anti-rodent farm petition

[LoveForLizards]

Originally Posted by LisaLQ

Whoohoo - I'd rather breed for one year well than for 25 years poorly.

[SilverSteno]

Originally Posted by KathyM

It's as much the regular snake owner's responsibility as anyone else's to ensure they source their pet's food ethically. If it's important to them that is, and that's entirely their choice.

Are there any ethical sources of feeder mice? I'm genuinely interested. I only have one snake so it would be uneconomic (and I have no space) to breed my own feeders, so if there are any good sources of mice that aren't kept in those conditions I would like to know so at least I have a choice. If it is a more localised thing, somewhere in Angus or Aberdeenshire would be the area I'd need (possibly parts of Perthshire and Fife too).

[KathyM]

If you look in my profile and search my threads, there's an old thread on the feeding board that I posted about this, that might be a help. Best of luck whatever you decide, it's a difficult situation for many people, there is a real niche in the market for decent quality and well kept mice for feeding, but I think I should leave the feeder discussion there as it can be quite upsetting for some on this particular section and I wouldn't want to go too far down that route when there's a feeder board to natter on. xx

[sarahc]

Originally Posted by SilverSteno

Are there any ethical sources of feeder mice? I'm genuinely interested. I only have one snake so it would be uneconomic (and I have no space) to breed my own feeders, so if there are any good sources of mice that aren't kept in those conditions I would like to know .

I breed mine for show and feed them a high quality diet and they have the best bedding available and room to do what mice like doing, no toys sorry.I along with most other mouse fanciers cull the ones that don't make the grade.They all go as frozen reptile food.I don't think I could bring myself to cull them otherwise.It also helps to offset the £30 it costs to keep them each week.The frozen chick man collects all mine every couple of months.I'm not close to you otherwise you would have been welcome,they live off the fat of the land.

[SilverSteno]

Originally Posted by KathyM

If you look in my profile and search my threads, there's an old thread on the feeding board that I posted about this, that might be a help. Best of luck whatever you decide, it's a difficult situation for many people, there is a real niche in the market for decent quality and well kept mice for feeding, but I think I should leave the feeder discussion there as it can be quite upsetting for some on this particular section and I wouldn't want to go too far down that route when there's a feeder board to natter on. xx

Thanks for that, a few people have mentioned feeder mice on here already and there was no mention of a good source and I think this is important as letting people know if there is a choice. As it stands, looks as if there isn't much out there!

[SilverSteno]

Originally Posted by sarahc

I breed mine for show and feed them a high quality diet and they have the best bedding available and room to do what mice like doing, no toys sorry.I along with most other mouse fanciers cull the ones that don't make the grade.They all go as frozen reptile food.I don't think I could bring myself to cull them otherwise.It also helps to offset the £30 it costs to keep them each week.The frozen chick man collects all mine every couple of months.I'm not close to you otherwise you would have been welcome,they live off the fat of the land.

Isn't that always the way, people always seem to be so far away from me!

[KathyM]

I was advised to get onto the fancy mice breeding forums and get mine off people on there. Don't know if that would be any use to you.

[Zoo-Man]

Originally Posted by mattm

I don't see what is so special about that, it is now the law that details of name/address etc should be taken upon the sale of any live animal through a commercial establishment.

Not necessarily, that might be good from your point of view but what does s/he do with them when they get them back?

I don't like rodent farms but I won't sign the petition for many reasons, partly because I think it will be ineffective and secondly because as a reptile owner, I can sympathize with those that need to obtain frozen rodents easily (although I personally do not use rodent farm bred rodents for my reptiles).

Out of interest Zoo-Man, what % of your breeders are active members of a breed/club authority?? I am not saying that only good breeders are members of such clubs, I am just genuinely interested. A lot of people within these circuits would not admit to selling to pet shops yet they very much do!

The breeders that take back animals will either keep them on or rehome them.

I'm not sure about what percentage of the breeders are members of a club, & I do not ask, as it has little or nothing to do with producing good quality animals. I do know that our main rabbit breeder is a member of rabbits clubs & is well known in showing circles, as he is a top breeder & shower.

[Zoo-Man]

Originally Posted by LisaLQ

So does your breeder/Arthur check up on their health and temperament throughout their lives, and make breeding decisions based on that?

Fair enough you might be able to get in touch with him - which is one step better than a rodent farm, but still not ideal if he's not prepared to chase people up himself.

He could be breeding rats riddled with cancer and temperament problems and not know a thing unless the owners complained. And if they dont get his details given out as standard, that's unlikely. But then - it's good business for the pet shops, right, as they'll come back and buy some more!

Fair dos, his animals might be nice to look at, but do you know the long term health of all of the ones you've sold for him? Does he? How about behavioural problems? Has he made breeding choices based on feedback from owners? Does he have a contract which states all animals must come back to him if circumstances change and they need rehoming? What age does he bring them in, are they kept in mixed sexes, have there ever been any accidents leading to males and females being in together and sold possibly pregnant?

Arthur will happily tell me to give his number out to anyone needing help with their rabbit, even rabbits that haven't come from him. He has removed show rings from customer's rabbits, taken back rabbits that the customers say are aggressive, etc.

[Horatio]

Originally Posted by LisaLQ

I'd rather breed for one year well than for 25 years poorly.

Absolutely, totally agree.