Post by Deleted on Jun 8, 2016 20:37:38 GMT -5
I don't know what this type of breeding schedule is actually called, but it is suppose to work based off the idea that for these rodents, 12 is the magic number. So, 12 cages, 12 weeks.
I originally found this concept on a snake forum. Here is the original spreadsheet:
click here for full res
I redid this concept myself to make it better to follow :
click here for full res
As you can see, this 12 week plan requires 12 cages, 2 males, and at least 12 females (one per cage). of course, the more females per cage you have, the more the plan makes sense.
each cage experiences 2 weeks of breeding, followed by 2 weeks gestation, 4 weeks of weaning, and 4 weeks of break time. it is possible to use only 1 male by rotating him every week to the next cage. I do not recommend going as low as 1 male for this style of rotation because 7 days may nor be long enough to impregnate multiple females, and if he dies your whole production grinds to a halt until you can grow out a replacement.
why did I find such an elaborate breeding schedule so attractive? because male mice stink, and I live in an apartment. I do not want more than two living males at any given time under my roof.
the second reason is it guarantees a litter every week, which you can cull or grow out. we need all ages because our tarantula is on pinkies, the corn snakes are on fuzzies/hoppers, and the ferrets enjoy weanlings and adults.
production can be further maximized by taking meticulous record of the goings-on in each individual cage, a process made simple through my trusty Google Sheets app.
My own set-up is not at 100% yet, but that is only because I am building each cage myself from various plastic storage bins (don't have the means to build a good feeder rack). I have had mice for a couple years now, but it was a single large colony because I didn't need more than 2 pinkies a week. I have always kept my mice in various bins of different shapes and sizes and I haver never had any try to chew their way out. I would have to guess that it's because I always ensure they have cardboard tubes to chew on instead.
so basically this thread will serve to chronicle my little adventure in creating a feeder mouse breeding system good enough to produce the 50+ weekly mice I need. I will be starting a couple harem style rat colonies soon as well, to give my ferrets a third protein. (second being day old chicks ordered online).
I originally found this concept on a snake forum. Here is the original spreadsheet:
click here for full res
I redid this concept myself to make it better to follow :
click here for full res
As you can see, this 12 week plan requires 12 cages, 2 males, and at least 12 females (one per cage). of course, the more females per cage you have, the more the plan makes sense.
each cage experiences 2 weeks of breeding, followed by 2 weeks gestation, 4 weeks of weaning, and 4 weeks of break time. it is possible to use only 1 male by rotating him every week to the next cage. I do not recommend going as low as 1 male for this style of rotation because 7 days may nor be long enough to impregnate multiple females, and if he dies your whole production grinds to a halt until you can grow out a replacement.
why did I find such an elaborate breeding schedule so attractive? because male mice stink, and I live in an apartment. I do not want more than two living males at any given time under my roof.
the second reason is it guarantees a litter every week, which you can cull or grow out. we need all ages because our tarantula is on pinkies, the corn snakes are on fuzzies/hoppers, and the ferrets enjoy weanlings and adults.
production can be further maximized by taking meticulous record of the goings-on in each individual cage, a process made simple through my trusty Google Sheets app.
My own set-up is not at 100% yet, but that is only because I am building each cage myself from various plastic storage bins (don't have the means to build a good feeder rack). I have had mice for a couple years now, but it was a single large colony because I didn't need more than 2 pinkies a week. I have always kept my mice in various bins of different shapes and sizes and I haver never had any try to chew their way out. I would have to guess that it's because I always ensure they have cardboard tubes to chew on instead.
so basically this thread will serve to chronicle my little adventure in creating a feeder mouse breeding system good enough to produce the 50+ weekly mice I need. I will be starting a couple harem style rat colonies soon as well, to give my ferrets a third protein. (second being day old chicks ordered online).
