Best Practices for Raising Rabbits
- Dr Andrew Matole, BVetMed, MSc
- Sep 14
- 5 min read
Updated: Sep 16
1. Housing & Environment
Rabbits require housing that supports both physical health and psychological well-being. Spacious, clean, and secure enclosures are essential to allow natural behaviors such as hopping, stretching, digging, and standing upright (McBride et al., 2021). The Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund (RWAF) recommends a minimum enclosure size of 3 m × 2 m × 1 m for two bonded rabbits, comprising separate areas for sleeping, toileting, and exercise (RWAF, 2020).
Hutch-style cages should be draft-free and predator-proof, raised above ground level to improve biosecurity and visibility. However, wire flooring must be avoided as it causes pododermatitis (sore hocks); instead, solid or cushioned resting areas are necessary (Meredith & Lord, 2014). Outdoor cage-free housing systems, such as fixed or mobile runs with pasture access, provide additional welfare benefits by enabling grazing, digging, and foraging—behaviors closely linked to improved psychological resilience (Held et al., 2020; Compassion in World Farming [CIWF], 2021).
A hutch-style cage is a box-like enclosure, typically made of wood and wire mesh, for housing small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, and ferrets. They are a traditional housing solution, often designed for outdoor use but also available in smaller, indoor-friendly models
2. Housing System: Hutch vs. Colony
Hutches or individual cages are commonly used in small-scale and commercial setups due to their manageability, ease of hygiene control, and facilitation of selective breeding (Matics et al., 2018). This system is especially suitable for novice rabbit keepers or when accurate breeding records are critical.
Conversely, colony systems replicate more natural conditions. Group housing increases activity levels, improves muscle tone, and may positively influence meat quality and flavor through higher physical exercise (Szendrő & Dalle Zotte, 2011). Furthermore, rabbits housed in groups often show enhanced immune responses (Rommers et al., 2014). However, colony systems present challenges such as disease management, aggression control, and difficulty in maintaining breeding records (Hoy, 2020). Thus, a balance must be struck between welfare enhancement and practical constraints depending on the production or companion context.
3. Enrichment & Welfare
Environmental enrichment is vital for reducing stress and encouraging natural behaviors. Items such as platforms, tunnels, chew toys, and hiding spaces reduce stereotypic behaviors and improve welfare indicators (Baumans, 2017). For breeding does, enrichment such as alfalfa blocks, gnawing sticks, or wooden panels reduces aggression in group housing (Rommers et al., 2014). Enrichment also contributes to improved productivity, as less stressed rabbits exhibit better growth rates and reproductive success (Hoy, 2020).
4. Nutrition & Feeding
Rabbits are strict herbivores with a digestive system specialized for hindgut fermentation. Their diet should consist primarily of high-fiber grass hay (e.g., timothy, meadow, or oat), making up 80–90% of an adult rabbit’s intake, to maintain dental wear and gastrointestinal motility (Cheeke & Patton, 2019). Alfalfa hay, rich in protein and calcium, is recommended only for growing kits and pregnant/lactating does due to risks of obesity and urolithiasis in adults (Meredith & Lord, 2014).
Commercial high-fiber pellets (16–18% crude fiber) should form no more than 5–10% of the diet to prevent obesity and gastrointestinal stasis (Utah State University Extension, 2017).
Supplementation with fresh leafy greens (5–10%) provides micronutrients and environmental enrichment, but sugary fruits and toxic foods (e.g., iceberg lettuce, avocado, chocolate) must be strictly avoided (Bessei, 2018). Access to fresh, clean water is essential at all times, supplied via bowls, bottles, or automated drinkers for larger groups (CIWF, 2021).
5. Health & Management
Daily health monitoring—including checks of appetite, fecal output, and behavior—is critical, as rabbits are prey species that instinctively mask signs of illness (Meredith & Lord, 2014).
Common health concerns include:
Gastrointestinal stasis, often caused by low-fiber diets or stress (Cheeke & Patton, 2019).
Dental disease, linked to insufficient chewing of fibrous forage (Bessei, 2018).
Respiratory disease, exacerbated by poor ventilation or damp bedding (McBride et al., 2021).
