1. allows for freedom of movement by rabbits 
2. allows for the provision of a variety of environmental enrichment strategies 

• 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. 

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

1. Restricts freedom of movement by rabbits.
2. Limits the provision of environmental enrichment strategies. 

• 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.

• Advantage: Provide additional areas for shelter/privacy, 
• Disadvantage: Restricts airflow and vision of surroundings.

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

• Hopping
• Leaping
• Playing
• Exploring
• Stretching out

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

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

• 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. 

• 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.

• 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.

• 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.

• 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)

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

• 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.

• Clean
• Dust free
• Odorless

• 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 

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

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.). 

• 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

• 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. 

• 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. 

• 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). 

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.

• by retreating to a separate compartment or raised area or
• by closing the nest after nursing.