Some people believe that mice lay eggs. On the other hand, some say the mice were born naturally like other mammals. So how do mice exactly reproduce?
Well, mice do not lay eggs. They are like most mammals which are “viviparous animals”. This means they give birth to their babies.
Mice are capable of delivering more than 10 healthy babies at once (usually six). In other words, they are birth machines!
Let’s read this article further to find out how mice give birth and lots of other interesting information!
Table of Contents
How Do Mice Give Birth?
After mating and eating, the gestation period of giving birth starts within three weeks.
When it’s time for the mice to give birth, they show some signs. They usually have light bleeding from the uterus and then go into labor.
The process of giving birth can take up to two hours. During this time, the mice will push out the pups one at a time.
Furthermore, the mice assist themselves in the birthing process of their babies. They rip the amniotic sac and the placenta apart with her teeth and fingers.
The newborn baby’s mother will then lick the mucous off of her newborn infant. This opens up their airways and oxygenates their tissues at the same time.
In most cases, mice do not need any external help when giving birth. However, sometimes they need help.
For example:
When the amount of vaginal bleeding is excessive or when a pup is stuck during the birthing process.
Also, there are mice who are older than one year and giving birth for the first time. These mice are more likely to experience complications during delivery.
As a pet owner, you should know some useful tips to ensure the safe birth of mice babies.
Tips
- Create a warm and cozy birthplace for the mice.
- The birthplace shouldn’t contain any bars or levels because the pups could become trapped between them or fall from a great height.
- The nest material should be white so that the bleeding may be more easily seen.
- If you can, make sure to keep another female mouse, in case the mother dies.
- Call a vet if you see the mother mouse bleeding so much or if the baby is stuck.
When Do Mice Usually Give Birth?
There is no particular time or season for the mice to give birth. As long as there is food available and the weather is good, they are always ready for reproduction.
However, the mice that stay outside find it easy to breed in the spring, summer, and fall. The harsh winter weather prevents mice from having babies outside.
After mating, it takes the mice approximately 19-21 days to give birth.
Also, due to the fact that they are nocturnal creatures, they typically give birth in the evening or night.
However, apart from this, do you know how many babies a pregnant mouse can produce?
How Many Babies Can a Pregnant Mouse Give Birth To?
The average number of babies produced by a pregnant mouse is between 6 and 8. Although she may have anywhere from 3 to 14 babies in a single litter.
The mice have a yearly cycle of reproduction. A single female mouse can give birth up to ten times in a single year.
This fact indicates that she is capable of producing approximately 60-70 mice all by herself.
Furthermore, the mice are sexually active soon after giving birth to their young ones. Therefore, you might be looking at a new litter within the next 25 days.
However, the number of babies that female mice produce is highly variable and is largely influenced by their surroundings. If there isn’t enough food, it could lead to very small litter.
Furthermore, when mice get older, they have less litter, and hence, fewer pups.
Now, let’s know about the place where the mice give birth.
Where Do Mice Give Birth?
Mice will choose outdoor areas like the underground, heavy underbrush, and grass to give birth. They choose areas with the least amount of human activity to use as birthplaces.
And when inside a house, they will typically give birth in drawers or corners that are unattended. If you come across the shredded paper, it is quite likely that you have located a mouse nest.
They basically choose birthplaces that have the best chance of remaining undisturbed.
They will also make sure it’s a dimly lit place and close to both a supply of food and water.
Furthermore, after consumption, the mice will begin the actual process of nesting. It consists of caring for her babies and collecting food for both herself and her offspring.
This maternal nesting begins a few days before giving birth. When the mice are carrying their babies, the female mice ensure the safety of their nests.
A mouse will collect materials like hays, and leaves to use as bedding. And then transfer them to the nest.
Then it uses those resources to first form a compact nest that will be cozy. The nests are typically constructed in quiet places.
This behavior is known as “maternal nesting”. The mother mouse does this in the process of constructing a safe place for their soon-to-be-born young one.
What Does a Mouse Nest Look Like?
A mouse nest typically looks like a loose pile or ball of many types of soft materials that the mouse creates in her habitat.
These materials include string, tissues, paper, plastic, cloth, plant stems, and so on. Mice always nest within thirty feet, and sometimes much closer, of a source of food.
Recap:
After all these discussions, it is clear that the mice mate frequently, get pregnant and give birth in no time.
The average lifespan of a mouse is 2 years. And within these 2 years, a female mouse can give birth to 120 babies per litter. In other words, they don’t need much time to give birth to a mouse colony.
However, each time, the mother mice leave no measure to nurture the babies.
A few days or weeks before they are due to give birth, females begin the process of building their nest.
So, there is no doubt saying that these mammals are like little reproducing factories.
Want to know more about other rodents?
Try reading 4 Reasons Why Guinea Pigs and Rats Can’t Live Together?
