Ok, so she is a first time breeder, but a very loving mouse overall. She comes right up into my hand when I put it in the cage(before babies), has only gently nibbled me twice because she wanted me to move, and I thought she'd be a good mom. :| Well, she had 11 babies the other day...about a week ago and she has eaten three as of right now. She ate one on the third day, then one disappeared without me knowing(possibly at night sometime the fifth day) and -just- now she ate another one. I am wondering if it's for the better of the group or something...or possibly she doesn't have enough milk for them all? The one she ate just now she dragged out of the nest, left it hurt and bleeding outside and then came back to eat it after I quickly put it out of it's misery.
I grabbed it when she walked away because I couldn't stand that it was still alive, but then I had to give it back to her TO EAT because she went after another in the nest when I took that one away(which looked smaller than the other's). So I am wondering if maybe she is killing off runts or lessening the numbers to ensure survival? She is not freaking out with me by the cage checking on them at least twice a day(waited three after birth) and even takes food from my hand(a little yogurt drop at night)...so I don't think it's -me- causing it and she starts eating them when I am not around(near the cage) anyway. Anyone have some opinions or comments?
She is currently taking care of them though, feeding and warming them all...there is plenty of food and water available so that is something else that should -not- be a problem.
I grabbed it when she walked away because I couldn't stand that it was still alive, but then I had to give it back to her TO EAT because she went after another in the nest when I took that one away(which looked smaller than the other's). So I am wondering if maybe she is killing off runts or lessening the numbers to ensure survival? She is not freaking out with me by the cage checking on them at least twice a day(waited three after birth) and even takes food from my hand(a little yogurt drop at night)...so I don't think it's -me- causing it and she starts eating them when I am not around(near the cage) anyway. Anyone have some opinions or comments?
She is currently taking care of them though, feeding and warming them all...there is plenty of food and water available so that is something else that should -not- be a problem.