[Sputnik]

I have a question about culling age. I can't stand to do the freezer, no matter how quick it is. I'm simply not strong enough. One of my does, Jupiter, is currently nursing a litter of 9, 3 girls and 6 boys. I really need to take the boys down, badly. I have increased her protein quite a bit so she can deal with all these kids. They are now 8 days old (Born in the early hours of May 23). Is this old enough to use CO2? She's from a pet line (still can't find any big show mice to breed) so the babies are smaller that what you guys have there...

Also, I'm really bad at telling the sex at this age (I'm always afraid I'll do it wrong and cull a female) but I am comfortable with using the "who gets their nipples first" meathod. What age to the nipples appear? I notice them really well around 10 days - 2 weeks age, and sometimes I can see them earlier, but again I'm always afraid that I'm just seeing things, and I'll make a mistake.

 

[Sputnik]

Thanks for the info. I usually do the CO2 at 10-12 days and they seem to go pretty quick. She'll just have to handle them for a couple more days then. After looking again I'm now 100% positive there are six boys in there

 

[Sputnik]

I cannot kill a baby that is looking at me, so I do it just before the eyes open... I have a very small window in which I can stand killing them.

 

[Sputnik]

Thanks for that Dom, I will try and see it that way...