Baby Deer Mice

[Asteria]

Hello everyone I am unsure as to where to post this as I can not find any deer mice forums. A few days ago I found two baby deer mice on my porch. I tried to leave them in a box to see if mom would come back and she did not so I took them in. Now their eyes are open and they seem to be doing good! However I have a question they are starting to wean and eat on their own today so would I be able to not do night time feedings or should I do every 4-5 hours through the night? And should I keep the three hour feeding schedule or go longer? I had seen ti not do night feedings but I am unsure. They seem pretty healthy and active and today they seemed less interested in their formula from a syringe. They could take a little then stop. This could be because they are baby cereal before hand and just didn’t want the formula but I worry about them and truly want them to live.

[TubeDriver]

Thanks for rescuing them. Can you get a weight on them using a kitchen scale? What formula are you using? You can continue to offer warm formula but you can also start to make solid foods available. Don't stop offering formula, let them wean themselves when they are ready. Are they pooping and peeing regularly? Keep them warm. If their eyes are open and they are starting to nibble on solids, you can offer formula late in the evening, once during the night and also make solid food available during the night. Then offer formula again early in the morning. They will gradually wean themselves off formula in the next week or so. They grow up so quickly. They will soon be running around so make sure you have a secure cage to keep them safe.

[Asteria]

The smaller ones weighs 7.1 grams and the bigger one is 8.2 grams. I am using esbilac puppy milk formula. I am still offering formula in a syringe but they don’t really seem to want it as much. Sometimes they will and sometimes they don’t. I did see one drinking on his own from a small dish I placed formula in so it seems they are drinking and eating on their own. They are pooping and peeing regularly I’m still trying to stimulate them but they are starting to get mad when I do. They seem to be able to go but I usually need to help them clean up a bit or go all the way. For solid food I have some baby food and the baby cereal would that be okay? Right now they eat the baby cereal but I’m unsure when to start on the other baby food. I ordered a new lid for a 20 gallon tank I have and it should be chew proof from what I was told by another person who rescues mice. To be honest I’m unsure if I can release these two. I don't have an area I can do so and have them in a pre release cage. I’m unsure too since I worry about them imprinting.

[TubeDriver]

You are doing fine! Keep offering formula and make it available in a little dish as well. You should get some quality rodent block like Henrys or Teklad. The good news is that a bag of Teklad or Henries lasts a LONG time, in fact you should probably freeze some of it to make it last longer. Make sure you have two females or two males as they can start breeding very early. Two females would be better, sometimes two males will fight. You can release if you have a good area, but they make great little pets too.