Search our 3Rs resource library

Use the filters below to narrow down our resources to those relevant to your role, the model you are interested in, or by topic area. Filters are best used by combining two or more to narrow down the results.

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73 results

Housing and husbandry: Dog

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory dog.

Guidance

Four dogs in a pen, interacting and showing amicable social behaviour. The two dogs in the background are nose to nose. In the foreground one dog is on his back with legs in the air, a second dog can be seen sniffing him from the side.

Housing and husbandry: Hamster

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory hamster.

Guidance

Two hamsters in a cage. The floor is covered in sawdust. One hamster is towards the right hand side, the other is in the middle, emerging from a cardboard tube (enrichment). Both hamsters are red and light brown in colour.

Housing and husbandry: Ferret

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory ferret.

Guidance

Ferrets in a cage. You can see multiple examples of environmental enrichment including a hammock, red plastic ball, cardboard tubes and nesting boxes.

Housing and husbandry: Non-human primate

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of laboratory non-human primates.

Guidance

A large room housing a breeding group of rhesus macaques. In the background is a floor-to-ceiling height bay window, letting lots of natural light into the room. The floor is covered in a deep layer of wood shavings, with one monkey on the floor foraging for scattered food. Wooden ladders, platforms and shelves fill the walls and room space, some of which have monkeys resting on them. Suspended from the ceiling are swings made from wood and ropes, and from plastic barrels and firehoses.

Housing and husbandry: Gerbil

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory gerbil.

Guidance

Gerbil is held by a laboratory technician in a gloved hand.

Housing and husbandry: Mouse

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory mouse.

Guidance

Housing and husbandry: Rabbit

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory rabbit.

Guidance

Two white rabbits in a floor pen. The cage is grey and you can see sawdust and straw on the floor. The closest rabbit is sitting on a raised ledge looking towards a food hopper which contains hay and carrots. The other rabbit can be seen exploring the floor towards the back.

Housing and husbandry: Guinea pig

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory guinea pig.

Guidance

White guinea pigs in floor pen. Each enclosure holds around three to five guinea pigs and is separated with clear perspex partitions so the animals can see each other. Each enclosure has a silver box to create shade and shelter. The floor is covered in sawdust and straw.

Housing and husbandry: Cat

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory cat.

Guidance

A technician with cats in a play area. The technician is wearing a white protective suit, mask, hair net and laboratory gloves. She is holding a piece of string which one of the cats is rearing up to play with. One cat sits on a shelf to the left, another is walking along the floor looking at the camera.

Housing and husbandry: Rat

Information to help refine the housing and husbandry of the laboratory rat.

Guidance

A rat accepting a treat, in this case a cereal cheerio snack, from a technician. The rat sits on top of a housing box within a cage (the lid is open). The technician is reaching in with a gloved hand, and the black and white lister hooded rat is reaching up to take the treat.

Zebrafish welfare

Guidance, information and recommendations for those working with zebrafish.

Guidance

The 3Hs Initiative – Housing, Handling and Habituation

A framework to improve the lives of laboratory rodents through refined management approaches.

Guidance | Webinar and video

Breeding and colony management advice service

For answers to more specific questions about colony management or breeding difficult strains you can email our dedicated advice service.

Guidance

White speech bubble icon on a blue background

Senses and communication: Non-human primate

Primate sensory capabilities and communication signals: implications for care and use in the laboratory

A rhesus macaque looks in a mirror hung outside its cage

Evaluating environmental enrichment

Supporting technicians in assessing the welfare impact of enrichment.

Overview

Three brown mice inside, on top of and around a cubic wooden shelter with circular holes.

Amphibian care and welfare webinar

A joint webinar from the NC3Rs/RSPCA Animals in Science department on refining the use of amphibians in research.

Webinar and video

Handling and restraint: General principles

Guidance on best practices in handling and restraint for mice, rats and other laboratory rodents.

Guidance

Black mouse sitting on open hands. The technician is wearing a blue coveralls and blue medical grade gloves.

Minimising aggression in group-housed male mice

Recommendations for reducing aggression between group-housed male mice.

Guidance

A mouse with wounds on its back, the result of mouse aggression.

Tech3Rs newsletter for animal technicians

A newsletter for animal technicians interested in putting the 3Rs into practice in their facilities.

Newsletter

Training animals

Guidance on implementing positive reinforcement training methods.

Guidance

Marmoset being handfed as part of positive reinforcement training

Breeding and colony management

Guidance on best practices in confirming, archiving and maintaining strains.

Overview

A litter of black mice with an adult mouse, nesting in the corner of their home cage

Mouse handling

Guidance on non-aversive methods for handling mice. Includes tutorials, FAQs and tips for implementation.

Overview

Three black mice, one of them is being handled with a clear plastic tunnel

Mouse handling: Tips for implementation

Tips and strategies for rolling out the refined handling methods in your facility.

Guidance

MRC/NC3Rs webinar: Using both sexes in animal experiments

A webinar explaining the importance of using both sexes in animal experiments and things to consider when planning studies.

Webinar and video

Welcome slide for the joint webinar with MRC in using both sexes in animal experiments. Shows pictures of the three speakers: Drs Stella Child, Natasha Karp and Sara Wells.