Rabbit

Nylabone on a chain

Both pigs and rabbits are having a great time banging the bone on the cage - they can swing it around, and they get to chew on it too!

Year Published: 2001Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Pig, Rabbit

Citation: Cohoon, J. 2001. Nylabone on a chain. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 6(1), 2.

Evaluation of objects and food for environmental enrichment of NZW rabbits

Male and female 6-week old New Zealand White rabbits were divided into three groups: food-enriched (Bunny Stix, Bunny Blocks, or celery), non-food enriched (Jingle Ball, Kong toy, or Nylabone), and not enriched. ... Rabbits spent significantly more time interacting with...

Year Published: 2001Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Harris, L. D., Custer, L. B., Soranaka, E. T. et al. 2001. Evaluation of objects and food for environmental enrichment of NZW rabbits. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40(1), 27-30.

Neuroendocrinology of maternal behavior in the rabbit

Rabbit maternal behavior consists of building an underground nest of straw and body hair during late pregnancy and displaying, with circadian periodicity, a single 3-min nursing bout/day across lactation. Estrogen, androgen, progesterone, and prolactin regulate specific aspects of nest-building and...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Gonzalez-Mariscal, G. 2001. Neuroendocrinology of maternal behavior in the rabbit. Hormones and Behavior 40, 125-132.

Wire-floor pens as an alternative to metallic cages in fattening rabbits: Influence on some welfare traits

Penned rabbits spent more time lying down and, from the frequency of scratches on their ears, we may infer that crowding is less important than in cages. The total time spent in locomotion was unchanged but the way they moved...

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Martrenchar, A., Boilletot, E., Cotte, J.-P. et al. 2001. Wire-floor pens as an alternative to metallic cages in fattening rabbits: Influence on some welfare traits. Animal Welfare 10, 153-161.

The behavioural repertoire of non-breeding group-housed female laboratory rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Trichophagy and stereotypic behaviors observed in singly caged rabbits were not observed in group-housed does.

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Held, S. D. E., Turner, R. J., Wootton, R. J. 2001. The behavioural repertoire of non-breeding group-housed female laboratory rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Animal Welfare 10, 437-443.

Enrichment-toy trauma in a New Zealand White Rabbit*

An injury was caused by an enrichment toy (a whiffle ball, which is a perforated hollow ball made of hard plastic) that led to its removal from the rabbit enrichment program. ... The whiffle ball had been considered safe. It...

Year Published: 2001Topics: Environmental EnrichmentAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Shomer, N. H., Peikert, S., Terwilliger, G. 2001. Enrichment-toy trauma in a New Zealand White Rabbit*. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 40 (1), 31-32.

Conversion of single-housed New Zealand white rabbits to group-housed pen

Ten previously single-caged individuals [probably females] were directly introduced as a group in a pen. Even though some minor fighting occurred, no major injuries were incurred by any of the rabbits. Group housing showed to be a very successful enrichment...

Year Published: 2001Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Russert, M. H., Hess, B. H. 2001. Conversion of single-housed New Zealand white rabbits to group-housed pen . American Association for Laboratory Animal Science [AALAS] Meeting Official Program, 101 (Abstract).

Rattling rabbits

The rabbits have been observed tugging and sliding the baby rattles up and down the bar on a daily basis. No data are included in this article.

Year Published: 2001Animal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Bang, D. A. 2001. Rattling rabbits. Tech Talk [The Newsletter for Laboratory Animal Science Technicians] 6(3), 1.

Species-Specific Provisions for Rodents and Rabbits

Basic, but valuable recommendation for species-adequate housing environments.

Year Published: 2002Animal Type: Rabbit, Rodent

Citation: Convention of the Council of Europe 2002. Species-Specific Provisions for Rodents and Rabbits. Council of Europe, Strasbourg, France.

Pair-housing rabbits in standard laboratory cages: The relative importance of social enrichment

Even though they are highly social animals ... rabbits in laboratories are often housed individually. Singly caged rabbits exhibit abnormal behaviors, an accepted indicator of poor welfare. Group housing of rabbits is an option, but is associated with problems with...

Year Published: 2002Topics: Social Housing & CompanionshipAnimal Type: Rabbit

Citation: Chu, L., Garner, J. P., Mench, J. A. 2002. Pair-housing rabbits in standard laboratory cages: The relative importance of social enrichment. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science 41(4), 114 (Abstract).