Rabbit farming has faced significant welfare criticism due to barren cage systems. Advanced housing approaches prioritize natural behavior expression and improved welfare outcomes.
The welfare contrast between barren cage systems and enriched group housing for rabbits is stark. Rabbits in barren cages spend large portions of the day in stereotypic bar-chewing, a clear indicator of frustration and unmet behavioral needs. Advanced housing systems that provide space, social contact, hiding areas, platforms, and manipulable materials allow rabbits to express their behavioral repertoire and experience positive welfare states. Transition costs and disease management in groups present implementation challenges but are increasingly addressed through improved husbandry knowledge.