momma mice aren't looking so good

Since we started our colony of 3 females and 1 male mice, the mothers have had 2 litters. The second liters were born about 2 weeks ago. For the past week the mothers have been looking like they've been through a war.

We separated the father planning on giving them a couple months' break, but I'm worried they may not make it. All 3 have ruffled fur and one is breathing heavily on a regular basis, and they look awfully bony but maybe it's just because I'm so used to seeing them fat and prego. They are all eating and have very strong appetites, all are drinking and still nursing the babies.

Two of them are probably pregnant with their 3rd litter because of when we pulled out the male.

What can we do to strengthen these mommas and improve their health?

They are great mothers and really work together to raise their babies. We really hate to lose them.

Do you know how old the mice are? Once they start aging, the rapid weightloss and 'bony' appearance generally means their becoming geriatric and close to 'retirement'

what sort of bedding are they on, I have two mice cages one is 3 females and 1 male and they breed really well but about a month back the male went right down hill with his breathing and went skinny and lost his condition, I took him out and put him on his own with shredded paper and he improved.

He is now back in with his girls but have changed them all to a very small layer of shavings and the rest is shredded paper they all seem to still like it as well and have no problems building nest with it as well.

I also breed mice...and I've noticed that you have to clean the cages religiously because ammonia will build up quickly in a dirty cage....especially something like an aquarium with poor ventilation.

What is their diet? Try feeding more protein and fat, dry kitten food is good, tuna, scrambled egg, cooked meat scraps. But if it's age there's not much you can do.

We keep a thin layer of wood pellets on the bottom and a heavy layer of shredded newspaper on half the tank for them to burrow in. We clean their tank once a week when babies first arrive and twice a week in between liters and once babies reach fuzzy stage. I empty everything and scrub with a mild bleach/water solution, rinse, and then let it air dry until there is no smell at all lingering before we put new stuff back in.

We got the mice just as they were coming into adulthood. We've only had them 3 months.

I've read so many threads where people said they breed 3-4 litters back to back and then pull the male and give them a break. I'm just shocked at how ragged these girls look after just 2 litters a piece, but they are producing approximately 14 babies each and then heaping all babies into one pile and taking turns nursing/sitting with them. Even the male took turns with the babies when he was in there. The babies have reached fuzzy stage now and all seem very active, the bigger ones are even starting to venture around the entrance of their hide box.

I just didn't know if maybe moms could use some type of vitamin supplement (and if so, what kind) or some other type of food to give them a boost. We've been feeding lab blocks I got at a reptile show. The woman I bought them from said they were rodentpro brand.

Yes mine love dry dog biscuits.

Once my babies are 3-4 weeks old then they are removed usually before she gives birth to another litter then they get a bit of a rest in between, I also have found that I put a empty jam jar in the cage as well with paper or shavings in and then they pee in that and you can remove it easily each day and clean that.

The lab blocks Im sure are good. Make sure they are available at all times. I use wire hoppers so they have to eat through the wire, preventing waste.

it sounds like they are ready to be retired, or have some sort of nutrient deficiency. with you saying they are only about 3 months old, they probably have about another 6 litters before they need retiring, but they may go more, or less.

personally i would do as you have done and pull the male out, i would give the females a very high protien diet, which is normally the case with lab blocks, but i would also give them some cooked meat, cooked egg, and i would give them some veg to give them a nutrient boost. if you have any of the suppliments we have in the UK, especially the ones made my vetarc, like avipro plus, and critical care forumula, i would add a scoop of that into their water bottle, as that will help them out a lot.

with my mice, i take the babies away from their mum at around 3.5 weeks, the mum then had about 1,5 weeks rest, which she is packed fully of protien and fat foods, so she is in the best conditon to raise another litter, i normally get about 12 litters from each female, and then i give them about 3 weeks rest, in a big cage, with lots of nutricious food (foods with nutrients that will benefit the snakes more) and then they are culled and fed. i would love to keep them all until they die naturally but that isnt possbile unfortunatly.

best of luck
lee

Young adult mice shouldn't be in that poor a condition after only 3 litters. Mine generally start to look geriatric after 15-18 months. If they're on a good diet it could just be that they are from stock that ages quicker.Personally I'd be reluctant to keep any of their offspring for future breeders.