Hostname: page-component-5b777bbd6c-skqgd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-06-24T04:35:43.913Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Do rabbits need each other? Effects of single versus paired housing on rabbit body temperature and behaviour in a UK shelter

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 January 2023

CC Burn  and
P Shields
CC Burn*
Affiliation:
The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
P Shields
Affiliation:
The Royal Veterinary College, Hawkshead Lane, North Mymms, Herts AL9 7TA, UK
*
* Contact for correspondence: cburn@rvc.ac.uk
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

In the wild, rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are social but territorial. Recent surveys suggest that over half of pet rabbits are housed singly. We aimed to compare welfare in single versus paired rabbits. We predicted singletons would show more abnormal or escape behaviour, greater stress responses to handling, and reduced body temperature (being unable to huddle with another individual when cold), but that pairs may show aggression. This study was conducted during winter at a rabbit-only rescue centre, and included 45 rabbits, comprising 15 housed singly and 15 pairs. Like most pet rabbits, they were housed either outdoors or in unheated outbuildings. Singletons were mostly in smaller enclosures than pairs. Home-pen observations (40 min) revealed bar-biting in 8/15 single rabbits compared with 0/30 of the paired ones. No other behavioural effects of social housing reached significance, and enclosure size showed no significant effects. Body temperature was significantly lower in singletons than pairs, with at least 0.5°C mean difference. On colder days, rabbits adopted compact postures more, and relaxed postures less frequently. After handling, pairs resumed normal behaviour significantly more quickly than singletons in the home-pen (3.0 [± 0.3] versus 8.3 [± 1.3] s, respectively). Aggression was never observed. The results indicate that social housing reduces bar-biting, aids thermoregulation, and may help buffer stress. Rabbit owners should be encouraged to meet the need for rabbits to be housed with an appropriate conspecific in a suitably large, sheltered enclosure.

Keywords

abnormal behaviouranimal welfarerabbitssocial bufferingsocial isolationthermoregulation
Type
Research Article
Information
Animal Welfare , Volume 29 , Issue 2 , May 2020 , pp. 209 - 219
Copyright
© 2020 Universities Federation for Animal Welfare

