How much grain does a mouse eat? - briefly
A typical house mouse eats about 1–3 grams of grain each day (≈0.04–0.1 ounces). Over a month this totals roughly 30–90 grams, varying with activity level and food access.
How much grain does a mouse eat? - in detail
A typical laboratory mouse consumes between 2 and 5 grams of dry grain or seed mixture each day. The exact amount varies with body weight, age, sex, metabolic rate, and ambient temperature. Smaller juveniles may ingest as little as 1 g, while adult males can reach the upper range when activity levels are high.
Key factors influencing intake:
- Body mass: 20‑gram mice require roughly 3 % of their weight in dry matter daily; larger individuals proportionally need more.
- Energy demand: Cold environments raise metabolic heat production, increasing feed consumption by up to 30 %.
- Reproductive status: Pregnant or lactating females may double their grain intake to support fetal growth and milk production.
- Diet composition: High‑fat or protein‑rich formulations reduce the volume of grain needed to meet caloric requirements.
When grain is offered ad libitum, mice will self‑regulate, typically maintaining a stable body condition. In controlled feeding regimes, a daily allotment of 3 g of standard rodent chow provides sufficient calories (approximately 15 kcal) to sustain normal growth and activity. Excess provision can lead to obesity, while restriction below 2 g may cause weight loss and reduced fertility.
For precise experimental planning, calculate the required grain quantity by multiplying the target daily intake (grams per mouse) by the number of subjects and the study duration, then add a 5‑10 % safety margin to account for spillage and individual variation.