|
|
Post by katt on Feb 15, 2011 6:12:34 GMT -5
Ok so these are breeder mice, but they are so cute.  I make sure to treat my mice well until they become dinner, and my breeders have to make a pretty big mistake to become dinner. lol I have one breeder I might be rehoming as a pet soon actually. She is on vacation - pending retirement. Anyways I needed to refresh my breeding stock soo.... Left: Brown Mitt Female, Right: Bessie (not her permanent name, just what I decided to call her for the night lol my mice names tend to change a lot)   Lilly My new favorite, no eye infection she was just blinking haha   Mitts, Lilly, and the Merle is my Male I call Stripe (from Gremlins...blame Shane for the name haha)  Stripe (I originally named him Bugle I like that better lol but Stripe stuck)  Is there something wrong with him? I am not sure I have noticed this before...    Mitt's interesting stomach  |
|
|
|
Post by katt on Feb 15, 2011 6:18:41 GMT -5
|
|
|
|
Post by kainslie1 on Feb 15, 2011 10:50:37 GMT -5
You are a strong person!! I wouldn't beable to hold, or name mice if I started breeding them! I would get attached and would then have about 60 little pet mice!!
They are all super cute =] I love mitts =]
|
|
|
|
Post by Sherry on Feb 15, 2011 11:12:03 GMT -5
They are cute! And I understand about wanting to rehome the retired breeders. I was raised with a clear definition that farm animals whom you've not only bottle fed as babies, but named and looked after would become dinner at some later point. One of the things about growing up on a farm  |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2011 16:30:08 GMT -5
Aww so cute. I love Lilly and Stripe.
I'm getting stuff together to start some mice breeding. I bought live mice for Seth and turned out he didn't want them all so I have two still. This is my first try at sexing mice but I think they are both males.
What is in that pan that Stripe is in? It kind of looks like egg? I'd like to learn more stuff to feed mine when I really get things going.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2011 21:51:56 GMT -5
They are CUTE. ;D
The pics of Stripe in the pan are awesome ;D
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 15, 2011 23:06:31 GMT -5
OMG these are so cute I could die. I want them. Not one. Not two. I WANT THEM ALL!!!!!!!  They're so cute!  Btw, what do you mean is something wrong with him? I looked at the genital photo and I saw nothing amiss. The discoloration in the fur around there? Probably just a patchy spot of a different color, if that's what you meant. Happens. P.S. I can't tell but it kind of looks like you're picking one or two up by the tail in those pics. Mice really hate that and some will nibble you for it because it hurts/is scary so if you absolutely have to get a look at their undersides the best way is to hold the front of their bodies while grasping the base - base part almost to their body - of their tail, it's a lot less terrifying and not painful as opposed to grasping the middle part of the tail or tip. Or even better, put them on a glass surface!  Anyway, just in case. ^_^ |
|
|
|
Post by acodlin on Feb 15, 2011 23:43:55 GMT -5
I just evicted two mice out of my kitchen this week via humane trap, they live down the street at my neighbors house now  Don't you find it hard to raise them and then watch them die? I'm such a softie =/ even if it is just a mouse... thats why I couldnt kill the two I caught. I think if I had to visit a slaughter house I'd never eat meat again.. Your mice are awful cute, especially lilly. I love the next to last pic with the one peeking in from the side! |
|
|
|
Post by tinytippytoes on Feb 16, 2011 6:32:22 GMT -5
Hmmm I dont understand how you could name them say they are cuties(which they are) and then use them for food. Me Id go quietly about it. I understand other animals need to eat....I just wouldnt brag about it. Im sorry if i sound harsh but it does bother me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2011 9:09:10 GMT -5
Hmmm I dont understand how you could name them say they are cuties(which they are) and then use them for food. Me Id go quietly about it. I understand other animals need to eat....I just wouldnt brag about it. Im sorry if i sound harsh but it does bother me. Like Sherry said... you didn't grow up on a farm! Nothing like helping an animal to be born, nursing it and watching it grow, then turning it into food for your family to help you get over a whole lot of sentimentality. As long as the animal is treated properly throughout its life and at the moment of its death... I don't see how naming it matters. Sounds like these breeders likely won't be food anyway. I wish I had the space (or a mild enough climate) to start a colony! |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 16, 2011 10:28:37 GMT -5
Cute mice! Bet they will make super cute babies |
|
|
|
Post by katt on Feb 16, 2011 23:23:41 GMT -5
My breeders and my feeders are different. I want my breeders to be strong, fat, healthy and produce LOTS of fat babies. I sometimes name the breeders. If they become problematic, and start attacking other mice or gobbling up babies, then yes they become feeders. But otherwise, my breeders are treated as pets. Most (not all) of them have names, and I treat them well while they are alive. But, I do also have more of the "farm" mentality about mice. They get good lives while they are here, and then they meet a quick and humane end, or are rehomed. These mice will likely be rehomed when they are done being breeders. I have fed off retired breeders in the past, but certain ones will be rehomed. For example I have one female now who I will either be keeping as a pet or rehoming as a pet (haven't decided which yet) and unless these mice go nutso and start attacking other mice/gobbling babies like I said they will be rehomed as pets when I am done with them. I might keep Lilly, I really like her. I like mice, and I think they are cute, and fun. But I do not get attached to them the same way as with other animals. The few I do get attached to tend to stick around as pets. I had one male that I named Pip Squeak who was adorable. He was all black with a white tipped tail. I kept him for quite a while. He lived in my grower tank and was very good with all mice. He had no issues with other males, and was very good with the babies I would put in (weanlings). At one point I had to temporarily put my breeder male into the tank until I could clear another thank for him and he got attacked. The bites got infected and were not healing and I didn't want him to suffer.  