Moon's Graden

by **Bria** » Thu, 26 Jan 2006 18:18:15

As some may know, a few months ago my one cage and two mice turned in to
three cages and currently 11 mice. The father is in his own cage and the
other 2 cages each house 5 mice.

Is there anything simple that can be done to minimize the odor of the mice
cages? The two big ones (10 mice) are side by side in a fairly small room
(~12x12) and sometimes there can be a noticable odor.

The cages are cleaned regularly. Any helpful hints to reduce the mouse house
odor?

Aloha

by **Phil** » Fri, 27 Jan 2006 01:00:00

Quote:

> As some may know, a few months ago my one cage and two mice turned in
> to three cages and currently 11 mice. The father is in his own cage
> and the other 2 cages each house 5 mice.

> Is there anything simple that can be done to minimize the odor of the
> mice cages? The two big ones (10 mice) are side by side in a fairly
> small room (~12x12) and sometimes there can be a noticable odor.

> The cages are cleaned regularly. Any helpful hints to reduce the
> mouse house odor?

It's the males, they stink, either take them to a pet shop or advertise them
free to good homes, other than that there's little you can do, boy mice
naturally stink, one or two aren't so bad, but once you get more than that
they give off a musty smell which seems to permeate the house, regardless of
how often you clean them out.

by **Heather Fieldhous** » Fri, 27 Jan 2006 02:33:05

Quote:

> It's the males, they stink, either take them to a pet shop or advertise them
> free to good homes, other than that there's little you can do, boy mice
> naturally stink, one or two aren't so bad, but once you get more than that
> they give off a musty smell which seems to permeate the house, regardless of
> how often you clean them out.

Sometimes cleaning them out too often makes it worse, because they feel
the need to run around and re-mark their territory.

I do find that the smell tends to lessen as they get older. The elderly
males that I have now don't smell at all.

Heather

by **Davina Stuar** » Fri, 27 Jan 2006 06:24:44

Quote:

> As some may know, a few months ago my one cage and two mice turned in to
> three cages and currently 11 mice. The father is in his own cage and the
> other 2 cages each house 5 mice.

> Is there anything simple that can be done to minimize the odor of the mice
> cages? The two big ones (10 mice) are side by side in a fairly small room
> (~12x12) and sometimes there can be a noticable odor.

> The cages are cleaned regularly. Any helpful hints to reduce the mouse
house
> odor?

> Aloha

i understand your situation.. that's how i got started... 5 females became
8 females and 7 males... currently we have around 50/60 mice (i don't
really want to think about the numbers.. and we just added 5 more girls...)
but there are about 22 males.. we tried all the tricks for dealing with male
mouse odor.. vanilla in the water helped a little bit.. and works if you've
only got 1 or 2 boys.. but.. with higher numbers.. forget it..
the best solution i've found is to switch them to a sterilized dirt bedding.
it obsorbs the odors and you really only smell potting soil... change out
only about half of it at a time.. unless you've problems with mites or
something, in which case you'd want to sterilize everything.. i use garden
basics brand from wal-mart.. big blue bag, it's about $1.50 for a 40 lb bag,
so it will save you money too, which is also nice when your numbers get up
there...
they really like digging and tunneling and when they toss their seeds out,
they sprout and give them an extra treat. and you really only have to
change the dirt out every 2- 3 weeks.. some of their toys may need washing
more, though.

by **Bria** » Fri, 27 Jan 2006 07:14:28

The dirt idea sounds very good. The males are in a 10 gallon tank and I put
in tons of bedding (2-3 inches) and they burrow and make their tunnels. I'll
look in to the big blue bag at walmart in a day or two, unless someone
responds back with concerns about the idea.

Thanks to all I appreciate it!
Brian

Quote:

>> As some may know, a few months ago my one cage and two mice turned in to
>> three cages and currently 11 mice. The father is in his own cage and the
>> other 2 cages each house 5 mice.

>> Is there anything simple that can be done to minimize the odor of the
>> mice
>> cages? The two big ones (10 mice) are side by side in a fairly small room
>> (~12x12) and sometimes there can be a noticable odor.

