After how many days do mice reproduce? - briefly
Female mice reach sexual maturity at about five weeks and can conceive shortly thereafter. Their gestation lasts roughly 19–21 days, producing a new litter approximately every three weeks.
After how many days do mice reproduce? - in detail
Mice reach sexual maturity at about five to six weeks of age. Once fertile, a female can enter estrus every four to five days, and the gestation period lasts 19–21 days. Because a postpartum estrus occurs shortly after giving birth, a breeding female can become pregnant again within 24 hours of litter delivery. Consequently, the shortest practical interval between successive litters is roughly 21–30 days, depending on strain, nutrition, and housing conditions.
Key reproductive parameters:
- Estrous cycle: 4–5 days
- Gestation: 19–21 days
- Post‑partum estrus: begins within 24 hours after parturition
- Typical inter‑litter interval: 21–30 days
- Age of first conception: 5–6 weeks
- Average litter size: 5–8 pups (varies by strain)
Environmental factors such as temperature, photoperiod, and diet can shorten or lengthen the interval. Laboratory strains (e.g., C57BL/6) often display the minimum interval, while wild‑caught mice may have longer cycles due to seasonal breeding patterns.