So I fed him off. It was that or kill him in a less humane way, or let him suffer and die of infection. Typically though, if a mouse is named it is not eaten unless one of the reasons mentioned comes up. These mice will be bred to their potential, and when they get tired of breeding will become someone's pet. I give them good lives, and quick painless ends if needs be. Otherwise, all of their babies are the ones that become feeders. And yes I ooo and aahhh over how cute they are, but they are not named (unless I need something to refer to them as in talking about them, either for rehoming, considering potential future breeders, health issues, etc then they get some temporary name like Spot or The White One) and they become meals. And regardless, why NOT give an animal a name before it dies? It just shows respect for the little animal that is giving itself to feed the boys and allow them to be healthier. I often refer to them as "Brother Mouse" and thank them for feeding my ferrets. It is silly I know, but I really appreciate the health that the feeder mice give my ferts (Koda does best with his IBD on whole prey) so I DO be sure to give them a good life while they are here. I hope I am not rambling too much.... PS Thanks for the advice Candice! I did not know any better! *hand slap* |
|
|
|
Post by katt on Feb 16, 2011 23:32:08 GMT -5
What is in that pan that Stripe is in? It kind of looks like egg? I'd like to learn more stuff to feed mine when I really get things going.It is scrambled egg, with some eggshell bits, and fresh zucchini scraps! They get eggs on occasion for protein, and some eggshell (esp the mommies) for the calcium. I make hommeade mouse food. Here i what I feed (not in any particular order just varied mixes of items from the list): wild bird seed mix oat meal dried beans dried peas split beas barley wheat wheat germ grains whole grain rice Lentils corn flakes cheerios shredded wheat dried fruit (not too much) occasional fresh fuits, veggies, and greens occasional scrambled egg occasional dog biscuit any other added variety of seeds and grains that you can find whole grain bread table scraps (also occasional and in small amounts) Oh and Candice said Wheat groats, and wheat berry - which I have never seen here You can also mix in a little alfalfa hay, which I can also not find. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2011 3:50:29 GMT -5
Haha, Katt. *high-five* Tinytippy, I can understand what you're saying here totally, I can't do feeder rodents because I'm a total rodent fanatic and would feel beastly since I have a connection with them - we interact, play, and show affection back and forth together. I find them to be a lot more intelligent than most believe. To some of the "getting rid of sentimentality through farm raising to eat" stuff, I'm a vegetarian. Which takes care of that and pats my sentimentality on the back right there. The way I see it, if someone wants to eat meat for themselves, it makes sense for them to have a hand in slaughtering or view commercially-raised animals' slaughter/living conditions to truly know where the food comes from, which for some people is an eye-opener and usually causes them to either be a veggie, or raise their own animals humanely for food after seeing what commercially-raised animals live like. (Anyone see Leap Year, where in Ireland the guy snaps the chicken's neck after holding it and Amy Adams right prior had said, "Awwww." Which turns into - "My chickens come from the freezer department!") Too funny. However, I do respect other people's choice to breed their own feeders. I just expect them to give those feeders the same amount of care - at least in the way of hygiene and truly PROPER nutrition, since that's what they're aiming for for their ferrets after all - as their other animals. At least they can have a better quality of life than the pet-shop feeders or rodent suppliers online get. Katt even lets her breeders retire to pet homes most of the time, which is very commendable in my eyes. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Feb 17, 2011 9:37:23 GMT -5
Being a vegetarian is a choice I find just as strange as some people think feeding a ferret a mouse is! Being anything but an omnivore is something I've always thought of as a luxury. Before I had ferrets, I had six rats over the years. They got homecooked food, a massive enclosure and trips to the vet, and I sobbed when every one of them left me... Katinka, Bianca, Laurentia, Ophelia, Marinka and Innocentia. Each one has a stone in my little pet cemetery. (For weeks after I saw Ratatouille, my husband had to keep reminding me we don't have room for rats again. on him) I understand why some are uneasy about feeding rodents. These days we can afford to view a small creature like a mouse with that sort of deference, and that's a good thing. I like the name Bessie... I know a mouse named Moo, but she looks more like Lily! I have a dream of naming all my nonexistent mice after fancy cheeses... |
|
