THE FREE CHOICE OF RABBITS AMONG IDENTICALLY AND DIFFERENTLY SIZED CAGES

Abstract

The aim of this experiment was to obtain information on the free choice of early (at 3 weeks of age) weaned rabbits among different cages, depending on their age. In the first experiment the size of the cages in one cage block with 4 cages was identical (500 x 750 mm), while in the second the cages were differently sized (500 x 300, 500 x 600, 500 x 900 or 500 x 1200 mm). During the first trial 18, 24 or 30 rabbits (12, 16 and 20 rabbits/m 2 ) were placed into one cage block; in the second one 8, 16 or 24 rabbits (5.33, 10.66 and 16 rabbits/m 2 ) were applied. Rabbits were allowed to move freely among the cages of the block, through swing doors. 24-hour video recordings were taken weekly; the number of rabbits in the different cages was counted once every half hour. The mean of the 48 daily counts was handled as the result for the presence of rabbits in the different cages. In the first experiment, one week after the weaning some 68-77% of all rabbits were counted in a flock in one preferred cage (33-61 rabbits/m 2 ); in the less preferred cages only 1-3% of the rabbits were counted. During the second week, the difference was still large between the most highly (32-46%) and the less preferred (917%) cages, but rabbits crowded in an other cage. According to the progress of the age (at the age of 9.5 weeks) the proportion of the rabbits in the largest group decreased to 37, 35 and 32% (18, 22 and 26 rabbits/m 2 ) and the number of animals in the smallest group increased to 12, 15 and 18%, according to the setting of 18, 24 or 30 rabbits in one cage block. The difference between the most and least preferred cages showed a continuously decreasing tendency; the cage choice tended to be equalized, although the difference was significant in the whole trial period. In the second trial most of the rabbits huddled in one of the two smallest cages, where the density was found to be 18, 70 and 40 rabbits/m 2 (8, 16 or 24 rabbits in one block). In the two larger cages the rabbit density ranged between 1 and 14 kits/m 2 . This difference decreased up to the 2 nd and 3 rd weeks, though the number of rabbits was still significantly higher in the smallest cage. At the age of 6.5 weeks the difference in the cage choice tended to equalize, though the difference was significant in the whole trial period. The results prove that early weaned rabbits like to huddle together; this means that more (up to twice) than the conventional number (16 rabbits/m 2 ) of rabbits can be fattened in one cage in younger age. It was also found that rabbits prefer to be in one smaller cage instead of a large one.