Ok, so I have mouse babies and I was wondering, how old do they have to be before you can clean their cage?

Question

So I have baby mice and they are 8 days old. Their cage really stinks and I want to clean it but I'm worried that if you clean the cage when they're too young, the mother will abandon them. And also, I have guests coming this Thursday so I would REALLY like to clean the cage tomorrow but like I said, I'm worried. Please help!

So I have baby mice and they are 8 days old. Their cage really stinks and I want to clean it but I'm worried that if you clean the cage when they're too young, the mother will abandon them. And also, I have guests coming this Thursday so I would REALLY like to clean the cage tomorrow but like I said, I'm worried. Please help!


Another thing, I was wondering if maybe I could put the nest and all with the babies and the mother in a small cage while I quickly clean the cage and then put them back right after that? Or would that still make her abandon them? Let me know.

Answer 1

You can change the bedding EXCEPT the nest, just take the mother out first. Put her in a different room, and when you put her back she'll never know the difference. I actually take my mothers out for a little while every day once the babies are between 3 and 5 days old, so the babies can get used to being handled. Most other breeders I know use this approach as well.

Answer 2

The general rule is not to disturb the cage for about 2-3 weeks. If you really have to clean the cage, you should not handle the babies with your bare hands or that will leave a scent on them. The mother might abandon or even eat them if she feels threatened. Try using a spoon or something. Keep a little bit of the bedding from the old batch and mix it in with the new litter. I did this with my hamsters after the first week of birth and everything was fine.

Answer 3

What i can suggest is clear partial of the cage area (all except for the nesting area). What I usually do is scope out the area other than the nesting area and replace them with fresh bedding. Fresh bedding is good for both the mother and babies as soiled bedding left too long will cause them to be sick.

I not sure when babies mouse are wane, but base on hamster record it is about 14 days.

Hope my information is useful

Answer 4

ok mice and hamsters are about the same with babies, mice have more than hamsters most of the time. I am a hamster breeder in my experience i have cleaned around the nest and the mom. And if it helps wear rubber gloves so you dont get your sent in the cage incase you happen to get to close to the nest. it works for my guys but they let me poke around and look in the nest and they dont abandon them BUT EVERY CRITTER IS DIFFERENT. hope i helped some.

Answer 5

if they have fur and their eyes are open it shouldn't be a problem but it really depends on the mother. some of my mother mice when i was breeding would let me change the cage the day that they were born and others not until the babies were running around. it should be fine as long as you don't touch them if they don't have fur as long as you scoop them up with the bedding underneath them. it's been so long since i've bred that i don't quite remember if they have fur at eight days old.

Answer 6

Can you clean around the mother and nest. That way you can get smell out through new cedar shaving. The new cedar shaving will help with the smell.

Answer 7

watch and see.''