Flystrike (myiasis) in warm climates, preventable by maintaining hygiene and inspecting perineal areas (RWAF, 2020).
Routine neutering of males prevents aggression and unwanted breeding. Spaying females reduces reproductive cancers but carries higher anesthetic risks and should be performed by an experienced veterinarian (Varga, 2014).
6. Grooming & Handling
Regular grooming is essential. Short-haired breeds require weekly brushing, while long-haired breeds such as Angoras need daily grooming to prevent mats and trichobezoars (hairballs) (Meredith & Lord, 2014). Bathing should be avoided as it induces stress and hypothermia.
Providing safe chew toys (wood, hay blocks) satisfies gnawing instincts while preventing damage to household items. Bunny-proofing indoor spaces by covering wires and blocking gaps enhances both rabbit welfare and owner safety (Bessei, 2018).
7. Socialization & Training
Rabbits are inherently social and thrive in bonded pairs or groups. Proper bonding introductions on neutral ground reduce aggression and support long-term companionship (McBride et al., 2021).
They can also be effectively litter trained, especially if a hay rack is placed near the litter box, as rabbits naturally eliminate while eating. Consistency in cleaning reinforces this behavior (Utah State University Extension, 2017).
8. Breeding
If breeding is undertaken, individual cages are recommended for does to prevent aggression and mis-mothering. Gestation lasts 30–34 days; nesting boxes lined with bedding and fur should be provided by day 28–30 (Meredith & Lord, 2014).
To maintain genetic vigor, unrelated bucks should be introduced periodically, and breeding schedules managed carefully to prevent overbreeding and inbreeding depression (Szendrő & Dalle Zotte, 2011). Colony breeding complicates this process due to uncontrolled mating.
Summary Table of Recommendations
Aspect | Key Recommendations |
Housing | Spacious, predator-proof, solid flooring, enable hopping and resting |
System Choice | Hutch = hygiene/control; Colony = natural behaviors but harder to manage |
Enrichment | Platforms, tunnels, chew toys, hiding places to reduce stress and aggression |
Diet | 80–90% grass hay; limited pellets; 5–10% leafy greens; avoid unsafe foods; clean water |
Health Care | Monitor daily; prevent GI stasis, dental disease, flystrike; neuter males |
Grooming | Brush weekly/daily; avoid baths; provide safe chew materials |
Training | Bond in pairs/groups; use litter trays with hay for success |
Breeding | Controlled breeding in cages; nest boxes at ~30 days; avoid inbreeding |
References
Baumans, V. (2017). Science-based assessment of animal welfare: laboratory animals. Revue scientifique et technique (International Office of Epizootics), 36(1), 21–29.
Bessei, W. (2018). Welfare of rabbits in commercial production systems. World Rabbit Science, 26(3), 191–202.
Cheeke, P. R., & Patton, N. M. (2019). Rabbit production (9th ed.). CABI Publishing.
Compassion in World Farming. (2021). Rabbit welfare standards. Retrieved from https://www.ciwf.org.uk
Held, S. D. E., Turner, R. J., & Wootton, R. J. (2020). Choices of laboratory rabbits for food and environment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 229, 105037.
Hoy, S. (2020). Group housing of breeding does in rabbit production: Advantages and disadvantages. Animals, 10(10), 1821.
Matics, Z., Szendrő, K., Gerencsér, Z., Radnai, I., & Dalle Zotte, A. (2018). Housing systems for rabbits: a review. Livestock Science, 214, 1–9.
McBride, E. A., et al. (2021). Welfare needs of pet rabbits: housing, socialization, and enrichment. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science, 24(3), 245–260.
Meredith, A., & Lord, B. (2014). BSAVA manual of rabbit medicine. BSAVA Publications.
Rommers, J., et al. (2014). Enrichment in rabbit housing reduces aggression and stress. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 157, 123–130.
RWAF. (2020). Rabbit housing guidelines. Rabbit Welfare Association & Fund.
Szendrő, K., & Dalle Zotte, A. (2011). Effect of housing on rabbit welfare. Livestock Science, 137(1–3), 213–221.
Utah State University Extension. (2017). Rabbit nutrition and feeding guidelines. Utah State University.
Varga, M. (2014). Textbook of rabbit medicine (2nd ed.). Elsevier.
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