Traditional rabbit hutches are far too small to meet rabbit behavioral needs, and evidence-based housing standards represent a significant welfare improvement.
Rabbit housing welfare is one of the most widespread companion animal welfare failures: millions of rabbits are kept in hutches so small that they cannot perform normal locomotion, stretch fully, or express species-typical behaviors. The welfare consequences of inadequate space are significant - restricted movement, behavioral frustration, and the physical problems that arise from chronic inactivity. Rabbit welfare organizations have developed evidence-based housing standards that dramatically exceed traditional hutch sizes, but adoption requires substantial owner education and a shift away from the 'small pet in a small cage' paradigm.