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𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙨

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𝙂𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝙋𝙚𝙣𝙨

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𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨

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𝙎𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙡𝙚 𝙃𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙣 𝘾𝙖𝙜𝙚𝙨

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1. One nesting box per female: to enable each female to nest alone.

2. Size of nest boxes: 38cm x 25cm and 20cm high (females may urinate in boxes if they are too large).

3. For a breeding group of 4-5 females, one male and their offspring: a floor area of 9 square metres is recommended.

4. Females should be provided with straw, hay or shredded paper to spread in their nesting place.

5. Females should be able to withdraw from their young

by retreating to a separate compartment or raised area or

by closing the nest after nursing.

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1. A central area: For resting

2. A feeding area with several sources of food and water

3. A nesting area with separate nesting boxes with tunnel-like entrances, straw bedding and barriers between each nest to obscure the view of adjacent nests (to limit aggressive behaviour)

4. A pup area with small entrance passages accessible to rabbits up until about weaning age (about 18- 39 days)

5. An isolation area (which is needed to separate the male from time to time and for sick females): sight and olfactory contact with rabbits in the main pen should be allowed.

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 𝙍𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨

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 𝙍𝙖𝙗𝙗𝙞𝙩 𝙝𝙤𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙨𝙮𝙨𝙩𝙚𝙢 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙜𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙥𝙨

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Rabbits in groups in pens should:

be of similar age and weight,

be the same sex (preferably female), and

be litter mates or mixed together at an early age (around weaning).

Mature (uncastrated) male rabbits should not be housed together.

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Having visual and olfactory contact with other rabbits

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Having visual and olfactory contact with other rabbits

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Plentiful supply of clean water: Always be available.

Automatic watering systems/ water bottles: Care taken to avoid leakage and overflows.

Open water systems: Should be raised up to prevent water being contaminated with bedding and faeces.

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For variety: Provide fruit and vegetables (must be washed to reduce risk of infection), corn, barley, oat and soya beans.

Restricted diet: Fed in the late afternoon (to reduce the frequency of abnormal behaviours in caged rabbits)

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Disadvantages of Single Housing in Cages 

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Disadvantages of Single Housing in Cages 

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Limited space in cages restricts the rabbits to carry out normal activities.

Social deprivation causes the restriction of behavioural repertoire of singly caged rabbits.

Rabbits are more likely to carry out various stereotypic behaviours such as excessive grooming, fur eating and exhibiting restlessness due to frustration, anxiety and boredom.

Rabbits tend to overreact to small changes in the environment → become stressed, nervous and aggressive.

Difficult to provide environmental enrichment due to limited space.

Poor ventilation in solid-sided cages.

High risk of health problems:

Trichobezoars (hairballs)

Gastrointestinal ulcers

Pododermatitis (sore hocks)

Obesity

Osteoporosis

Cages are expensive and time-consuming to clean

Singly housed rabbits in cages may be psychologically and physiologically abnormal → influence experimental results.

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Easy control and monitoring of food and water intake

Able to quantify and monitor faeces and urine excretion

Easy identification of rabbits without the need to mark them.

Easy control of the spread of infection compared to the group housed rabbits.

Easy to maintain a cleaner environment.

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Rabbits should be housed in groups in pens.

Rabbits that cannot be housed in groups (eg intact males or for experimental reasons) should be housed in pens with olfactory, visual and, if possible, physical contact with adjacent rabbits.

Rabbits should only be housed in cages with the express permission of the Animal Ethics Committee of the institution when there are enough justifications for the need to use the cages.

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Fighting and bullying may occur, especially in mature males.

Rabbits may be difficult to be caught in pens.

Difficult in the identification of individual rabbits.

Large volume of bedding makes disposal difficult.

Space may be wasted, especially vertical height.

There is the potential for disease spread.

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Housed in compatible pairs wherever possible.

Usually require the use of double cages.

Cages can be joined by a PVC pipe: acts as a hiding/ resting area.

Have visual and olfactory contact with other rabbits.

If placed in solid-sided cages: Make sure they can view other rabbits.