>> The cages are cleaned regularly. Any helpful hints to reduce the mouse
> house
>> odor?

>> Aloha

> i understand your situation.. that's how i got started... 5 females became
> 8 females and 7 males... currently we have around 50/60 mice (i don't
> really want to think about the numbers.. and we just added 5 more
> girls...)
> but there are about 22 males.. we tried all the tricks for dealing with
> male
> mouse odor.. vanilla in the water helped a little bit.. and works if
> you've
> only got 1 or 2 boys.. but.. with higher numbers.. forget it..
> the best solution i've found is to switch them to a sterilized dirt
> bedding.
> it obsorbs the odors and you really only smell potting soil... change out
> only about half of it at a time.. unless you've problems with mites or
> something, in which case you'd want to sterilize everything.. i use
> garden
> basics brand from wal-mart.. big blue bag, it's about $1.50 for a 40 lb
> bag,
> so it will save you money too, which is also nice when your numbers get up
> there...
> they really like digging and tunneling and when they toss their seeds out,
> they sprout and give them an extra treat. and you really only have to
> change the dirt out every 2- 3 weeks.. some of their toys may need washing
> more, though.

by **Davina Stuar** » Sat, 28 Jan 2006 06:13:33

i got the idea from several others who use it (over on petrodents.com) and
we've all had much sucsess with it..
one concern, how old are the boys?? most male mice won't live together with
other males for more then a few months. as they mature they will start
fighting and could seriously injure or kill each other if not seperated. so
start getting extra tanks or bins for them so you'll be ready when the time
comes.

Quote:

> The dirt idea sounds very good. The males are in a 10 gallon tank and I
put
> in tons of bedding (2-3 inches) and they burrow and make their tunnels.
I'll
> look in to the big blue bag at walmart in a day or two, unless someone
> responds back with concerns about the idea.

> Thanks to all I appreciate it!
> Brian

> >> As some may know, a few months ago my one cage and two mice turned in
to
> >> three cages and currently 11 mice. The father is in his own cage and
the
> >> other 2 cages each house 5 mice.

> >> Is there anything simple that can be done to minimize the odor of the
> >> mice
> >> cages? The two big ones (10 mice) are side by side in a fairly small
room
> >> (~12x12) and sometimes there can be a noticable odor.

> >> The cages are cleaned regularly. Any helpful hints to reduce the mouse
> > house
> >> odor?

> >> Aloha

> > i understand your situation.. that's how i got started... 5 females
became
> > 8 females and 7 males... currently we have around 50/60 mice (i don't
> > really want to think about the numbers.. and we just added 5 more
> > girls...)
> > but there are about 22 males.. we tried all the tricks for dealing with
> > male
> > mouse odor.. vanilla in the water helped a little bit.. and works if
> > you've
> > only got 1 or 2 boys.. but.. with higher numbers.. forget it..
> > the best solution i've found is to switch them to a sterilized dirt
> > bedding.
> > it obsorbs the odors and you really only smell potting soil... change
out
> > only about half of it at a time.. unless you've problems with mites or
> > something, in which case you'd want to sterilize everything.. i use
> > garden
> > basics brand from wal-mart.. big blue bag, it's about $1.50 for a 40 lb
> > bag,
> > so it will save you money too, which is also nice when your numbers get
up
> > there...
> > they really like digging and tunneling and when they toss their seeds
out,
> > they sprout and give them an extra treat. and you really only have to
> > change the dirt out every 2- 3 weeks.. some of their toys may need
washing
> > more, though.

by **Bria** » Sat, 28 Jan 2006 17:39:20

There are five mice in the 10 gallon. They are two months old and have been
together since birth. I have been noticing that, about once a day, two mice
will squeek and get in light skirmishes. I assumed this to be little play
action since I otherwise see all the mice with eachother nicely, cleaning
eachother, etc.

