Most farmed rabbits are kept in individual wire cages that deny all opportunity for social, locomotory and exploratory behaviour, with colony housing offering significant welfare improvements.
Conventional rabbit battery cages impose extreme behavioural restriction - rabbits cannot run, jump, groom companions or explore. Colony systems with platforms, enrichment and social groups substantially improve welfare, though require more careful health management due to increased disease transmission risk. The European initiative to move away from barren rabbit cages represents significant welfare progress.