Winterizing your Mice!

[madamwlf]

I have a dilemma. This is our first year breeding mice during the winter. They are housed in the basement in a breeding rack. Thing is, we have no idea how cold the basement is going to get during the winter. I know at a certain temp the mice will stop breeding and possibly die. So, how do I get my mice ready for winter?? I can I keep them warm when the basement is usually cool anyway. Thanks.

Jeannie

[madamwlf]

What???? No help from the ppl?????

[franklin]

Hi, I've had better luck breeding my mice in the winter than in the summer. They seem to like the cold weather. My garage gets down to about 50 degrees and they seem to do fine. It's the heat that stops mine from breeding.

Frank - California

[Krenna]

Same as Franks conditions, we have mice in a room that gets pretty chilly, and it has not effect breeding.

Good luck on your colony.

[c_win]

... it can be cold or hot, they just keep on humpin' :)

[Quigs]

I went to the local pet store, (not a chain store, but privatly owned) to get pinkie mice since mine arn't producing.

Sorry c_win, this above statement and the quote I copied, things just dont add up! :shrugs:


FWIW, I have not yet experienced a winter yet with my mice My curiosity is perked too, as we live in an old drafty house as well.

I have heard that most mice do produce better in conditions from approx 50-75 degrees. I'm quite postitive their room got warmer than that this summer. And has probably been below that already this fall.

So far all of mine seem to have very steady results, through the changes in weather. I guess I'll just have to see how they fare this winter. Of course I can always supplement the heat in that room if it drops way low!

Quigs

[c_win]

sorry... guess it does sound weird...
I have about 3 pairs of mice and like 30 babys.. so the pinkies don't last long..

[DAND]

The cooler it gets the more mice seem to reproduce. I guess it's their way of keeping warm. I've always had more mice produced in the cooler months.

Rats on the other hand do it without any consideration of temps.

[Sasheena]

The only problem is if it's TOO cold, then the pinkies freeze to death whilst the mice are off chowing down. It's getting down to the 50's here this week, so I've unplugged my air conditioner and I'll be plugging in my heater, with it set to go off if the temp is below 60 degrees.

[lockshockbarrel]

Strips of paper or cloth and nest boxes (You can use tissue or cereal boxes, or milk cartons, just about anything) will keep them nice and cozy.