Any possible way to breed mice outdoors?

Sasha2 · 05-25-15, 09:04 AM

I really need to get some pinks in the freezer and the local petstore is overpriced.
I just need a small colony of maybe 1.3 for a few months but cant breed in the house my dh is super allergic to mice and I dont even want to use the garage since he goes in there too.

Any possible way to breed a small colony outdoors just thru the summer?
Now that we live in the city our backyard only has squirrels and birds.No cats (they are not allowed outdoors in this city), no predators.
Heat would be the main concern.

**Minkness** · 05-25-15, 10:11 AM

I'd say it's not advisable to put them outside. However, you may be able to use a large plastic tub and drill holes in the lid to help with alergens, and place them in a room with an air filter, then just make sure the person with the alergies doesn't go into that room.

Good luck.

Princess-dad · 05-25-15, 10:17 AM

Field mice live outside , until they get old and die or eaten . Im just wondering if parasites from outside could end up causing a problem ?

**Minkness** · 05-25-15, 11:47 AM

True, but field mice also aren't kept in a small enclosure, unable to get away from the temps of day or night. And what about ants? Ants can get pretty bad and kill live animals if they have no where to run.

You can try it an find out, but still not something I'd suggest.

bigsnakegirl785 · 05-25-15, 12:52 PM

I bred my rats outside. 5 years and 3 generations. They were kept inside a cool car port lifted about 3' off the ground though, so no worries of overheating. During the winter they got fluffy bedding for their nests. Never lost a litter to the elements, and saw no long term health effects.

The only problem I ran into was that a dog broke into the male's temporary holding tank that was on the ground one night while we were rebuilding him a permanent enclosure. I managed to catch him after he got loose (with a nasty bite to show for it because he couldn't see me grabbing him - I didn't have a light) and put him in with the females. So because of that I'd probably build a sort of hut or separate building to put my rats in, to keep as many animals out of my colony as possible.

So, I don't think it would be impossible, but I'd have a building to put them in that will stay cool during the summer, or at least a lean to where you could lift them a few feet off the ground if nothing else. If you can't build something to put them in to keep them away predators and out of the heat, I'd advise bulk ordering some food online. I wouldn't just put a tank on the porch or anything like that.

**Minkness** · 05-25-15, 01:01 PM

Aren't rats a bit more durable though? I thought mice were more sensitive.

bigsnakegirl785 · 05-25-15, 01:15 PM

Hmm, maybe. I haven't heard much on the differences, though. I just know they live half as long. If it is at all possible for OP to have a climate-controlled building I don't see why they couldn't make it "outdoors" though. I wonder if anyone else has tried that then that could give some insight.

Sasha2 · 05-25-15, 03:18 PM

I dont want rats, just mice. We used to keep them out in our barn before but now we dont any outbuildings.

I usually do order online and have a freezer full of rats but I didnt order pink mice and dont want to place an order until I need more rats and that will be several months from now.

It was just a thought, I may just have to suck it up and pay the petstore prices for now.

I know people keep rabbits outside all the time(including me), dont know that mice are any different just much much smaller.

jossh27 · 05-25-15, 05:39 PM

i had two "pet" rats a long time ago in a cage in a ****** garage. unknown that one was male and the other female... after a while they bred and i had little rats running about in the cageif its only for a few months im sure you would be fine, as its summer now. like everyone said, you need a shaded area to protect them from heat/ sun.

Princess-dad · 05-25-15, 09:16 PM

Sasha , I also kept pet mice and 1 rat as pets . Guess were , in a garage that both roll up doors never got closed in . I lived in Southern Illinois , summer day time temps average between high 80s to mid 90s + humidity so high on a daily basis that its hard to understand how it wasnt raining all the time . Just keep them in a well ventilated always shaded area . Supply lots of fresh drinking water , and watch em multiply . Unless the conditions in the summer were you live a harsher then Ill. summers u shouldnt have a problem .If ants become a problem , you can get a batch concrete mixing tub 5/7 $ at Home Depot make an island in the middle to support your cage above water line , fill tub with water ants wont get to your mice . Added advantage as the water evaporates it will cause a cooling effect for the mice .