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Post by Deleted on Mar 24, 2016 8:09:40 GMT -5
Today I took 13 lives. I felt I needed to cut down my mice stock to around 3 Females and a male. I actually have another male for backup as well. But anyway, I culled a really wonderful breeder. Its never easy taking lives, but it's for another life(s). I also needed to cut back on mice. I prepare to stop mice soon. Or at least breed no more than 3 females. I also cull the males really early now. They make good treats as fuzzy / weaner stages and I can grow out the other females. I also now will be culling out all those with marks. I plan to breed solid colours so at least I don't get attached by any nice colours or patterns. Ive been so slack with updating this thread. I actually forget to record with photos once the mice are fully grown and culled. Anyway, What a day. I'm off to sleep.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Mar 24, 2016 9:11:18 GMT -5
So what is your feed? They really look healthy.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 25, 2016 8:23:21 GMT -5
Oh I forgot to answer the food question. I feed a mixture of foods. Lab block + Seed/grain mixture is a staple. All my rodents get fresh food daily. Veggies especially. Sometimes the odd fruit. Egg every few days. I share one egg scrambled between four tubs. They also get a few drops of echinacea in their water which helps with their immunity. I actually have been running low of rodent food so I threw in some Cheerios and a bran cereal, along with plenty of fresh food. Its funny. I actually have lots of scraps left over from human foods and alot is really chunky and good so I dice the left overs and share between tubs. They had sweet potato today along with beans, broccoli, carrot, cucumber, etc.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 30, 2016 0:31:47 GMT -5
Koko has had her second litter. Once again she takes me by surprise. She didn't get all that big until yesterday and it was yesterday that I suspected she was pregnant lol! I think she's had 9. I will try and get photos later. I feel a little sick today.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Mar 30, 2016 4:35:32 GMT -5
Sorry u not feeling well today.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 5:35:19 GMT -5
No longer breeding mice. I've culled the remainder of my mice colony.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Apr 5, 2016 6:50:02 GMT -5
Does your ferrets like the rats as well as the mice?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 5, 2016 10:13:24 GMT -5
Yep, My guys enjoy both.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 17, 2016 1:52:02 GMT -5
Culled some young ratties today for a fresh snack for the dumplings.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2016 12:49:35 GMT -5
Sometimes I find it incredibly difficult to breed wholeprey. Watching them from day 1# all the way until they become adults is such a treat. Every single life grows and shows their own personality and noticing this makes it pretty hard when you know it's almost time. Unfortunately I cannot keep them all. Beautiful colours, interesting quirks, amazing patterns, cuteness and wonders of life... makes it so difficult. I must though. I know it's a big responsibility and I cannot keep one from every single litter I breed, that only means less food for my dumplings and that I'd the sole reason as to why I breed, at least why I started. In future I may take up hobby breeding for pets, but for noe it is simply feeders. With the added plus of cuddles from my lovely breeder rats, and babies. Recently I had a family member ask for one. This made me angry because I do not breed for pets and certainly will not give away an animal. I cannot afford to do so, input so much money and time into them, and they are for food. I let my roommate have one, but I said no more. I have control.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 18, 2016 13:04:14 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Apr 20, 2016 10:58:56 GMT -5
Dispatched three little ones tonight. One was a runt who wasn't doing all well (losing muscle.)The rest are all growing out very well. Litter 1# almost ready. Ratty tea time earlier. This week they get a variety. Both mummas are on breaks until next month. 2 females who I am yet to really name are growing up nicely, soon they'll be ready for breeding. Whats on the menu for these furry little omnivores? Stir fried: mixed veg, egg, salmon, Brussels sprouts, cabbage and loooove.
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Post by abbeytheferret6 on Apr 22, 2016 16:51:32 GMT -5
Nice looking plate of food (3 dots is a cutie ).
Do you gut your rats for ferrets?
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2016 22:06:16 GMT -5
Nope, I leave everything in now. If they don't like something they can work at it to get it out themselves (I don't mind cleaning rofl )
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Post by Deleted on Apr 23, 2016 22:25:40 GMT -5
Today I had to do the hardest thing and cull my four big ratties from the first litter. 3 males and a female. The bigger they get, the harder it is to do cervical dislocation. I'm going to look into trying co2 for these guys in future. I have no issues with when they are young, but once they hit the 200g+ mark it's harder to get a clean and stress free cull. Unfortunately one ratty bit his tongue and began to bleed just as I snapped his neck. It really scared me because it's a first and I don't want them to be stressing out or feeling pain prior to dying. Ill be culling them at an easier weight just until I can get the co2 stuff sorted. I don't want that to ever happen again.
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