Adopting from a shady backyard breeder.

by Hemiptera Mon 25 Sep 2017, 11:13 am

I'm adopting a trio (or maybe 4-5) of girls from a shady backyard breeder. I didn't consider that she was "shady" at first, really, as she was recommended by a friend of mine who got mice from her as well. But after some conversation with her, I realized some obvious problems - questionable bedding (some sort of round pelleted bedding?), bad diets (being fed "human" food like bread and biscuits - obviously high sugar and likely preservatives), etc. I really wasn't expecting much of the breeders in my country, msotly because mice are slowly gaining in popularity and we don't have many products marketed towards mice or are even suitable for mice (eg. we don't have any of the recommended foods available). In fact, even with "established" pets like hamsters, there are maybe 5 "reputable" breeders around, and their prices seem to turn the general public away.

Enough rambling for now. I figured that adopting from this breeder would be maybe just a step up from adopting shelter mice, mainly because she would be aware of basic details like date of birth, dietary needs (questionable), etc., or possible health problems that they had with previous litters. Even though Fleance did not come from a "reputable" breeder, he shows no health/behavioral problems so far (and even seems a lot more comfortable with people than my mice a couple years back, whose breeder I considered quite well-read). While his previous diet was questionable, it was definitely not as horrendous as the mice who are being fed bread and biscuits, with seemingly nothing else.

In this scenario, how should I prepare myself for the ownership of these mice? What are some things I may need to take into account?

by Rodents rock! Mon 25 Sep 2017, 9:13 pm

I would be tempted to get mice from them if only to offer them a good home with good and nutritious food because I feel bad for them. That is terrible what they are feeding them. They don't seem very interested in the mice, so I wonder why they are even breeding, there can't be much money made from selling mice.

by scaredymouse Mon 25 Sep 2017, 11:26 pm

It sounds like the mice at the shelter probably wouldn't be much healthier based on the fact that they likely came from pet stores that probably have even worse breeders. I say get em where you can, give them the care they deserve, and love them.

unfortunately most mice are prone to all the same illnesses as people unless they come from a very experienced breeder and those are rare. We have the same problems in this country.

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Adopting from a shady backyard breeder.

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