Now I have been thinking about raising mice (maybe rats) in my garage for our corns and ball pythons. I was able awhile back to look after a friends rodent rack while he was getting married. I get how to build it. I noticed that when the rack was moved to my garage that the mice realized they were in a new place and scent marked everything. Very strong odor the first week. After that they settled in and were not so bad after the first box cleaning. Yet the odor was still a little strong. So how do you keep the odor down so as not to permeate through the whole house? Also would mice and rats do well in a garage in the winter in New York? My boiler is in the garage so I could keep them near it to keep them warmer. I do not believe it gets below freezing in there during the coldest times.
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Rodent raising and odor
- Thread starter jstar
- Start date
When we raised mice I found the best way to keep odor down was to use wood stove pellets as bedding... a very thin layer! As they soil it, it turns to sawdust. It's cheap and easy and worked great for us.
Sorry I can't help with your question about keeping them in the garage.
Sorry I can't help with your question about keeping them in the garage.
medusacoils
Mr. Enigma!
Battling rodent odor is a seemingly life long project. Cleaning them is the only proven method, but you can use some substrates that will absorb well. We use carefresh and sometimes aspen. It's not perfect but works.
As far as keeping them in the garage, that may be pushing it. In the real cold weather, you will definitely see a sharp decline in breeding, if that's what you are trying to do. If you must, a lot of extra bedding is going to be needed so they can burrow down into it and stay warm. It it does get really cold or if that boiler emits any CO2, then you could lose them.
Good Luck,
Wayne
Buzzard
two corny
I noticed if I keep my mice abve 35 degrees they seem to do okay. however we do not have severe winters in AL. So that would be a tough question. I have tried several different things to keep the smell to a min. with my mice and rats, I added vannilla extract to there water at one point(just a couple of drops). It seem to work but I wont swear by it. Because about that time the mice were moved to the shed.
ComoxCorn
Pssst...Got Corn??
I keep my mice colonies in the house (laundry room). The only way I have found to be really effective at keeping the odour to a minimum is to clean on a regular basis. I don't know about your colonies, but mine all seem to use one corner of their lab box to urinate in. Regularily replacing the shavings in that corner has helped tremendously to reduce the odour. I also replace the entire shavings every 5 days. Only take me about 20 minutes to clean everything, but also allows me to keep track on just how many baby mice I have on the go.
Just a comment on the vanilla....I have tried it and it seems to have a bit of an effect, however, regular (daily) spot cleanings work best.
Our laundry room is the coldest part of the house (except when the dryer is going). I haven't had a decline in production yet. It's the summer time when it gets really warm as mentioned that I notice a decline in breeding.
Just a comment on the vanilla....I have tried it and it seems to have a bit of an effect, however, regular (daily) spot cleanings work best.
Our laundry room is the coldest part of the house (except when the dryer is going). I haven't had a decline in production yet. It's the summer time when it gets really warm as mentioned that I notice a decline in breeding.
Buzzard
two corny
If you have a large collection it can be cost effective. The draw back is when you have a lot of snakes to care for and a lot of rodents, it can be time consuming. If you only have a few reptiles then it may not be as effective as you would hope.
Here is why I raise rodents. Dothan and Montgomery are the closest larger cities where I can get rodents. It takes 45-1 hr (55 miles roughly) to get to either location. The gas for the truck to go there and back cost $25 dollars roughly. Then for one weeks of food for 19 snakes ranges from 30-40 bucks pending on what the store has in stock. I could order online but after doing the math, it is more cost effective to raise them. I have a friend that is also a reptile person and we raise them together. Really I do more he just helps with cost. He buys bedding and occasionally some mouse block. Anyways after the intial setup, the maintence runs me about 50-60 bucks a month, and about an hour a day. But I do have quite a few colonies (15 mice, 3 asf, and 1 rat colony started this week). After a month or so of raising the mice I found a pet shop close to me that does sell mice. However she wanted almost 3 dollars a mouse and did not carry any fuzzies or pinkies. So I talked her into buying them from me. I upped my production and placed an ad in some local newspapers and now have several people buying them from me. I also have a private zoo, that buys from me. I cant say I make a ton but it sure pays for itself and my wife's christmas present this year. So yes it can be worth it.
Just remember judge your situation and take account for everything.The number one thing is time. Is it worth an hour a day?
Ok, I have to thank all of you. One more question. Do you feed live or "bop" them? I'd prefer no injuries to the snakes and keep it a situation where if I get frozen cheap I can still feed without a big adjustment to the snakes. Currently we have about 35 snakes, some are newborn corns, some newbies from breeders (this year born), some adolescents and adults and the same with our ball pythons.
ComoxCorn
Pssst...Got Corn??
I use CO2 to kill the mice. It's quick and no mess, and cost effective. I'm not sure how many snakes you are feeding, but as mentioned, if you have a good size collection, yes, raising your own mice is cost effective. But if you only have a few snakes, it may be costing you to raise your mice rather than saving you money.
Ok, if you have about 35 snakes, yes, it's very cost effective. My collection is approx the same size and I save a bunch on feeder rodents. I only have a couple of snakes eating live, my preference is to feed frozen thawed. The two eating live are only offered live as they will not feed on anything else, not even teased frozen thawed.
Ok, if you have about 35 snakes, yes, it's very cost effective. My collection is approx the same size and I save a bunch on feeder rodents. I only have a couple of snakes eating live, my preference is to feed frozen thawed. The two eating live are only offered live as they will not feed on anything else, not even teased frozen thawed.
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ALRIGHTTT? You folks have convinced me. After the holidays I am going to start a colony. Any ideas on rats? Are they as easy as mice to raise? (Same questions as mice just headed towards rats for the ball pythons) Thanks again everyone (although my youngest daughter-14 years old- will not agree).
Buzzard
two corny
I do both CO2 and bopping them. Living where I do I have to sometimes go a couple of weeks between getting CO2(when I run out). But if I perfer gassing when at all possible. Its more humane.
With that many snake you should save a good amount raising your own rodents.