Mice

In December we bought 3 female mice. We paid for 3 and after two weeks we got a dozen or so additional ones, free of charge. Deal of life!

Initially I was really, really stressed about the mouse pregnancy. I laugh that I prepared for it better than for the birth of my own kids. I’ve read everything about handling newborn mice (sidenote: This post on Pet Mouse Fanciers forum was the most helpful!) and forced myself into thinking that it won’t be that bad. Shoebox with tissue scraps inside. Check. Don’t bother them for 3 days. Check. Don’t even open the shoebox. Check. Keep wife and children away. (sidenote: They hate me now.) Check. Touch only after a week or so, when they start growing fur. Check. Beware of “popcorn phase”. Almost check. (sidenote: One kiddo jumped out of my hand, but fortunately didn’t hurt itself. My heart stopped for a moment.)

These little fellas are the smallest, the sweetest little creatures ever. Soon they’ll be 4 weeks old and I’ll have to separate them from their mum and nannies to prevent any further “accidents”. Local breeder agreed to take any mouse which we don’t want to keep. This means almost all of them, because we don’t have resources to accommodate nearly 20 mice, most of which will be males, which must be kept separate; maybe we’ll keep 1-2 females if there are any in the litter. I’m happy that they have a chance of finding loving homes, but the thought of someone taking them away breaks my heart.

Funny thing how stress and nerves turned to love, which lead to sadness. Master Yoda probably could say something about it.

I’d do it again if I could.