Should be taken out of cages on a regular basis for handling/petting and exercise to relieve boredom.

Allowing rabbits to access floor pens will assist in providing the opportunity for exercise.

Including All Environmental Enrichments in Pens

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Dried pelleted diets: Fed at 60 – 80 g/kg/day depending on the age of rabbits and their opportunities for exercise. More than one formulation may be fed to relieve boredom.

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Hay: Fed on daily basis

High fibre content:

Allow digestive system to function properly

Good for dental health because rabbit's teeth grow all the time and the chewing action of course substances can help wear down teeth to stop them becoming too long ("Types of Rabbit Hay & Grass", n.d.).

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2.3 Sawdust and wood shavings - not advisable

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2.3 Sawdust and wood shavings - not advisable

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1. Requirement:

Should be supplied to a depth of at least 2cm.

Should be made from non-resinated (softwood) timber

Autoclaving to remove odours that offend rabbits

2. Disadvantages:

Strong odor

Risk of skin and lung irritation due to the oils/phenols contained in the wood. ("Bedding and Litter", n.d.)

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2.2 Shredded paper - second choice of bedding

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2.2 Shredded paper - second choice of bedding

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1. Advantage:

Clean

Dust free

Odorless

2. Disadvantage: Poor absorbency qualities → overcome by putting shredded paper on top of multiple layers of newspaper.

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1. Description:

Are stalks from grain crops after the grain heads have been taken off.

Yellow in colour

The stalks are hollow like a drinking straw ("Hay v. Staw", 2009)

2. Uses:

1. As bedding: Great for insulating to keep rabbits warm on cold winter nights

2. As environmental enrichment: For rabbits to play with, nibble, manipulate and burrow in straw

3. Requirement:

Must be autoclaved to prevent the potential source of microbial disease.

Should be supplied to a depth of at least 5cm.

Adding a layer of wood shavings or sawdust under the straw to increase the moisture absorbent properties.

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Rabbits are social animals.

Provides increased space which allows rabbits freedom of movement to carry out normal activities such as hopping, stretching out, sitting up with ears erect, rearing, and leaping.

Gives opportunity to exercise and explore a complex environment which assists physical and psychological well-being.

Allows for social interaction and behaviours such as grooming penmates, lying together and playing.

Allows environment to be enriched and made more behaviourally stimulating.

Saves costs

Decreased risk of health problems:

Sore hocks (pododermatitis)

Gastrointestinal hair balls (trichobezoars)

Reduces snuffles due to better ventilation than solid walled cages.

Reduces thinning of femur bones and spine which is normally caused by inactivity.

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Principle:

Rabbits stake out a toilet area by urinating and defecating in one corner, although the movement of rabbits in pen will also cause the faecal pellets to be scattered.

Urination and scent marking carried out by rabbits in clean cages are attempts to restore an “optimum odour field”.

The sense of smell is important for social interaction because rabbits may communicate via the olfactory environment.

Recommendations:

Frequency of cleaning: Depends on the type and depth of bedding, stocking rates and the efficiency of air exchange in decreasing levels of noxious gases

Cleaning the toilet area: 3 or 4 times a week

Complete changes of bedding: Two weeks

When a system of shredded paper over layers of newspaper is used: Newspaper is changed at least twice a week

Washing and disinfecting the pens with an odourless disinfectant: At least every month.

Completely cleaning pens and rooms: Everytime a room is cleared and new stock in brought in.

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1. Principle: Ensures a clean, dry and comfortable lying area.

2. Requirement:

Dust-free

Free of microbial or parasitic contamination

Non-toxic

Ammonia binding

Non-traumatic

Moisture absorbent

Cheap

Readily available

Easy to use and dispose of

Avoid strong smell: The smell of woods have resinous aromatic oils which affect rabbits’ behaviour patterns by altering the olfactory field.

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• Covered pen: a minimum height of 100cm

Enable rabbits to sit on top of objects such as ledges and nest boxes for viewing the surrounding from a raised area.

