4 Baby Mice

[Lulu2010]

Four baby wild mice were found in a box (stowaways in box of store supplies that was delivered). The mom freaked out when they opened the box and she ran away. Not sure if they tried to reunite babies with mom or not. The four babies are an inch long not counting tail and eyes are open but probably just opened last night or so. They are active but have not been fed/watered in probably 12-14 hours. I just got them and have them on heat, what do I feed them? Do I still stimulate them? Any info is appreciated. Thanks.

[Nancy in New York]

Four baby wild mice were found in a box (stowaways in box of store supplies that was delivered). The mom freaked out when they opened the box and she ran away. Not sure if they tried to reunite babies with mom or not. The four babies are an inch long not counting tail and eyes are open but probably just opened last night or so. They are active but have not been fed/watered in probably 12-14 hours. I just got them and have them on heat, what do I feed them? Do I still stimulate them? Any info is appreciated. Thanks.
I am going to pm a member now, our mouse expert....BRB.

[Lulu2010]

Sorry was rushing but they are petsmart stowaways. I have rodent block, fox valley, and other rat/mouse foods. Wasnt sure where to start.

[CritterMom]

I am NOT an expert, I just seem to keep stumbling over baby mice. Just for the future, if you disturb a nest and scare mama, just leave the area for a bit - they come right back and get those babies out right away!

The ones I have raised ALL started to spit the nipple out and flatly refuse formula once their eyes opened. I would attempt to give hydration first.

The info I have found says they are lactose intolerant and the best thing to give them formula wise is soy based infant human formula like similac. That is what I have used. I would get the smallest container possible and try some of that, but like I said, you have a day or two of nursing left only based ONLY on my past experience.

Yes, stimulate with a q-tip or something teeny. They are hard to feed. Put your glasses on!

[Lulu2010]

I am NOT an expert, I just seem to keep stumbling over baby mice. Just for the future, if you disturb a nest and scare mama, just leave the area for a bit - they come right back and get those babies out right away!

The ones I have raised ALL started to spit the nipple out and flatly refuse formula once their eyes opened. I would attempt to give hydration first.

The info I have found says they are lactose intolerant and the best thing to give them formula wise is soy based infant human formula like similac. That is what I have used. I would get the smallest container possible and try some of that, but like I said, you have a day or two of nursing left only based ONLY on my past experience.

Yes, stimulate with a q-tip or something teeny. They are hard to feed. Put your glasses on!

Thanks. I have plenty of q-tips. LOL. I cannot find a tip small enough for them. I used to have tiny catheter (spell) tips that went on the syringes but it appears that my husband has accidently thrown them out. What else can I use. All of my syringes are currently 3 ccs. I need some ideas. Well I might have some unopened 1cc ones but I have to go see if I can find them. What can use as a tip?

[CritterMom]

I used the teeny silicone mothering nipples and lots of sweatring.

I saw a wonderful Youtube video that went viral a couple weeks ago - that included feeding shots of a baby bat. They stuck the tip of one of those little foam rubber eyeshadow applicators in its mouth and dripped the formula onto the foam applicator - his sucking pulled the formula right out of the foam rubber. This lit a light in my brain and I will try it if I stumble over another of these littles again. I mention it to you - it may be a good way to manage this. You could perhaps even try it with a qtip (a different one:rotfl ).

[pappy1264]

If their eyes are open, take a 2 ltr. bottle cap, put formula, mix in a little full fat yogurt to thicken a bit, they will find it and eat it. You can also crush up rodent block and put in with them, as well as small seed (parakeet and canary) and slow cooking oats. They will find the formula and eat it. I have raised many this way (with eyes already open) and actually it is less stressful on them, so you don't have to handle them (less risk of them jumping away....they can be very jumpy!)

[Lulu2010]

Thank you guys so much for the help. :thumbsup I was feeling a bit overwhelmed bc they are so tiny and very jumpy. Should I re-hydrate them before offering the yogurt formula mix and any other solids? Do I leave a shallow bowl of water in there with them or a water bottle or do I need to offer something separate?

[Lulu2010]

Oh and Pappy- Do you use the fox valley or do you use like a baby soy formula and do you mix dry powder formula in with the yogurt or do you do liquid formula and mix in yogurt? Just want to do this right. I know they are starving. :shakehead

[CritterMom]

I use a tiny ceramic dish filled with marbles - I pour the water in so it *just* covers the marbles and they can get water without shoving their whole snoot in and drowning. You can use clean pebbles the same way. They make it too heavy to tip as well.

