Nesting

Nesting behavior is a normal behavior of the mouse, and mice are highly motivated to build nests. The nest has several functions, including increasing litter survival, regulation of body temperature, protection from predators or aggressive cagemates, and shelter from cold or draft. In laboratory conditions, building a nest is a form of environmental enrichment. Reproductive female mice are highly motivated to nest build and this behavior is often elicited by odors or calls from mice pups. The nest is often defended as part of the territory by the male and female mouse. (Latham & Mason, 2004)

Providing nesting material allows mice to perform their instinctual survival behaviors. Therefore, bedding choice in laboratory cages can strongly influence the quality of life of a mouse and the quality of data in a study. In particular, compressed paper (CP) bedding has been shown to have a beneficial effect on mouse well-being, breeding, and data reliability in comparison to corncob (CC) bedding, a common default choice. (Pallas et al., 2020; Allen et al., 2021)

Nesting behavior is a top level classification, reflecting a behavior chain of individual goal-directed behaviors, which typically occur in the following sequence:

1. Digging
2. Push-dig
3. Shoveling
4. Carrying
5. Fraying
6. Sorting
7. Pulling in
8. Fluffing

Maintenance Behaviors

Nesting behavior occurs in the contexts of reprodution, pup rearing, and environmental changes.