Observations on the prevalence of nest-building in non-breeding TO strain mice and their use of two nesting materials (1997)

Sherwin, C. M.

Abstract

Within 2-3 min of the nesting materials being placed in the cages, many mice had pulled the paper towel from the pot into the main cage, investigated, chewed and manipulated the sheet. ... Thirty-six of the mice constructed nests during the first dark phase after the materials had been placed in the cage - the remaining three mice constructed nests during the following 48 h.... The most frequently constructed nest was build under the feeder and comprised a mixture of both the [cellulose] fibre and the paper. ... Two [of 39] mice constructed their nest entirely of paper. ... Providing paper towels is an inexpensive and practical means of environmental enrichment for non-breeding, laboratory mice. ... The function of non-maternal nests may be directly related to welfare [e.g. thermoregulation, seclusion] which is negated in the absence of suitable nesting materials. ... Providing a pre-formed nest-box as a form of environmental enrichment may be inappropriate because mice are not highly motivated to use them for sleeping. It seems that manipulable material [e.g., paper] is preferred to a rigid pre-formed shelter/nesting area [e.g., empty pots, tubes].