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Article purchase

Temporarily unavailable

References

Antinoff, N 1999 Physical examination and preventive care of rabbits. Veterinary Clinics of North America: Exotic Animal Practice 2:405–427. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1094-9194(17)30130-5Google ScholarPubMed
Bignon, L, Bouchier, M, Coutelet, G, Galliot, P, Souchet, C and Fortun-Lamothe, L 2012 Individual housing of young does in different sized cages: Impact on welfare, economic costs and productive data. Proceedings of the 10th World Rabbit Congress pp 1045–1049. 3-6 September 2012, Sharm El- Sheikh, EgyptGoogle Scholar
Buijs, S, Keeling, LJ and Tuyttens, FAM 2011 Behaviour and use of space in fattening rabbits as influenced by cage size and enrichment. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 134: 229–238. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.06.008CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burn, CC and Shields, P 2015 Do rabbits need each other? Effects of social versus solitary housing on rabbit behaviour, thermoregulation and response to challenges. Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour Summer Conference. 26-27 August 2015, Lincoln, UKGoogle Scholar
Chen, PH and White, CE 2006 Comparison of rectal, microchip transponder, and infrared thermometry techniques for obtaining body temperature in the laboratory rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Journal of the American Association for Laboratory Animal Science 45: 57–63Google ScholarPubMed
Chu, L, Garner, JP and Mench, JA 2004 A behavioral compari-son of New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) housed individually or in pairs in conventional laboratory cages. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 85: 121–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2003.09.011CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowan, DP 1987a Aspects of the social organisation of the European wild rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Ethology 75: 197–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1439-0310.1987.tb00653.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cowan, DP 1987b Group living in the European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): Mutual benefit or resource localization? Journal of Animal Ecology 56: 779–795. https://doi.org/10.2307/4948CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Crowell-Davis, SL 2007 Behavior problems in pet rabbits. Journal of Exotic Pet Medicine 16: 38–44. https://doi.org/10.1053/j.jepm.2006.11.022CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Paula Vieira, A, von Keyserlingk, MAG and Weary, DM 2010 Effects of pair versus single housing on performance and behav-ior of dairy calves before and after weaning from milk. Journal of Dairy Science 93: 3079–3085. https://doi.org/10.3168/jds.2009-2516CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Di Girolamo, N, Toth, G and Selleri, P 2016 Prognostic value of rectal temperature at hospital admission in client-owned rab-bits. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 248: 288–297. https://doi.org/10.2460/javma.248.3.288CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dixon, LM, Hardiman, JR and Cooper, JJ 2010 The effects of spatial restriction on the behavior of rabbits (Oryctolagus cunicu-lus). Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 5: 302–308. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2010.07.002Google Scholar
Edgar, JL and Mullan, SM 2011 Knowledge and attitudes of 52 UK pet rabbit owners at the point of sale. Veterinary Record 168:353. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.c6191CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ellis, CF, McCormick, W and Tinarwo, A 2017 Analysis of fac-tors relating to companion rabbits relinquished to two United Kingdom rehoming centers. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 20: 230–239. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2017.1303381CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Enright, J 2015 Investigating dominant behaviours in domestic rabbits. BSc (Hons) dissertation, The Royal Veterinary College, UKGoogle Scholar
Gonzalez, RR, Kluger, MJ and Hardy, JD 1971 Partitional calorimetry of the New Zealand white rabbit at temperatures 5-35 degrees C. Journal of Applied Physiology 31: 728–734. https://doi.org/10.1152/jappl.1971.31.5.728CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gosling, EM, Vázquez-Diosdado, JA and Harvey, ND 2018 The status of pet rabbit breeding and online sales in the UK: A glimpse into an otherwise elusive industry. Animals 8: 199. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani8110199CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Graf, S, Bigler, L, Failing, K, Würbel, H and Buchwalder, T 2011 Regrouping rabbit does in a familiar or novel pen: Effects on agonistic behaviour, injuries and core body temperature. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 135: 121–127. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.applanim.2011.10.009CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guard, M 2013 How to Stop Your Bunny Match-Up Becoming a Punch-Up. Cottontails Rescue: Westbury, UK. http://cottontails-rescue.org.uk/bonding-bunnies/#INTRODUCTION_ TO_BONDING_METHODSGoogle Scholar
Hawkins, P, Hubrecht, R, Buckwell, A, Cubitt, S, Howard, B, Jackson, A and Poirier, G 2008 Refining rabbit care: A resource for those working with rabbits in research pp 12–13. RSPCA and UFAW: UK. https://science.rspca.org.uk/documents/1494935/9042554/Refining+rabbit+care+-+report.pdfGoogle Scholar
Held, SDE, Turner, RJ and Wooton, RJ 1995 Choices of labo-ratory rabbits for individual or group-housing. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 46: 81–91. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(95)00632-XGoogle Scholar
