<aside> 💡 For behavioural protocols that require mice to dig in sand (e.g. generalization or discrimination) or performed some rewarded behaviour, use this food restriction.
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Table of Contents
Two days before the beginning of your experiment, begin by weighing the animals and their food. Remember to use the DO NOT HANDLE card at this point. You do not want the animal care staff to fill more food without your knowledge. You’ll keep records of the weight of the animals and food for these two days. This will help you generate a chart of their average free feeding weight and how much food they consume regularly (Food weight on Day 1 minus Food weight on Day 2).
When you begin food restricting the animals, use the food weight you got previously calculate the amount of food consumed by each cage. You can start food restriction by giving 60% of the free feed amount (this usually amounts to about 3-4 g of food per mouse). At a similar time each day, you will weigh the animals and give them their allotted amount of food. You will record their weight and note if any food was remaining.
<aside> 🚨 You must give food EVERY DAY if animals are on this food restriction schedule. Plan your life accordingly.
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Monitor the weights of the mice carefully throughout food restriction period, ensuring that no mouse drops below 80% of their free feeding weight (although the mice usually work quite well at 90% free feeding weight).