How much does a mouse eat in a year? - briefly
A typical mouse consumes approximately 30–45 g of food each day, amounting to roughly 11–16 kg over a year.
How much does a mouse eat in a year? - in detail
A typical laboratory mouse weighing roughly 30 g consumes between 3 g and 5 g of dry feed each day. Multiplying by 365 days yields an annual intake of approximately 1.1 kg to 1.8 kg of food matter.
- Daily dry‑matter consumption: 3–5 g
- Annual dry‑matter consumption: 1.1–1.8 kg
- Daily caloric intake: 13–16 kcal (average 15 kcal)
- Annual caloric intake: 4,700–5,800 kcal
Water use averages 4–6 ml per day, resulting in about 1.5–2.2 L per year.
Wild mice obtain nutrition from seeds, insects, fruits, and carrion. Their daily intake fluctuates with season, temperature, and reproductive status. During winter, metabolic demand rises, increasing consumption by roughly 15 %. In breeding periods, females may ingest up to 30 % more food to support gestation and lactation.
Key variables influencing yearly consumption:
- Species – larger rodents (e.g., deer mice) require more mass‑specific energy.
- Ambient temperature – colder environments elevate basal metabolic rate.
- Diet composition – high‑fat or high‑protein rations reduce bulk needed for the same energy.
- Activity level – enriched cages or outdoor habitats raise expenditure.
Consequently, an adult mouse living under standard laboratory conditions will ingest close to 1.5 kg of dry feed and 1.8 L of water over a twelve‑month period, while a wild counterpart may vary by ±30 % depending on ecological pressures.