Adult rats may be able to carry the deadly Hanta virus, as well as parasites such as fleas, fleas, and worms. Therefore, adult mice should not be kept. Keeping adult mice is not a good option because their fear of humans will never go away, no matter how long they are cared for by humans. However, it is a very good thing to take care of a baby stray mouse because it can't take care of itself yet. Baby mice that are cared for by humans will not have the survival instincts like other wild rats. Therefore, you should take care of baby mice as long as possible. Baby rats that are cared for by humans tend to be smarter than rats that have been tamed, and are very loving and loyal to their owners.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Caring for Wild Baby Rats with Other Mother Rats
Step 1. Persuade the mother rat to get out of the nest
If the baby mice found are the same size as the baby mice in your home, the mother mouse may be able to take care of the wild baby mice you find. Lure the mother rat out of the nest and then move it to a different cage. This is done so the mother rat doesn't see what you're doing.
If the baby rats are under a week and a half (when the rats first open their eyes), this method carries less risk than hand-feeding the rats
Step 2. Change the smell of the baby stray mice
Carefully wipe the baby rats using the bedding that came from the mother rat's cage.
Use clean bedding. Sleeping mats filled with feces can harm the health of baby mice
Step 3. Place the baby wild mice with other baby mice
Place the baby stray mice between and under the baby mice in the cage. Don't touch baby mice too often if possible, and do so gently.
Step 4. Return the mother mouse to its original cage
Place the mother mouse in the cage, and move it slightly away from the nest. Let the mother rat find her own baby. Do not force the mother rat to gather with the baby.
Step 5. Leave the mother and baby mice alone
Do not stand near the cage to watch, or disturb the mother and baby mice. If the mother rat is annoyed, she may abandon her baby.
- Keep in mind, the mother rat might abandon any stray baby rats you find (or the whole baby.)
- Be careful when introducing baby wild mice to mother mice. Leave the mother and baby mice alone if possible.
- Mice will squeak when bad things happen, so you don't have to pay attention to the cage all the time.
Step 6. Help feed a large number of baby rats
If the mother rat has to nurse several stray baby mice at once, she may not be able to nurse all the baby mice. Persuade the mother rat to stay away from the nest and place it in a different cage. Feed wild baby mice in the same way as orphaned baby mice.
- If there is a white (milky) area on the surface of the baby rat's stomach, this indicates that he has drunk enough milk from his mother and does not need your help.
- Check the baby rat several times a day to make sure it is getting enough milk and is not losing weight. Baby rats can lose weight rapidly, so they must be fed immediately.
Step 7. Consider buying mother mice at a pet store
If you don't have a mother rat, you can buy a mother rat that has just given birth and the babies. If a baby wild rat is very young, instead of feeding it itself, it is more likely to survive if it is cared for by the mother rat.
Moving the mother and baby rats to different locations will increase the chances of the mother rat abandoning the babies. Therefore, consider the risks before doing this
Method 2 of 3: Rescuing Wild Baby Rats
Step 1. Make sure the mouse nest is completely ignored
If you find a mouse nest but the mother is nowhere to be seen, the mother mouse may be avoiding you or looking for food. Leave the mouse nest and check again another time. If the mother mouse doesn't come back, she may never come back.
- Try not to touch the baby mice too often. However, don't worry too much. Unlike most birds, mice don't ignore their babies just because they smell like humans.
- After 4-6 hours, if there is no white spot on the surface of the baby rat's stomach, it may not have been breastfed. The mother rat may have died or abandoned the babies.
Step 2. Contact a wildlife rehabilitation agency
If you find a baby stray mouse (or an empty mouse nest), contact the nearest wildlife rehabilitation agency. Leaving baby mice into professional hands is the best option for keeping them alive. Meanwhile, there are several things you can do to make sure the baby mice live.
- If you don't have a stray rehab near you, baby mice may need your immediate care.
- When contacting a wildlife rehabilitation agency, ask what baby rats will go through while in rehab. Wildlife rehabilitators may try to raise baby mice, or turn them into feed. If you don't want baby mice to be used as owl food, you'll need to take care of them yourself.
Step 3. Immediately take the baby mouse that was attacked by the cat to the vet
If a baby mouse has just been attacked by a cat, bacteria from the cat's mouth can cause a deadly infection known as septicemia. You can take the baby rat to the vet for emergency help. However, baby mice may not survive.
Step 4. Make the baby mouse feel comfortable
Cover the box with a soft clean cloth. Remove dangling fabric threads so the baby mouse's feet don't get caught.
- Wash your hands after touching baby mice. Baby mice may be able to transmit a very dangerous and deadly virus called the Hanta virus.
- If the baby mice are still alive after a few days, transfer them to a ventilated glass or plastic container. Make sure the baby mice can't gnaw at the container you're using.
Step 5. Keep the baby mice warm
Baby mice should always be warm. He should be placed in a cage with a temperature of 26-37°C (you can check the temperature of the mouse cage with a thermometer). Turn on the heating pad to the lowest setting and cover it with a clean, soft cloth or towel. Place a heating pad under the box where the baby mice live.
