My neighbor wasn't joking.

[thakshila smith]

Interesting story . What happen to your pups?
I think they are mammals . You could have put the mummy and pups into a cage.
Mum may be a bigger mouse to get six kids.
May I see your rat trap please.
Here when mice get caught in a trap they live no more.

[thakshila smith]

Its true your neighbor wasn't joking and bird seed milk can thing even not a joke.
The mice couple had found their maternity home easily inside the can .
Normally mice do not live inside always sneaking and running but for some private purpose they creep inside.

[Hedge]

I am not keen on rats,either, they come in off the fields in autumn/winter. One time we used traps quite successfully. Another time, the trap caught a rat that didn't die, and it was thrashing about in a narrow space near the shed,we had to put it out of its misery and that was scary - the only thing I had was a spade to thwack it with.

The last time we used poison bait. This presumably killed the rats but unfortunately it also killed our free ranging guinea pigs (whose food was attracting the rats in the first place). We had no idea they were going where we had left the bait, my husband came in in tears when he realised what he'd done.

I would go for humane traps and release them as far away as possible from dwellings

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by thakshila smith

Its true your neighbor wasn't joking and bird seed milk can thing even not a joke.
The mice couple had found their maternity home easily inside the can .
Normally mice do not live inside always sneaking and running but for some private purpose they creep inside.

There was a threesome in the milk jug and they were all youngsters. Originally the jug of bird seed had been stored on a shelf on the back porch. It was for the birds but the rats found it and began helping themselves. I hung the jug on the door handle (just to get it off the porch) after discovering what they had done and was planning to feed the remaining seed to some ferrel peacocks the following day. Those little rats got to it first though.

We normally leave our screened door in the open position so our dogs can have easy access to the yard. It saves us from opening two doors (glass sliders and screened door) each time we let them out. The rats found the open door and jug of food irresistable I guess. We might as well have put out a "Welcome" sign.

I caught and released 4 youngster rats since the photos were taken. There are a few adults remaining and the trap is still set.

Only 2 from the nest of little pinky babies survived...the only male and largest of the litter, and the little runt female. I call them Dudley and Daphne. They haven't reached the cute stage yet. Their eyes are open, their hair is still short, and their ears are large in proportion to their bodies. Today they began drinking formula from a bottle cap instead of being hand fed. They have very small teeth but haven't taken an interest if food yet. Daphne is the feisty and adventurous one. She likes to be first at everything and shoves Dudley out of the way at every opportunity.

[Junebug]

Progress Report:

Dudley and Daphne have grown some fur and are doing well. Hubby built them a cage and they seem to enjoy their surroundings. Here are a few progress photos. Dudley is the one with the reverse mohawk. I think Daphne gives him haircuts, but I'm not sure why. They don't fight. In fact one time I separated them and they both regressed. Daphne pouted and wouldn't come out of her nesting box for 2 days and Dudley began nursing on a stuffed toy 24/7. They perked back up after being reunited. Soon it will be time for me to release them. I'll probably keep Dudley around a little longer until he grows his fur back. Wouldn't want the forest rats making fun of his haircut.

[susiep]

They are really cute, Junebug! Nice job!

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by susiep

They are really cute, Junebug! Nice job!

Thanks, Susie. I try not to handle them too much, but they enjoy a little rub on the scruff of their necks every now and then. Dudley squeaks at my dog and gives him kisses through the wire mesh sometimes. It's really very cute.

[thakshila smith]

Thank you for the pictures. They are cute and nourished looking. I know that kids in your States keep rats at home as pets . I have seen it.
I think you have to take a serious decision to take them to jungles. It is not easy.
Good luck to your pets.

[Junebug]

Originally Posted by thakshila smith

Thank you for the pictures. They are cute and nourished looking. I know that kids in your States keep rats at home as pets . I have seen it.
I think you have to take a serious decision to take them to jungles. It is not easy.
Good luck to your pets.

Thanks. I'd prefer to find them nice homes and have considered Craig's List as an option. I just don't want to give them to someone who needs to feed their hungry snake.

[Connie Star]

I'd be concerned that they would chew their way thru the wood that the cage appears to be made of. We always kept them in aquariums (aquaria?) made of metal and glass, with mesh tops. They can be quite the escape artists.
They're adorable.