Rabbit

Group housing on floor pens and environmental enrichment in sandy lop rabbits

Species-adequate group-housing arrangements for rabbits are described. Rabbits housed in social groups benefit both from the company of each other and from exercise. While female rabbits are kept in groups with direct physical contact, solitary bucks are housed on floor...

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Batchelor, G. R. 1991. Group housing on floor pens and environmental enrichment in sandy lop rabbits. Animal Technology 42, 109-120.

Response of adult New Zealand white rabbits to enrichment objects and pair-housing

The high level of interaction [by single-housed rabbits with a gnawing stick, a wooden toy or a brass wire ball] indicated that the rabbits were interested in all the objects. The female pair-housed rabbits spent 88% of the observation intervals...

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Huls, W. L., Brooks, D. L., Bean-Knudsen, D. 1991. Response of adult New Zealand white rabbits to enrichment objects and pair-housing. Laboratory Animal Science 41, 609-612.

Rabbit nest construction and its relationship with litter development

The results of this study have indicated the importance of prenatal behavior, particularly the construction of a straw nest, on the growth and survival of the young.

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Canali, E., Ferrante, V., Todeschini, R. et al. 1991. Rabbit nest construction and its relationship with litter development. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 31, 259-266.

The rabbit: a diurnal or a nocturnal animal?

Although the rabbit is an almost 'classical' laboratory animal, chronobiological research in this species is in its infancy. It appears not even clear, whether the rabbit is a predominantly diurnal, crepuscularly active or nocturnal animal. In an ordinary, non sound-isolated...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Natural BehaviorAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Jilge, B. 1991. The rabbit: a diurnal or a nocturnal animal? Journal of Experimental Animal Science 34, 170-183.

Intestinal stasis and rupture in rabbits

Nine of the 14 rabbits with intestinal stasis and rupture had fur in their stomachs, often in large amounts, and this was associated with moulting.

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Jackson, G. 1991. Intestinal stasis and rupture in rabbits. The Veterinary Record 129, 287-289.

The effects of repeated handling by familiar and unfamiliar people on rabbits in individual cages and group pens

Rabbits of post-weaning age showed a reduction in fearfulness towards familiar and unfamiliar people after they have repeatedly approached and handled them.

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Podberscek, A. L., Blackshaw, J. K., Beattie, A. W. 1991. The effects of repeated handling by familiar and unfamiliar people on rabbits in individual cages and group pens. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28, 365-373.

The behaviour of group penned and individually caged laboratory rabbits

Only caged rabbits showed stereotypic behaviours and only penned [females plus castrated males] rabbits showed aggression. Penned [group-housed] rabbits also exhibited higher frequencies of comfort and marking and investigatory behaviours. Penned housing systems are more acceptable than cage systems as...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Housing, Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Poderscek, A. L., Blackshaw, J. K., Beattie, A. W. 1991. The behaviour of group penned and individually caged laboratory rabbits. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28, 353-363.

Group-housing rabbits

The management and success of a group-housing indoor/outdoor pen system for rabbits [mainly females] is described and discussed. Over a three-year study period a total of 141,000 rabbits were included in the assessment. The levels of fighting injuries was low,...

Year Published: 1991Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Love, J. A., Hammond, K. 1991. Group-housing rabbits. Lab Animal 20(8), 37-43.

Social behaviour of young domestic rabbits under semi-natural conditions

Detailed description of species-typical behavior patterns.

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Lehmann, M. 1991. Social behaviour of young domestic rabbits under semi-natural conditions. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 32, 269-292.

Rearing domestic rabbits in breeding groups: a contribution to animal welfare in rabbit farming

In traditional and commercial rabbit breeding does and bucks are kept isolated in cages and mating and weaning of their offspring follow various breeding schedules. ... Behavioural disorders of bucks, mothers and young, cannibalism and high loss of pups, which...

Year Published: 1991Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Stauffacher, M. 1991. Rearing domestic rabbits in breeding groups: a contribution to animal welfare in rabbit farming. In: Applied Animal Behaviour: Past, Present and Future. Appleby, M. C., Horrell, R. I., Petherick, J. C., Rutter, S. M. (eds), 80-81. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare, Potters Bar, UK.