[Lulu2010]

Ok. Did yogurt/formula in shallow ceramic dish, did rodent block in another dish soaked in warm water, waiting for rocks to be sterilized to do a small water dish, but they are not interested in food. One is already getting very inactive. Others go crazy if I try to touch them. I am afraid I am going to lose them. Could they just be afraid and will eat if the room is dark and quiet?

[pappy1264]

When they are small, I use the bottle caps for everything. I know they can drink and not drown! Make the formula 3/1 for them (fv). If they are active, they should be ok with the formula. The less you have to handle and thus, stress them at this age (and with four) the better. I am wintering over four of them myself that came here in the fall in a similar situation (mom took off) and they sound like they are probably the same age these little ones are.

[pappy1264]

Here is my post about them....

http://thesquirrelboard.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30477

[Lulu2010]

Thank you pappy! I believe they are the exact same mouse as yours. They are close in age based on first pics but mine are not wide-eyed in appearance yet. They have open eyes but it looks like they recently opened like maybe last night. Not sure, could be from lack of food and water. By the way, love the names! :)

[Lulu2010]

Ok. I am turning lights off for a bit in here while I finish some chores. I will peek at them before my homework time.

[pappy1264]

They are pretty nocturnal, but not when they are that small. You should get them a wheel now, they LOVE THEM! You're welcome, keep us posted. And thank you!

[Lulu2010]

I feel like the two smaller ones are getting less active. Their eyes even look droopy. I changed out the formula in the bottle lid and made it fresh. I even finally found one catheter thing to put on a 1cc syringe and tried to drop by drop feed a couple of them. It was very difficult and even after several minutes they only sampled it and then refused to eat any more. I have them on a heating pad and have multiple foods and a bowl of water with rocks. I am not sure if they are going to make it and I do not know what else I can do to help them. Please say prayers and if anyone has any advice to give me right now, I would really appreciate it. Thank you to everyone who has helped thus far.

[pappy1264]

Sending prayers out. Mice can be tricky, even when they seem to do good, they can crash suddenly.

[Lulu2010]

Thanks Pappy. Two chubby ones are doing great but two little runt ones are very inactive. I am going to call my exotic vet and see if they can raise them or tell me who can. I dont want them to die and I dont know what to do. :(

[pappy1264]

Will they take formula from a syringe? Maybe a day or two of extra help for them? Glad to hear two are doing well. I have lost some over the years and its hard. They are so precious and helpless, you can't help but love the little guys.

[sdreamcatcher]

Thank you guys so much for the help. :thumbsup I was feeling a bit overwhelmed bc they are so tiny and very jumpy. Should I re-hydrate them before offering the yogurt formula mix and any other solids? Do I leave a shallow bowl of water in there with them or a water bottle or do I need to offer something separate?


Lulu do you have pictures? Baby wilds are quite tiny but if they are already jumping about? You may be able to try solids. Mix fv formula with some baby cereal. They start eating solids around three weeks.... If you are worried about them being without food sugar water mixed in the cereal will work too. I find them occasionally on the floor or my cats get a hold of them; if they aren't injured they do pretty well. You have more then one and that will REALLY help; they are so social. Keep warm you can try a regular eyedropper, drop at a time. Tricky buggers.....

[sdreamcatcher]

Thanks Pappy. Two chubby ones are doing great but two little runt ones are very inactive. I am going to call my exotic vet and see if they can raise them or tell me who can. I dont want them to die and I dont know what to do. :(

Dangit yes they do crash fast. Try a tiny bit of sugar water even a drop or two may perk them up. Best of luck saying prayers for these guys.....:grouphug

[Lulu2010]

Thanks everyone for so much help. I have not been sble to be on because I am back and forth today with chores, school, home, and then work and my day is only 1/2 over. So they are still alive no better, no worse. I have been calling around and found a vet clinic/rehab facility that is willing and able to take them in. At least they are more experienced and have a doc on site. They rehab all vaieties of animals. Taking them in this afternoon. :)

[pappy1264]

Sending prayers with them. I hope they will all make it. Thank you for helping them.