[Velvet_Meece]

Just got access to this section!

I've never culled a pinkie or fluff in my life and i always wondered how you guys do it, i knew feeder breeders freeze them all the time, but at the same time a lot of them aren't rodent lovers, i use a Co2/Argon mix to gas mine and they've always been over 4 weeks old when i do it.

I heard somewhere that freezing was painful because they freeze from the inside out, and it put me off culling babies, the thought it horrible.

But i've been reading through this section and it seems from the way you talk about it, thats it relativly painless and very quick!

I'm still not sure i could box them up and do it, so that would be the OH's job, but i think i could feel more at ease knowing where they are going now and not think about it too much

 

[Mark]

The first couple of times i did i was heart broken but then i just came round top the idea and it doesnt affect me now and i know its doing the other mice good.

 

[april]

I myself have never culled any mice, but I once had to put a mouse of his misery because he was supposed to be a feeder, but I had him with 2 of my does and a buck and one of them attacked him or something and his intesines were hanging out and his tail and foot were coming off. It was pretty gross D; Sorry for such the graphicness

 

[ian]

ew thats gross, that poor mouse, ive never come across a mouse which was that drastically injured. I have had several mice who have attacked and killed other mice but by the time I get there most of the dead mouse has been eaten.

 

[Velvet_Meece]

I've never have a problem with fighting between any of my mice before, can't be nice..

I get it with multi's though, usually if food or water is missed overnight, i was very poorly at xmas and didn't feed them one night, next morning the girls had ganged up on the male and eaten half of him, they're such little monsters, if they tip their water bowl over and you don't realise for a couple of hours they start eating the babies however big or grown on they are :roll: never a nice sight! :shock:

I had to cull a gerbil once when the other attacked her, that was prob the worse experience of culling, because unlike mice and rats, gerbils panic and they start hopping and flapping around and banging against the sides, i had to cover the box and leave the room for 15mins until i was sure it was dead before i checked :|

 

[ian]

These little furries can be such unpleasant thugs sometimes. I find it interesting that alot of the aggression i've seen in mice seems to be down to personality of individuals. Genetics seems to play a big part. I had to remove an entire line of my rump whites last year which decended from one black tan doe. I managed to breed from a few of the does but mostly they would be too aggressive to be introduced. I had a few bucks loses their testicles and then when one buck was killed I decided all of the aggressive does had to go. I had one aggressive male once that killed a doe, but mostly its been the does, anyway he was actually from a very calm genetic line but he was a horrible little bugger.

 

[april]

That has happened with a trio of does I had once with a buck. When ever you put another mouse in the cage they would attack it, and one time when I had my gerbil 'adopt' some PEW fuzzies I put them with the does once their eyes were open, but they ended up killing all of them when my friend went to go check on them. And they also did it once with a full grown doe... But I never bred from them because they were supposed to be feeder mice.

 

[NaomiR]

it's funny you should mention the genetic-nature thing Ian because I visited a rabbit breeder today who gets rid of anything that bites him because he doesn't want to breed that into his lines - I guess the same would apply to other animals and you should really only breed from the best natured??

although that's not always possible when you're working on a certain colour / strain :?

 

[dangermouse]

I have some very aggressive broken does who are ok with themselves but not any other kind and I wont breed from them either.... :? so they are living together but wont let me introduce anyone else.

 

[Velvet_Meece]

I think rabbits and hamsters are particularly prone, but i suppose if its for one animal then it could be for all?

I know of rat breeders who won't breed aggressive stock, i never bred rabbits from aggressive parents, but that was more not risking it than knowing...

 

[Peteyandthegang]

Does anyone have any info on how long exactly it takes the pinks to die in the freezer and how it happens? What temp its best to have the freezer at? We havent culled pinkies up to now but I realise if we were to get a litter of 15 or something wed have to...But ve heard everyone say different things. I too had heard it would be a painful way to go, and long...yet lots of people here seem to do it and say its quick and easy for them?

I need an absolute guarantee thered be no suffering. I couldnt put them in there and walk away not knowing how long theyll still be living or if theyd suffer...so if anyone knows exact details Id really be interested. just couldnt bring myself to throw them...yuck!

Cheers

 

[april]

Does anyone have any info on how long exactly it takes the pinks to die in the freezer and how it happens? What temp its best to have the freezer at? We havent culled pinkies up to now but I realise if we were to get a litter of 15 or something wed have to...But ve heard everyone say different things. I too had heard it would be a painful way to go, and long...yet lots of people here seem to do it and say its quick and easy for them?

I need an absolute guarantee thered be no suffering. I couldnt put them in there and walk away not knowing how long theyll still be living or if theyd suffer...so if anyone knows exact details Id really be interested. just couldnt bring myself to throw them...yuck!

Cheers

Well I am not sure about pinkies, but my friend said when you put an animal in the freezer, blood in their veins start to freeze so when they move the iceicles punture their veins which can be quite painful

 

[julieszoo]

I am pretty sure that death by hypothermia would have occured long before any icicles could form....

 

[april]

I am pretty sure that death by hypothermia would have occured long before any icicles could form....

Yeah I'm sure your right, but I have never done it before and don't plan to. I would only do it with pinkies, but I have no need to any way because I am only breeding feeders for my snake atm so you don't want to cull the babies