INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE PREFERENCES OF LABORATORY RATS FOR NEST-BOXESAND NESTING MATERIALS

Nest-boxes and nesting materials were considered potentially useful it ems with which to enhance the environment of rats housed in standard l aboratory cages. This study was carried out to determine whether such items are actually used by rats, and if so, what features are importan t in their design. Laboratory rats were allowed to choose between four commercially available nest-boxes. Nest-boxes were preferred to other parts of the cage but the nest-box most frequently selected was not s uitable for routine laboratory use. Accordingly a new nest-box was des igned, incorporating features apparently attractive to the animals. Th is was a simple structure of opaque perspex, consisting of a roof and three walls. Similarly, rats were exposed to six commercially availabl e nesting materials and those consisting of long paper strips were mos t preferred.