Novel nonhuman primate puzzle feeder reduces food wastage and provides environmental enrichment (2007)

Glenn, A. S., Watson, J.

Abstract

The feeder dispenses monkey chow and fits on nonhuman primate group four quad rack cages. .. The original feeders dispensed 18 to 20 biscuits. At feeding time, the macaques removed all the biscuits within 3 min, and those that were not eaten or stored in cheek pouches were pushed back through the feeder onto the room floor or dropped through the cage floor grid. .. Each feeder took approximately 1 h to make and cost approximately $60 in materials. .. Puzzle feeder implementation increased time spent foraging (approximately 20 min per biscuit), reduced food wastage, and decreased clean-up time.