Howell, TJ, Mornement, K and Bennett, PC 2015 Companion rabbit and companion bird management practices among a repre-sentative sample of guardians in Victoria, Australia. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 18: 287–302. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2015.1017095CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hurst, JL, Barnard, CJ, Nevison, CM and West, CD 1997 Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: Welfare implications of isolation and social contact among caged males. Animal Welfare 6: 329–347CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hurst, JL, Barnard, CJ, Nevison, CM and West, CD 1998 Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: The welfare implications of social isolation and social contact among females. Animal Welfare 7: 121–136CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hurst, JL, Barnard, CJ, Tolladay, U, Nevison, CM and West, CD 1999 Housing and welfare in laboratory rats: effects of cage stocking density and behavioural predictors of welfare. Animal Behaviour 58: 563–586. https://doi.org/10.1006/anbe.1999.1165CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kauffman, AS, Paul, MJ, Butler, MP and Zucker, I 2003 Huddling, locomotor, and nest-building behaviors of furred and furless Siberian hamsters. Physiology & Behavior 79: 247–256. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0031-9384(03)00115-XCrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Kikusui, T, Winslow, J and Mori, Y 2006 Social buffering: relief from stress and anxiety. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences 361: 2215–2228. https://doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2006.1941CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lee, RC 1939 The rectal temperature of the normal rabbit. American Journal of Physiology-Legacy Content 125: 521–529. https://doi.org/10.1152/ajplegacy.1939.125.3.521CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lewis, RS and Hurst, JL 2004 The assessment of bar chewing as an escape behaviour in laboratory mice. Animal Welfare 13: 19–25CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lord, B, Boswood, A and Petrie, A 2010 Electrocardiography of the normal domestic pet rabbit. Veterinary Record 167: 961–965. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.c3212CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Martin, P and Bateson, P 2007 Measuring Behaviour: An Introductory Guide pp 1–171. Cambridge University Press: Cambridge, UK. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511810893CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mason, GJ and Rushen, J 2006 Stereotypic Animal Behaviour: Fundamentals and Applications to Welfare. CAB International: Wallingford, UK. https://doi.org/10.1079/9780851990040.0000Google Scholar
Mullan, SM and Main, DCJ 2006 Survey of the husbandry, health and welfare of 102 pet rabbits. Veterinary Record 159: 103–109. https://doi.org/10.1136/vr.159.4.103CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nevison, CM, Hurst, JL and Barnard, CJ 1999 Why do male ICR(CD-1) mice perform bar-related (stereotypic) behaviour? Behavioural Processes 47: 95–111. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0376-6357(99)00053-4CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Normando, S and Gelli, D 2011 Behavioral complaints and owners’ satisfaction in rabbits, mustelids, and rodents kept as pets. Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research 6: 337–342. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jveb.2011.01.005CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oxley, JA, Ellis, CF, McBride, EA and McCormick, WD 2018 A survey of rabbit handling methods within the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science 22: 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1080/10888705.2018.1459192Google ScholarPubMed
People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA) 2018 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report 2018. https://www.pdsa.org.uk/media/4371/paw-2018-full-web-ready.pdfGoogle Scholar
Podberscek, AL, Blackshaw, JK and Beattie, AW 1991 The behaviour of group penned and individually caged laboratory rab-bits. Applied Animal Behaviour Science 28: 353–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/0168-1591(91)90167-VCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rioja-Lang, F, Bacon, H, Connor, M and Dwyer, CM 2019 Rabbit welfare: determining priority welfare issues for pet rabbits using a modified Delphi method. Veterinary Record Open 6: e000363. https://doi.org/10.1136/vetreco-2019-000363CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rödel, HG, Bora, A, Kaetzke, P, Khaschei, M, Hutzelmeyer, H and von Holst, D 2004 Over-winter survival in subadult European rabbits: weather effects, density dependence, and the impact of individual characteristics. Oecologia 140: 566–576. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00442-004-1616-1CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rooney, NJ, Blackwell, EJ, Mullan, SM, Saunders, R, Baker, PE, Hill, JM, Sealey, CE, Turner, MJ and Held, SD 2014 The current state of welfare, housing and husbandry of the English pet rabbit population. BMC Research Notes 7: 942. https://doi.org/10.1186/1756-0500-7-942Google ScholarPubMed
Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) 2013 Rabbit winter care advice. RSPCA Companion Animals Pet Care Factsheet pp 1–8. RSPCA: Horsham, UKGoogle Scholar
Save a Fluff 2018 Caring for your rabbits in cold weather. https://www.saveafluff.co.uk/rabbit-info/winter-care-for-rabbitsGoogle Scholar
Schepers, F, Koene, P and Beerda, B 2009 Welfare assessment in pet rabbits. Animal Welfare 18: 477–485CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seaman, SC, Waran, NK, Mason, G and D’Eath, RB 2008 Animal economics: assessing the motivation of female laboratory rabbits to reach a platform, social contact and food. Animal Behaviour 75: 31–42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2006.09.031CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Seltmann, MW, Ruf, T and Rödel, HG 2009 Effects of body mass and huddling on resting metabolic rates of post-weaned European rabbits under different simulated weather conditions. Functional Ecology 23: 1070–1080. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01581.xCrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sharp, JL, Zammit, TG, Azar, TA and Lawson, DM 2002 Stress-like responses to common procedures in male rats housed alone or with other rats. Contemporary Topics in Laboratory Animal Science41: 8–14Google Scholar
Small, P, Täuber, MG, Hackbarth, C and Sande, M 1986 Influence of body temperature on bacterial growth rates in exper-imental pneumococcal meningitis in rabbits. Infection and Immunity 52: 484–487. https://doi.org/10.1128/IAI.52.2.484-487.1986CrossRefGoogle Scholar
UK Animal Welfare Act 2006 UK Public General Acts: Animal Welfare Act. http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2006/45/contentsGoogle Scholar
Van Loo, PLP, Kuin, N, Sommer, R, Avsaroglu, H, Pham, T and Baumans, V 2007 Impact of ‘living apart together’ on post-operative recovery of mice compared with social and individual housing. Laboratory Animals 41: 441–455. https://doi.org/10.1258/002367707782314328CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Welch, T, Coe, JB, Niel, L and McCobb, E 2017 A survey exploring factors associated with 2890 companion-rabbit owners’ knowledge of rabbit care and the neuter status of their compan-ion rabbit. Preventive Veterinary Medicine 137: 13–23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2016.12.008CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed