Conventional battery cages for farmed rabbits cause severe welfare problems. Colony housing systems that allow movement, social interaction, and natural behaviours represent a significant improvement.
The welfare gap between conventional battery cages and colony systems for farmed rabbits is substantial. In cages, rabbits cannot run, jump, stand on their hind legs fully, or engage in normal social behaviours — leading to chronic frustration, muscle weakness, and psychological distress expressed as stereotypies. Foot pad lesions from wire flooring cause persistent pain. Colony housing does not eliminate all welfare problems — aggression management, disease control, and enrichment quality all require careful attention — but it provides a fundamentally richer life experience for rabbits. Transitioning the industry away from barren cages is a clear welfare priority supported by scientific evidence.