Hi, I also have only just joined this site and have found lots of good advice, thank you very much.
But, was just wondering if the same applies for 5 orphaned field mice. We are having a new driveway done and the builders today dug out a step into our back door, in doing so they uncovered a nest with 5 baby field mice in it. The builder had already picked them up in his hand before he showed us them so the nest was already disturbed and besides, their home was now destroyed. Having looked at several forums and help sites, it seems that the mother would not go back to a disturbed nest so we have decided to keep the little fellas in a plastic cracker box under a halogen lightbulb. There is plenty of ventilation and when we remove the lid there is plenty of warmth in the box and 4 of them are huddled together.
They all have brown fur but their eye's are still closed so I don't know how old they might be. All are doing well and this is the first night away from mum (presumably). They have had some goats milk but being so small it's very hard to get all of them to have milk as once they are away from the light for more than 5-6 mins they try to snuggle up under the cotton wool, tissue and t-shirt that they have to keep them warm.
As much as possible, have been trying to get them to have some milk every 2-3 hours but have had to go to work this afternoon/evening but a few hours ago they actually had a little porridge, they took some oats from me and held it in their paws to their mouths and ate some but there is 1 little fella who insists on going right to the bottom of the box and refuses to take anything from me. I also put a few mealworms in the box but haven't seen them so hopefully the mice have had some sort of a meal?
Does anyone know what else we might be able to do for them? Especially the one that doesn't want to take anything from me. They all seem very healthy and seem to have lots of energy and are very strong. When they're picked up they try their utmost to wriggle from me.
I'm hoping that if they get through tonight they should be fine... If they do make it, should we release them back into their rightful place? If so, when? But there is also a family of foxes living next door which is another reason for us taking them in as they wouldn't have stood a chance tonight. Or as they are so young will they accept us?
Any idea's and suggestions would be gratefully received as we'd hate anything to happen to the little ones. BTW, they're approx 3cm long in body length (excluding tail).
Many thanks
Linear Mode
