Posted by rachael on March 28, 2003 at 14:53:55:
In Reply to: Your opinion on housing pregnant mouse with fellow female? posted by The_Mousekateers on March 28, 2003 at 13:31:38:
I always always have at least one other mouse in with the mother when she has her litter (For a new breeder, of course that other mouse should be female). I have never experienced a non-mother usurping the litter, and I've seen so many litters... I think that as long as they are together before the litter and know each other there should be zero problems. Really, I've only ever even heard of a non-mother taking over another mouse's litter a few times, and it is also possible that those people weren't sure what they were actually seeing (although that is just a possibility and I'm not trying to undermine the intelligence of those who disagree with me!)
Raising a litter is a tough job, and another female does help out quite a bit. However, a single mother can do the job just fine if you decide to go that route, but I think it is easier on everyone if there is at least one other female in to help out, and it also helps tremendously if you plan to breed that other female at some time, as she already has been a mother-helper.
