[Cait]

This is one for Steve really, and maybe sarahc if she is on this bit of the forum. When you cull your mice under the age of about 12 days, are there any tricks you use to make sure it works every time? Obviously all you usually hear is 'chuck em at a hard surface' which is not really too helpful. Do you hold them a special way or avoid doing it a certain way for example? Also what are the pros and cons, what's it like etc?

 

[Dragonfly-Stud]

Lay them along your index finger right side up with the head pointing away from you then throw down hard on the floor so the back of the head and neck hits first.

If your confident with it you can knock out a few at a time as in all rejects from one nest just throw very hard, ok a few in your hand at once won't all land perfect hence why you must be positive and very firm.
Do not do the hold by the tail and spin and smack on a table with young mice as sometimes a tail will snap resulting in a failed cull.

The only draw back is chunky pups sometimes pop so if your squeamish it's not gonna be right for you.

Hope this helps if not...... shout

 

[Cait]

I'm not squeamish but I still think that's disgusting I can just imagine having to clean mouse splat off the floor, yum. So if you cull this way are the mice then still ok for reptile food - they don't get too damaged?

 

[Dragonfly-Stud]

Not many pop but the ones that do are wrapped and sent to the bin others are fine for reptile use. normal bigger mice never pop ...well not happened yet anyway..
After a while you do develop a technique which uses a lot less force but is just as effective with minimal popping.

 

[daisy]

i agree with this, my sister throws the really young ones at the floor and always onto concrete if poss. if you do the young ones on the table edge they can come apart suprisingly easily which is very gross.

 

[Cait]

What height do you throw from, normal standing height or lower? Still don't know if I can trust myself to do it but no harm in finding out how to do it properly.

 

[daisy]

normal standing height, arm up over you then bring it down quickly and release, kind of the way you'd throw those noise snaps :shock:

 

[NaomiR]

I just don't think I could get this right either - I'm still thinking the freezer is the only way to go for me