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CHOICE BY RATS FOR ENRICHED VERSUS STANDARD HOME CAGES: PLASTIC PIPES, WOOD PLATFORMS, WOOD CHIPS, AND PAPER TOWELS AS ENRICHMENT ITEMS
Author(s) -
Bradshaw A. Lynn,
Poling Alan
Publication year - 1991
Publication title -
journal of the experimental analysis of behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 61
eISSN - 1938-3711
pISSN - 0022-5002
DOI - 10.1901/jeab.1991.55-245
Subject(s) - solid wood , forensic engineering , computer science , pulp and paper industry , environmental science , engineering , materials science , composite material , layer (electronics)
The purpose of the present study was to determine whether simple additions to the home cages of rats made those cages preferable to standard housing arrangements. Results indicated that most rats preferred cages with wood platforms, wood chips, and paper towels to otherwise identical cages without these items. Wood chips were not, however, practical with the cages used in the present study. Plastic pipes caused no problems but were not preferred by most animals. Both wood platforms and paper towels created no problems and appeared to be useful as enrichment items. The latter were preferred to the former in a direct comparison.