Hello, fellow mouse enthusiasts and breeders! We’ve got some incredibly exciting news to share here at MMM—our mousery is experiencing its first baby boom! Over the past few days, we’ve welcomed not one but two litters of the tiniest, most adorable baby mice into the world. And that’s not all—there’s another litter due today, and three more does are expected to give birth on September 4th. It’s safe to say that our mousery is bustling with tiny squeaks and busy mommas.
I wanted to share this wonderful journey with you, so grab a cup of tea, settle in, and let’s dive into the details of our new arrivals, upcoming births, and the thought process behind these exciting pairings.
The First Litter: Soot and Stovetop’s Gorgeous Quartet
Let’s start with the first litter that arrived recently, from two very special parents—Soot and Stovetop. Soot, the proud dad, is an X-black self who carries pied, a genetic trait that we’ve been particularly keen to curb in our mousery. Stovetop, the devoted mom, is a mock chocolate fox with a very unique appearance—she has this strange but beautiful tan line that separates her chocolate fur on top from her white belly on the bottom. Both parents have fantastic typing as well! We were so curious to see how these traits would come together in their offspring, and let me tell you, we were not disappointed!
Stovetop gave birth to a healthy litter of four, and each little one is as distinct and charming as we’d hoped. Here’s a quick rundown of the babies:
A Black Tan Doe: This little one is already stealing hearts with her striking contrast between her sleek black coat and her warm tan underside.
Two Mock Chocolate Fox Does: These girls are the spitting image of their mom, complete with that intriguing tan line. We can’t wait to see how their coats develop as they grow.
A Blue Doe (with a possible fox belly): This one has us on the edge of our seats! We’re still figuring out if she has a fox belly, but either way, her soft blue fur is absolutely enchanting.
Watching these tiny bundles of fur grow and develop is going to be such a joy. We’re particularly excited about the potential for the black tan doe and the blue doe with a fox belly—these are some exciting traits to see in our lines.
The Second Litter: Gas and Moxie’s Delightful Trio
Next up, we have the second litter that graced our mousery, courtesy of Gas and Moxie. This pairing was something I had been looking forward to for quite some time, not just for their potential to produce beautiful babies, but also for the temperament these two parents exhibit. Gas, the mother, is a splash abyssinian, while Moxie, the father, is a satin white tan angora abyssinian. Moxie is a bit of a superstar in our mousery, with his stunning coat and wonderful temperament.
I paired them mostly with the goal of enhancing the rosettes in their abyssinian coats, but also to continue breeding for the kind of temperament that makes these mice such a joy to handle and care for. The results? Four beautiful babies:
Two Splash Abyssinian Does: These little girls have inherited their mom’s striking splash pattern, and their rosettes are already starting to show. It’s going to be fascinating to see how these develop over time!
One White (Tan?) Abyssinian Buck: We’re still trying to determine whether this little guy has a tan underside, but either way, he’s already a standout with his pristine coat and adorable personality.
One White (Tan?) Abyssinian Doe: Like her brother, she’s a little mystery we’re eager to unravel, but she’s already showing signs of being as sweet-natured as her parents.
I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to us here at MMM to breed for temperament alongside physical traits. The happiness and health of our mice are our top priorities, and seeing these little ones thriving is the greatest reward.
Anticipating New Arrivals
As if two litters weren’t enough to keep us busy, we’ve got more on the way! Today, we’re expecting a litter from a pairing that’s a bit of a wild card—Thing 1 and Moxie. Thing 1 comes from a line that’s focused primarily on temperament and carries the abyssinian gene, although this line has been known to have lower fertility. Despite the odds, we decided to pair her with Moxie, and we’re eagerly awaiting the results.
Thing 1 is an Agouti Pied Fuzzy, a coat type that’s a bit more unusual in our mousery, and we’re excited to see how that mixes with Moxie’s Satin White Tan Angora Abyssinian coat. This will be Moxie’s third litter, and he’s yet to disappoint us, so we’re hopeful for another set of healthy, happy babies. We will be trying to keep six of these babies as long as they are all does!
Update: They were born! we kept 5 but will re-check within the following days:)
September 4th: A Date to Remember
Looking ahead, September 4th is going to be a busy day at MMM! We have three does due to give birth around the same time, and the anticipation is building. Here’s a sneak peek at the pairings we’ve done for these upcoming litters:
Eira x August: Eira is a Showtype BPS (Black Pied Satin) Doe, and August is a Satin Siamese Texel Buck. This pairing was made with the intention of refining temperament and health, but also to keep any genetic traits that are unique to these lines.
Indra x Gandalf: Indra is a Satin Black Tan Texel Doe, and the daughter of Esme and August! Gandalf is a Black Merle Buck. We’re especially excited about this pairing because of the potential to enhance the stunning merle pattern and bring in the tan bellies in their offspring.
Esme x Arizona: Esme is a Satin Pied Siamese Abyssinian Angora Doe, and Arizona is a Satin Tricolor Buck. The genetics here are particularly intriguing, with the possibility of producing some truly unique and eye-catching patterns in their babies.
Each of these pairings has been carefully planned to not only improve the temperament and health of our lines but also to ensure that we keep any genes we don’t yet have copies of. The goal is always to create the happiest, healthiest, and most beautiful mice possible, and these pairings have us very hopeful for what’s to come.
The Joys and Challenges of Breeding
Breeding mice is as much an art as it is a science. Each pairing is a carefully considered decision, balancing the physical traits we’re looking to enhance with the temperament and health of the mice. The excitement of waiting to see how each litter turns out is one of the greatest joys in running a mousery, but it’s also a responsibility we take very seriously.
There are always challenges—unexpected complications during births, concerns over the health of the mothers and babies, and the constant learning curve that comes with managing genetics. But at the end of the day, the reward of seeing those tiny babies thriving, developing their own personalities, and eventually finding their forever homes makes it all worthwhile.
Looking Ahead
With so many babies already here and more on the way, the next few weeks are going to be incredibly busy at MMM. We’ll be keeping a close eye on all our new moms and their babies, making sure everyone is healthy, happy, and thriving. As the babies grow, we’ll be monitoring their development closely, watching for those special traits we were hoping to see, and getting to know each one’s unique personality.
We’ll also be sharing updates and photos on our social media, so be sure to follow us if you’re curious to see how these little ones grow up. And who knows—some of these babies might be looking for new homes soon, so if you’re interested in adding a new mouse to your family, keep an eye out!
Final Thoughts
This baby boom at MMM is a dream come true for us. We’re so grateful to be able to share this journey with all of you, and we can’t wait to see what the future holds for these tiny new additions. Breeding mice is a passion that brings endless joy, and being able to contribute to the betterment of the species, even in a small way, is something we’re incredibly proud of.
Thank you for joining us on this exciting journey, and we’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the adventures (and adorable moments) that lie ahead. Until next time, happy mousing!
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