This article is from the Winter 2016 AFRMA Rat & Mouse Tales news-magazine.

By Karen Robbins

Tara Simmons, Facebook
RE: Photo on AFRMA Facebook page of first place B.E. Self Standard mouse OS01 KKEXX3982-1, a Chocolate owned and bred by Karen Robbins, at the January 30, 2016, show.
Q There seems to be two pretty big ear notches in the ear of this mouse [outer edge and the bottom edge next to the head of the same ear, Ed.]. Can you explain the difference between a portion missing being a DQ and a nick which only counts as a fault?

ANicks are small and don’t affect the overall look of the ears where ones that are torn or have a portion missing would alter the shape/aesthetic look and are very obvious.

For a DQ, which would disqualify a mouse from competition, it would be ears torn or with a portion missing, either of which noticeably detracts from the general appearance.

I went out with a magnifying glass and carefully checked the mouse’s ears you have a question about (large nick at the bottom of the ear next to the head) along with several other mice. They were very tolerant of me touching their ears so I could get a good look in this area. Turns out this is a natural occurrence just before where the ear attaches to the head—there is an area just after the ear lobe/bottom of ear where it goes up in a small cutout portion right where it attaches to the skull (just like people with detached ear lobes), so in certain angles of photos it does look like a large nick/chunk missing. Usually the fur around the ear hides this area in photos. I’ve looked through our photos and some mice with very small ears or narrow shaped ears don’t usually have this same feature. The photos here showing the natural cut outs are also on a note Mouse Ear on our Facebook page.

Below are several photos of mice with ear issues that would be a DQ on the show bench ranging from chunks to a hole to edges not even. You can see the natural cutouts on mouse #1, 2, and 5 below. These are also in a note on our Facebook page Mouse Ear DQs.

The Chocolate Self Standard mouse in question showing the nick in the right ear halfway down the edge. Photo ©2016 Karen Robbins.

The Chocolate Self Standard mouse. Photo ©2016 Karen Robbins.

This is the Chocolate Self Standard from the Jan. 30, 2016, show showing the natural cutout of the ear. Photo ©2016 Craig Robbins.

. . . and the left ear of the Chocolate Self Standard. Photo ©2016 Craig Robbins.

. . . and the back side of the left ear of the Chocolate Self Standard. Photo ©2016 Karen Robbins.

Here is a Seal Point Siamese Standard female mouse’s right ear showing the natural cutout. Photo ©2016 Craig Robbins.

This is a Pearl Standard male mouse with smaller ears showing the natural cutout. Photo ©2016 Craig Robbins.

A Siamese Splashed mouse with a chunk out of its right ear. Photo ©2008 Karen Robbins.

The outside edge of the right ear is missing on this 5-month-old Chocolate Self Standard female mouse. Photo ©2012 Karen Robbins.

This 5-week-old PEW Self Satin female mouse has half of her ear missing. Photo ©2011 Karen Robbins.

This 6-week-old Ivory Standard male mouse has a hole in his ear and the edge is not round. Photo ©2006 Karen Robbins.

This 10-week-old Champagne Self Standard male mouse has a large chunk out of his ear. Photo ©2015 Karen Robbins.

The bottom edge of the right ear is missing on this 17-day-old extremely light Champagne Self Standard male mouse. Photo ©2010 Karen Robbins.

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