Rabbits are social animals that suffer significantly in individual cage housing. European legislation has moved toward group housing requirements, but group environments introduce new challenges including aggression and competition that must be managed carefully.
Farmed rabbit welfare was historically very poor, with individual barren wire cages preventing almost all natural behaviour. The move to group housing represents genuine welfare progress but introduces management complexity. Aggression between unfamiliar adult rabbits can cause significant injury, requiring thoughtful group composition and housing design. The transition to group housing is welfare-positive overall, provided management protocols address the specific challenges of rabbit social dynamics.