Quote:

>i got the idea from several others who use it (over on petrodents.com) and
> we've all had much sucsess with it..
> one concern, how old are the boys?? most male mice won't live together
> with
> other males for more then a few months. as they mature they will start
> fighting and could seriously injure or kill each other if not seperated.
> so
> start getting extra tanks or bins for them so you'll be ready when the
> time
> comes.

>> The dirt idea sounds very good. The males are in a 10 gallon tank and I
> put
>> in tons of bedding (2-3 inches) and they burrow and make their tunnels.
> I'll
>> look in to the big blue bag at walmart in a day or two, unless someone
>> responds back with concerns about the idea.

>> Thanks to all I appreciate it!
>> Brian

>> >> As some may know, a few months ago my one cage and two mice turned in
> to
>> >> three cages and currently 11 mice. The father is in his own cage and
> the
>> >> other 2 cages each house 5 mice.

>> >> Is there anything simple that can be done to minimize the odor of the
>> >> mice
>> >> cages? The two big ones (10 mice) are side by side in a fairly small
> room
>> >> (~12x12) and sometimes there can be a noticable odor.

>> >> The cages are cleaned regularly. Any helpful hints to reduce the mouse
>> > house
>> >> odor?

>> >> Aloha

>> > i understand your situation.. that's how i got started... 5 females
> became
>> > 8 females and 7 males... currently we have around 50/60 mice (i don't
>> > really want to think about the numbers.. and we just added 5 more
>> > girls...)
>> > but there are about 22 males.. we tried all the tricks for dealing with
>> > male
>> > mouse odor.. vanilla in the water helped a little bit.. and works if
>> > you've
>> > only got 1 or 2 boys.. but.. with higher numbers.. forget it..
>> > the best solution i've found is to switch them to a sterilized dirt
>> > bedding.
>> > it obsorbs the odors and you really only smell potting soil... change
> out
>> > only about half of it at a time.. unless you've problems with mites or
>> > something, in which case you'd want to sterilize everything.. i use
>> > garden
>> > basics brand from wal-mart.. big blue bag, it's about $1.50 for a 40 lb
>> > bag,
>> > so it will save you money too, which is also nice when your numbers get
> up
>> > there...
>> > they really like digging and tunneling and when they toss their seeds
> out,
>> > they sprout and give them an extra treat. and you really only have to
>> > change the dirt out every 2- 3 weeks.. some of their toys may need
> washing
>> > more, though.

by **Davina Stuar** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 06:33:09

Quote:

> There are five mice in the 10 gallon. They are two months old and have
been
> together since birth. I have been noticing that, about once a day, two
mice
> will squeek and get in light skirmishes. I assumed this to be little play
> action since I otherwise see all the mice with eachother nicely, cleaning
> eachother, etc.

it tends to start off that way, and will go on like that for a while, but
they will eventually escalate.. 10 gallons is just not enough room for 5
males.. (5 females, ok, but not 5 boys..) the longest I was able to keep
any males together was 6 months.. started off with 8 males in a 30 gallon
long bin, had to start thinning them out after about 3 months, and was down
to the last 2 at 6 months..
boys either need lots of space, so they can each have their own area and
stuff (this means extra wheels, food dishes and water bottles, too..) or to
live alone and just get lots of interaction with you.
From the sounds of it, you're in early stages where they havne't started
serious biting and fighting yet.. another few weeks (or days, sometimes they
turn quick...) and you will probablly start seeing bites and hair pulling..
most common injury is the flank bite, they bite and rip out fur and leave
*** wounds that wind up as bad scars after they heal.. They need to start
being seperated then, before it can get worse.. usually take the main
aggressor out and it might calm down again for another week or 2 before
someone else will start it up.
males living alone also tend not to mark and stink as much as those who feel
they are in competition for resources with other males...

anyway.. good luck with your mice :)

Quote:

> >i got the idea from several others who use it (over on petrodents.com)
and
> > we've all had much sucsess with it..
> > one concern, how old are the boys?? most male mice won't live together
> > with
> > other males for more then a few months. as they mature they will start
> > fighting and could seriously injure or kill each other if not seperated.
> > so
> > start getting extra tanks or bins for them so you'll be ready when the
> > time
> > comes.

