Colony rejecting their male???

OK... so I just started my first Colony a few weeks ago, my females are just starting to look plumper, well... some of em are. There are 4 females and 1 male.

Anyway, last night as I was about to go to bed, I stopped by the mouse cage to notice the male looking odd with a weird lump to the side of his mouth and a weird scabby lump on the top of his head that one of the females kept coming by and chewing on, he'd jump but wouldn't run away from her chewing on his head!

Did they do this to him? Yikes, I had no idea there'd be such drama in a mouse colony :grin01: :shrugs:

I would bet on it some times they just don't get along at all. we have even had them kill the male and eat him. Some of them ladies can be real picky.But if you get some pinks keep a male to put in that grope they should leave him alone good luck.

If they are gravid and he persists he will get his butt kicked.

if they dont like them i would just feed him to one of the corns.

I ended up culling the male and getting a new one, then I found the culprit, a female that immediately attacked the new male, the same female that chewed the other males head, I culled her too, now they lay to rest in the freezer to become some good meals in a few days LOL!

The new male is doing great with his females and I now have a harmonious colony... finally. I had no idea how tough this would be.

Now if only I'd get some babies coming! I have only 1 obvious fat one...

It sounds oddly satisfying to be judge and executioner like that (not being ironic), setting up a little rodent community and making sure it operates harmoniously at any cost. I doubt the wife would be into it, though...

-Sean

Teratoma said:

It sounds oddly satisfying to be judge and executioner like that (not being ironic), setting up a little rodent community and making sure it operates harmoniously at any cost. I doubt the wife would be into it, though...

-Sean

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The husband was quite saddened by it Suprisingly I had no problem doing the deed then packing them up and putting them in the freezer with the rest of the frozen meals.

I guess its cause I know they are not going to be wasted, they'll make nice dinners. :grin01:

sometimes it really helps if you give the place a good cleaning before introducing new mice to existing territory. And I have seen mice pick at any other member with a slight injury...