A food access control apparatus for home cages, the home cages comprising a food hopper, comprising: at least two access control devices, each access control device to be associated with his own home cage; the at least two access control devices comprising: a server access control device to be associated with a server home cage, the server access control device comprising a server controller (104, 140); and at least one client access control device to be associated with a client home cage, the client access control device comprising a client controller in a signal communication with the server controller (104, 140); the server controller (104, 140) configured to deliver access signals according to an access schedule based on data entered into the server controller (104, 140) by an operator; and the client controller configured to receive an access schedule based on the data entered into the server controller (104, 140); each of the at least two access control devices further comprising: a movable barrier configured to be positioned in the respective home cage between a storage area and a living area and configured to be movable between an access position where there is unrestricted access to an item in the storage area from the living area and a restricted position where the access is denied; wherein the movable barrier is moved between the access position and the restricted position in response to the access signals, and wherein the movable barrier is configured to fit entirely within a volume bounded by the home cage and the food hopper of the home cage; and/or to be suspended from the food hopper of the home cage. at least two access control devices, each access control device to be associated with his own home cage; the at least two access control devices comprising: a server access control device to be associated with a server home cage, the server access control device comprising a server controller (104, 140); and at least one client access control device to be associated with a client home cage, the client access control device comprising a client controller in a signal communication with the server controller (104, 140); the server controller (104, 140) configured to deliver access signals according to an access schedule based on data entered into the server controller (104, 140) by an operator; and the client controller configured to receive an access schedule based on the data entered into the server controller (104, 140); each of the at least two access control devices further comprising: a movable barrier configured to be positioned in the respective home cage between a storage area and a living area and configured to be movable between an access position where there is unrestricted access to an item in the storage area from the living area and a restricted position where the access is denied; a server access control device to be associated with a server home cage, the server access control device comprising a server controller (104, 140); and at least one client access control device to be associated with a client home cage, the client access control device comprising a client controller in a signal communication with the server controller (104, 140); the server controller (104, 140) configured to deliver access signals according to an access schedule based on data entered into the server controller (104, 140) by an operator; and the client controller configured to receive an access schedule based on the data entered into the server controller (104, 140); each of the at least two access control devices further comprising: a movable barrier configured to be positioned in the respective home cage between a storage area and a living area and configured to be movable between an access position where there is unrestricted access to an item in the storage area from the living area and a restricted position where the access is denied; wherein the movable barrier is moved between the access position and the restricted position in response to the access signals, and wherein the movable barrier is configured to fit entirely within a volume bounded by the home cage and the food hopper of the home cage; and/or to be suspended from the food hopper of the home cage.