IX. Mice
A.
General Terms
1.
Male–Buck
2.
Female–Doe
3.
Young–Pup
4.
Group–Horde or Mischief
B.
Breeding age
1.
Puberty
a.
Male
i.
50 days
ii.
20-35 grams
b.
Female
i.
35-60 days
ii.
20-30 grams
2.
Reproductive lifespan
a.
Female
i.
6-10 litters
b.
Male
i.
1.5 years
C.
Cyclicity
1.
Type and Season of Cycle
a.
Polyestrous
b.
Year around
2.
Length of Sexual Cycle
a.
4-5 days
3.
Duration of Heat (Estrus)
a.
9-20 hours
4.
Time of Ovulation
a.
2-3 hours from onset of estrus
5.
Viability of Ova
a.
10-12 hours
D.
Mating
1.
Female lordosis
2.
15-20 sec intromission
3.
1 thrust/second
4.
5-20 intromissions before ejaculation
5.
Ejaculation ends episode
E.
Pregnancy
1.
Gestation–19 days
F.
Parturition/Lactation
1.
Parturition
a.
Pupping
b.
Nesting behavior
c.
1-3.5 hours
2.
Littersize
a.
4-8 pups
3.
Mammary Glands
a.
10
b.
6 thoracic and 4 abdominal-inguinal
4.
Age at weaning
a. 3 weeks
