Farmed rabbits are often kept in barren battery cages that severely restrict natural behaviors. Welfare-focused alternatives exist and are increasingly required by legislation and certification schemes.
Farmed rabbit welfare in conventional systems is severely compromised. Battery cage housing denies virtually every natural behavior: rabbits cannot run, jump more than a few steps, hide, burrow, or engage in normal social interaction. The wire mesh flooring causes painful sore hocks and prevents natural postures. Rabbits are naturally crepuscular and highly alert to danger — constant artificial lighting and proximity to many conspecifics without escape routes generates chronic stress. Park housing systems — group housing in larger, enriched pens with hiding areas, elevated platforms, and gnawing materials — significantly improve welfare metrics and are commercially viable. Some studies show comparable or better production performance in park systems with appropriate management. Consumer awareness of rabbit welfare is lower than for chickens or pigs, making advocacy particularly valuable.