> >> The dirt idea sounds very good. The males are in a 10 gallon tank and I
> > put
> >> in tons of bedding (2-3 inches) and they burrow and make their tunnels.
> > I'll
> >> look in to the big blue bag at walmart in a day or two, unless someone
> >> responds back with concerns about the idea.

> >> Thanks to all I appreciate it!
> >> Brian

> >> >> As some may know, a few months ago my one cage and two mice turned
in
> > to
> >> >> three cages and currently 11 mice. The father is in his own cage and
> > the
> >> >> other 2 cages each house 5 mice.

> >> >> Is there anything simple that can be done to minimize the odor of
the
> >> >> mice
> >> >> cages? The two big ones (10 mice) are side by side in a fairly small
> > room
> >> >> (~12x12) and sometimes there can be a noticable odor.

> >> >> The cages are cleaned regularly. Any helpful hints to reduce the
mouse
> >> > house
> >> >> odor?

> >> >> Aloha

> >> > i understand your situation.. that's how i got started... 5 females
> > became
> >> > 8 females and 7 males... currently we have around 50/60 mice (i
don't
> >> > really want to think about the numbers.. and we just added 5 more
> >> > girls...)
> >> > but there are about 22 males.. we tried all the tricks for dealing
with
> >> > male
> >> > mouse odor.. vanilla in the water helped a little bit.. and works if
> >> > you've
> >> > only got 1 or 2 boys.. but.. with higher numbers.. forget it..
> >> > the best solution i've found is to switch them to a sterilized dirt
> >> > bedding.
> >> > it obsorbs the odors and you really only smell potting soil... change
> > out
> >> > only about half of it at a time.. unless you've problems with mites
or
> >> > something, in which case you'd want to sterilize everything.. i use
> >> > garden
> >> > basics brand from wal-mart.. big blue bag, it's about $1.50 for a 40
lb
> >> > bag,
> >> > so it will save you money too, which is also nice when your numbers
get
> > up
> >> > there...
> >> > they really like digging and tunneling and when they toss their seeds
> > out,
> >> > they sprout and give them an extra treat. and you really only have
to
> >> > change the dirt out every 2- 3 weeks.. some of their toys may need
> > washing
> >> > more, though.

by **Heather Fieldhous** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 15:42:44

Quote:

> it tends to start off that way, and will go on like that for a while, but
> they will eventually escalate.. 10 gallons is just not enough room for 5
> males.. (5 females, ok, but not 5 boys..) the longest I was able to keep
> any males together was 6 months..

Yeah, the group of brothers that I kept together made it six months and
then total war broke out and I had to separate all five of them. And I
think you're right -- they smelled a lot worse when all five of them
were together than after I separated them.

Heather

by **Lady Blackswor** » Sun, 29 Jan 2006 17:18:07

The other way to keep males together that really drops the fighting for a
little longer, is to put enough mice in one cage that they can't actually
establish territories. (10 or more). But you MUST keep enough food and water
for all of them. I do this when I have a lot of males that are just weaned
and waiting for the pet store (I like to do some extra handling and letting
them get bigger).
But then, I do all my breedeing match-ups in batches, so that I have a large
number of kits the same age at once, which makes housing them easier in the
pre-sale time period. The males don't smell as much that way either, because
they are forced to co-exist, instead of having "This is my corner, that's
your corner" games. But then, I don't have near as big a problem with male
mouse smell. Maybe I'm not sensitive to it, maybe it's cause I use Cell-Sorb
in my cages.
Murri

Quote:

>> it tends to start off that way, and will go on like that for a while, but
>> they will eventually escalate.. 10 gallons is just not enough room for 5
>> males.. (5 females, ok, but not 5 boys..) the longest I was able to keep
>> any males together was 6 months..

> Yeah, the group of brothers that I kept together made it six months and
> then total war broke out and I had to separate all five of them. And I
> think you're right -- they smelled a lot worse when all five of them
> were together than after I separated them.

> Heather

Moon's Graden

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?

Combating mice cage odor?