mice & rat breeding

[saxon]

Originally Posted by nuggett5

cool. dont they fight when you put a male in with the females?

I put the does in the males RUB.
I put the male in for a few days and then introduce the does. Sometimes there's a bit of 'shouting and balling' but no real fights.
I've heard of does killing a male though so it's something to consider when breeding.
Even though they are to be used as food whilst they are alive we have an obligation to look after them well!!!!!

[Uncle Les]

Going back to the killing thing, I read about the gads chambers and know some people just bash them against something hard. What is the general thought on freezing, I know a lot of people use this to euthanize ill reptiles and inverts (small ones at least) but what about killing mice?

[nuggett5]

Originally Posted by saxon

I put the does in the males RUB.
I put the male in for a few days and then introduce the does. Sometimes there's a bit of 'shouting and balling' but no real fights.
I've heard of does killing a male though so it's something to consider when breeding.
Even though they are to be used as food whilst they are alive we have an obligation to look after them well!!!!!

so you would need two/ three cages for one group of rats?

[saxon]

Originally Posted by nuggett5

so you would need two/ three cages for one group of rats?

For a trio I would use two cages.
I would keep the trio together until the two does were pregnant, when about 2 weeks pregnant I would take out the buck and put him in his own cage.
When the pups were 3-4 weeks old, almost weaned, I would put the does, one at a time, with the buck. This enabling the other doe to feed the two litters for 48hrs. I would then change the does over.
This would mean that when the pups were weaned at 4-5 weeks the does have a couple of weeks not feeding to recuperate for their next litter.
I also feed 'ad lib' all the time. This supposing you are breeding purely to feed!!!
I actually give my rat does 2/3 weeks from weaning before putting them with the buck again. I haven't culled any rats yet I have managed to sell them all as pets at £15 each.
Most feeder breeders leave the rats in together all the time but I've thought hard about this and have decided that I'd rather not back to back breed and give my rats at least half a decent life.

[saxon]

My last post, the one before last I mean, was referring to mice not rats I've never had a problem with the rats.

[Ssthisto]

Originally Posted by Mr T

Going back to the killing thing, I read about the gads chambers and know some people just bash them against something hard. What is the general thought on freezing, I know a lot of people use this to euthanize ill reptiles and inverts (small ones at least) but what about killing mice?

Freezing is absolutely inhumane for any rodent with fur - they can be alive hours to days later. Basically, they don't get hypothermia like humans do and lose all sensation - they are much more aware of the fact that they are suffering from frostbite.

[Uncle Les]

Thank you for replying well that's that option out then. At the moment I buy my feeders so please don't think that I freeze them, I am only looking at the options open for killing should I have to it seems there is no easy way.

[Ssthisto]

Carbon Dioxide euthanasia using a CO2 canister and a regulator (try welding supplies) is humane and pretty easy to get right first time, every time.

[Uncle Les]

Thanks again I will keep that in mind, I only have five snakes at the moment so not to many mouths to feed. If I end up with more it might be the cheaper feeding option.

[Issa]

I prefer spinal dislocation for dispatching my feeders. I nearly gassed myself the first time I tried CO2.