- Make sure the heating pad is not too hot. If it feels hot to your hands, allow it to cool down in the box before placing it under the baby mouse box.
- If you don't have a heating pad, you can use a bottle or plastic bag with warm rice. You will need to warm up and replace the cold rice. Use a reheatable bottle or container. A plastic bottle or plastic bag specifically for the refrigerator is a good option.
- Healthy baby mice can maintain a stable body temperature after two and a half weeks, as long as the container is placed in a warm room.
Step 6. Purchase a small syringe for feeding baby mice
The eye dropper is too big if it is used for feeding baby mice. You will need a small syringe (without a needle). Pet stores generally sell small syringes with slender, curved snouts specifically for feeding baby rodents.
Step 7. Make sure the baby mice are getting enough fluids
If the baby rat has been left by its mother for more than an hour, you will need to rehydrate the baby rat before feeding it formula. Put 3-4 drops of a tasteless electrolyte drink into the baby rat's mouth. Wait for an hour before giving baby rats formula.
Method 3 of 3: Breastfeeding Rats by Hand
Step 1. Determine the age of the baby mice
In order to properly feed a baby rat, you need to know its age. Observe the chart showing photos of the development of the baby mice. After that, match the wild baby mice you found with one of the photos from the chart.
- Baby mice will begin to grow fur when they are 3-5 days old.
- Baby mice will open their eyes when they are 10-14 days old.
- Once the baby rat opens its eyes, it will enter its most active stage. Healthy baby mice at this stage will always jump and be difficult to hold.
Step 2. Be careful not to choke on the baby mice while they are feeding
Hydrating or feeding a baby rat can drown it, even when only a small amount of fluid gets into its lungs. If while feeding a baby rat there are bubbles coming out of its mouth, the baby rat may choke and have difficulty breathing.
- Give baby rat milk in an upright position. Never feed a baby mouse in a supine position, such as when feeding a human baby.
- If there are bubbles, immediately turn the baby rat over (tail up, head down) to prevent fluid from entering its lungs.
- Unfortunately, young baby mice generally don't survive choking. Baby rats that are old enough may survive if you turn them around quickly.
Step 3. Determine the feeding schedule for the baby mice based on their age
Baby mice abandoned by their mothers may be quite large. However, it may be malnourished and therefore very small. Start feeding baby mice according to their age.
- Newborn mice need to be fed every 1 or 2 hours to survive. You may need to stay awake at night to breastfeed.
- When the baby rat's eyes are open (when the baby rat is 2 weeks old), you can feed it every 3 or 4 hours.
Step 4. Make sure the amount of milk given is according to the age of the baby rat
Each time they are fed, baby wild rats need 0.05 ml of formula for every gram of body weight. For example, a baby rat weighing 10 grams requires 0.5 ml of milk each time it is fed. The syringe used must show the ml or cc dose.
- Give baby mice a special kitten formula mixed with water. Baby rats cannot digest formulas that are too thick.
- Hold the baby rat in an upright position while feeding it to prevent the formula from getting into its lungs. Grasp the baby rat's midsection (same position as the human waist). Make sure the baby mouse's head is facing up, and its feet are facing down. The baby rat's front paws may be in your grasp, depending on the size of the baby rat and your hand.
- Pour the formula into the side of the baby rat's mouth.
- Be careful not to get the formula into the baby rat's nose. You can wipe his nose with a cotton swab while he is feeding. This is done so that the baby rat's respiratory tract is not blocked.
- If the weight of the baby rats decreases, try increasing the portion of their food.
- Don't force him to eat. Feed the baby mice gradually.
- If the baby mice are very small, you can use a soft-bristled paintbrush (new and clean) instead of a syringe. Dip the brush in the formula, then wipe the edges of the baby rat's mouth.
Step 5. Encourage the baby rat to urinate
Baby mice can't defecate on their own, and they will die if you don't encourage them to go. After feeding the baby rat, gently wipe its stomach and anus with a cotton swab soaked in warm water. Keep doing this until the baby rat manages to pass urine.
- Do not rub the baby's skin harshly so that he does not irritate.
- If after a few minutes the baby rat still doesn't want to go to the bathroom, let it rest. Try again after 30 minutes.
Step 6. Feed the baby rats that have grown up solid food
Once the baby rat opens its eyes and looks healthy, you can add solid food while feeding it. Continue to give baby rats formula until they are 3 to 4 weeks old.
Some solid foods that are good for baby rats are: Mixed rodent food (hamster food is a good option), rice (baby rats prefer white rice to brown rice), human baby food, and kitten food
Step 7. Give the baby rat a big bottle of water
Baby mice whose eyes are open can drink water from a bottle. Hang the bottle on one side of the cage, making sure that the tip of the snout can be reached by the baby rat. Let the baby mice drink the water from the bottle on their own. It's okay if at first the baby rat doesn't want to use the water bottle.
