breeding at a month old.
Do you have food and water out for her all the time in her cage ? If so then she is eating and drinking when you are not looking and is fine. If not then put some out for her right away and monitor her. As long as she appears active and healthy, is pooping and peeing then she is fine.
The rest of the comment: Deer Mouse Ranch is a real good source for info and many thanks to both you guys and them ! We are prepared to keep these mice if they seem to be domesticated too much, but the original plan was to release them. I've rehabbed many species and it's always a big help to hear what other have done in case my 'tricks' don't work on one that I have. Your formula was a BIG help ! Many many thanks - that alone probably saved all 4 the first week of life with us. Kudos !
If he is a wild mouse, they can take longer to wean. It is important to 'read' him to know what to do, every mouse is different. Keep on offering him weaning food, encourage him to eat it by offering it to him on a paint brush. Continue with 3-4 hour feedings for as long as he is interested. Eventually one day he will become weaned, they all do.
She sounds like a healthy little mouse with a high energy level, like Mattie. These mice are often extra loud when they are babies. Does she purr as well ?
@AuzzieJoey I am lucky to have a studio that is safe for my mice. I set it up so it has lots of fun things to climb on and explore. Stuart has fun and gets his exercise at the same time. If I did not have the studio I think he would sleep all the time, he is only active if he sees a point in being so. Very different from Matilda who literally bounces off the walls, she has so much energy :)
@MegF142857 When I got Matilda I actually wanted an older baby, 7 or 8 days old, but all they had were pinkies. I did not want to do that hour and a half long drive to the breeder all over again, so I got her as a four day old. It turned out to be good since I wanted to make an educational series on how to raise a baby mouse, a pinky was much better for that. But next time I am starting with a 7 or 8 day old fuzzy, much less work and stress :)
@peugene10 It is work but I don't find it very difficult. The bedding can get expensive though, luckily I only have to clean it every two or three weeks.............
Thanks so much for being here and making these videos! My boyfriend and I have been raising 2 baby field mice. We've had them about 1.5 weeks and they are now 2.5 weeks and we are trying to wean then but having trouble with one! Thank you so much for this help!