• Uncovered pens: a minimum height of 1.25 metres

• The proximity and height of objects near the edges of pens should be considered.

Because rabbits can jump very high and use objects within a pen to jump out of pens.

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• Determined by age and activity level of rabbits. (E.g. young rabbits require more space than adults for playing behaviors.)
• Allow locomotory behaviors to be carried out:

Hopping

Leaping

Playing

Exploring

Stretching out

• Allow rabbits to complete 3 hopes in one direction. (E.g. In New Zealand White: 1.5 - 2.0 metres in normal hopes and much further when startled.)
• < 6 rabbits: 0.75 - 0.8 square metres per rabbit
• > 6 rabbits: 0.25 squared metres per additional rabbits.

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• Solid (Plastic) or Open weave (Wire mesh)
• Opaque or Transparent
- Must be safe and non-toxic to rabbits
- Easy to clean, water-resistant and strong

Opaque solid walls between pens

Advantage: Provide additional areas for shelter/privacy,

Disadvantage: Restricts airflow and vision of surroundings.

Prefer wire mesh

Allow rabbits to see out to eliminate fear responses when someone is approaching.

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1.1 Less cost than single housing in cages

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1.1 Less cost than single housing in cages

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Less costs are needed for:
- Cage washers (running, maintenance and servicing)
- Chemicals (Descalers and disinfectants)
- Staff time for cleaning

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Cleaning trays and replacing tray material: 3 times per week

Cleaning cages: Every 1 or 2 weeks.

Monitoring ammonia concentration at the level of cages: Ideally 1-2ppm and should not exceed 10ppm.

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Sawdust, woodshavings, corrugated paper, paper sprinkled with absorbent powders, pelleted paper, preformed cardboard trays and absorbent pad are used in cage trays to catch urine and faeces.

Sawdust or woodshavings should not smell strongly and should be made from softwood timber.

Autoclaving to remove odours because the odours may give stress to rabbits and cause reproductive inhibition.

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Minimum floor dimension: 0.8 meters width x 0.8 meters length
- Allow rabbits to stretch fully in all directions in the cage (length, width and diagonal)
- Commonly used laboratory rabbit (New Zealand White) is approximately 80cm long when fully stretched out.

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Minimum 75cm height
- Allow rabbits to carry out normal behaviour such as rearing up on their hind legs and sitting up erect with their ears pricked.
- This posture allows rabbits to investigate sights and sounds.

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Plastic or metal dimple floor is used instead of wire or grid floor.
- To prevent sore hocks, especially in heavier rabbits.
- Can lie stretched out more comfortably.
- Reduce heat loss from rabbits' body.

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• Material: Metal (stainless steel or aluminium) or plastic

• Wire cages (open-sided):
Advantages:

Quieter than solid metal when rabbits move around.

Allows rabbits to communicate with rabbits in adjacent cages by sight, odours and urine spraying.

Provides good ventilation.

Disadvantage: Provide no darkened hiding or retreat area → solve by providing enrichment.

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A fully enclosed container.

Due to its size, it may

1. Restricts freedom of movement by rabbits.

2. Limits the provision of environmental enrichment strategies.

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𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 & 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜

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𝙁𝙚𝙚𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜 & 𝙒𝙖𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜

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Requirements:

Nutritionally adequate diet.

More than one source of food and water to be provided:  to reduce the possibility of aggressive competition.

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Ledges, boxes, PVC pipes and bales of straw: Create elevated areas for sitting on and darkened areas for hiding in.

Sufficient objects should be provided: To allow use by all rabbits and eliminate competition for use of the objects.

Large raised areas for lying on: To hold more than one rabbit as rabbits like lying together.

Hay and/or straw: for chewing, digging, hiding and building nests.

A variety of food should be provided: Food can be spread out in the bedding to encourage foraging behaviour.

Provided with objects: to manipulate and gnaw such as wooden sticks, branches with leaves and small cardboard boxes.

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Enclosure for housing rabbits:

1. allows for freedom of movement by rabbits

2. allows for the provision of a variety of environmental enrichment strategies