Free Feeding
The Free Feeding program configures FED4 to automatically dispense pellets on a timed interval without requiring any nose pokes. This allows animals to consume food freely, while FED4 logs pellet removal timestamps. Fun fact: This was the ONLY task the original FED ran!
The total number of pellets taken can be converted to calories to estimate the total amount eaten each day. Keep in mind that animals don't necessarily eat every pellet they take. They can drop the pellets on the floor, resulting in left over pellets at the end of the session. This should be taken into account when estimating total food consumption. See Barrett et al to learn more about this behavior.
In addition to the total intake, the pattern of pellets removed can be used to determine day/night feeding, circadian feeding, and meal size, meal duration, and rate of eating within meals.
void loop() {
fed4.run(); // run this once per loop
fed4.feed(); // feed one pellet
}
