Rabbit

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.

Preferred substrates for penned laboratory rabbits

Group-housed does preferred straw or shredded paper and avoided sawdust or wood shavings.

Year Published: 1992Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Turner, R. J., Selby, J. I., Held, S. D. E. et al. 1992. Preferred substrates for penned laboratory rabbits. Animal Technology 43, 185-192.

Group housing and enrichment cages for breeding, fattening and laboratory rabbits

53% of rabbits who had been housed in small, conventional cages were unable to hop when being removed from their cages. A further 36% were able to hop only to a limited extent. However, 50% of rabbits kept in double...

Year Published: 1992Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Stauffacher, M. 1992. Group housing and enrichment cages for breeding, fattening and laboratory rabbits. Animal Welfare 1, 105-125.

Cage enrichment for female New Zealand White rabbits

The paired rabbits preferred to be together (90 percent of the time). .. Even though an individual J feeder and a lixit waterer were in each cage, the paired rabbits usually preferred to share their food and water. Fir-wood gnawing...

Year Published: 1993Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Brooks, D. L., Huls, W., Leamon, C. et al. 1993. Cage enrichment for female New Zealand White rabbits. Lab Animal 22(5), 30-38.

Social behaviour and immunological correlates in group-housed female laboratory rabbits

Low-ranking does received more aggression than high-ranking ones, however, there was no indication that this affected their welfare.Abstract published in: Applied Animal Behaviour Science 40, 82, 1994; Held SDE, Turner RJ, Wootton RJ; Social behaviour and immunological correlates in group-housed...

Year Published: 1993Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Held, S. D. E., Turner, R. J., Wootton, R. J. 1993. Social behaviour and immunological correlates in group-housed female laboratory rabbits. In: Proceedings of the International Congress on Applied Ethology. Wierenga, H. K. , Braun, S. (eds), 131-135. KTBL, Darmstadt, Germany.

Refinements in rabbit husbandry: Second report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW [British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation/Fund for the Replacement of Animal in Medical Research/Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals/Universities Federation for Animal Welfare] Joint Working Group on Refinement

Very useful recommendations for and review of species-appropriate housing and handling of rabbits. The aims of this report is to identify the needs of domesticated rabbits and to present information on ways in which the current system of housing rabbits...

Year Published: 1993Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Morton, D. B., Jennings, M., Batchelor, G. R. et al. 1993. Refinements in rabbit husbandry: Second report of the BVAAWF/FRAME/RSPCA/UFAW [British Veterinary Association Animal Welfare Foundation/Fund for the Replacement of Animal in Medical Research/Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals/Universities Federation for Animal Welfare] Joint Working Group on Refinement. Laboratory Animals 27, 301-329.