Help With Dissertation on Rabbit welfare and housing

[Helen E]

My name is Helen Emerton and i am currently studying my BSc in Animal Management and welfare. For my dissertation i have chosen to studying whether the general public’s opinion about rabbit housing is adequate enough to provide correct animal welfare. In order to do this i have created a short questionnaire which will only take a few minutes to fill in and i am hoping some of you will be willing to do this for me.

Many Thanks for your help

Questionaire Rabbit Enclosures and their Welfare

I am conducting a survey into the size and structure of the UKs domestic Rabbit housing and what impact it may have on the welfare of the rabbit. Please take 10 minutes of your time to answer the questions in order to help me in my study and help improve the welfare of the UKs domestic rabbit population.




1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes/No

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for?

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own?

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group?

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Inside Outside

6. Are there any children in your household? Yes/No

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? Yes/No

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) m X m X m

9. Do they have an outdoor run? YES/ NO
If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m

10. What type of enclosure is it? Wooden wire Plastic

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? Shop Brought Homemade


12. What type of bedding do you use?

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? Once a day >once a day
Alternative days Twice a week
< twice a week

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes/ No
If yes what enrichment do you use?

How often do you change the enrichment?


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies Alone In Pairs

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows In trees under bushes

17. Rabbits are: Predators Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild?



19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

 

[happybun]

people often do these on survey monkey...





1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes/No
I own four rabbits.

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for?
I have had these for seven and a half years but I have been a rabbit owner on and off for 53 years.

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own?
my four are mini lops

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group?
they are in pairs. if they ever stop squaring up to each other i'll put them all in together.

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Inside Outside

they are indoors

6. Are there any children in your household? Yes/No
no

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? Yes/No
no - but got some anyway, from the breeder

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) m X m X m

9. Do they have an outdoor run? YES/ NO
If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m
Each pair has three puppy pens and they free range when I can arrange it

10. What type of enclosure is it? Wooden wire Plastic
Wire

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? Shop Brought Homemade


12. What type of bedding do you use?
hay

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? Once a day >once a day
Alternative days Twice a week
< twice a week
twice a day

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes/ No
If yes what enrichment do you use?

How often do you change the enrichment?

toys and tunnels, changed when destroyed. carriers as hides. 'tents' of fleeces.


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies Alone In Pairs

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows In trees under bushes
presumably. I never see any lying around.

17. Rabbits are: Predators Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild?
miles. what's your point?



19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

 

[Amy104]

1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for? 8 Years

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own? Lionhead, Dutch, Mini Lop, Netherland Dwarf, Mini Rex and Cross Breed

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group? Pairs/Trios

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Outside

6. Are there any children in your household? No

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? No

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) m X m X m

Sorry I don't know what the conversion is but each pair has a 7.5ft x 2.5ft x 2.5ft hutch plus 7ft x 5ft x 2ft run

9. Do they have an outdoor run? YES

If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m

As above

10. What type of enclosure is it? Wooden

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? Purchased from Ebay

12. What type of bedding do you use? Megazorb or Fitch /hay/Straw

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? Twice a Day

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes
If yes what enrichment do you use? Toys/Digging Trays

How often do you change the enrichment? Weekly


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows

17. Rabbits are: Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild? Not sure but expect they roam quite far



19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

 

[catherine09]

1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes/No

I currently own 4

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for?

about 5 years

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own?

french lops and crossbreed lops

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group?

2 pairs

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Inside Outside

outside

6. Are there any children in your household? Yes/No

No

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? Yes/No

Difficult one to answer! Not specifically, but by helping out at rescues, being part of this forum etc and some common sense, I worked out the sort of housing I wanted

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) m X m X m

Don't know metres, but each pair have a shed/aviary combination measuring 6ft by 10ft

9. Do they have an outdoor run? YES/ NO
If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m

Yes, see above. The run is part of their permanent enclosure

10. What type of enclosure is it? Wooden wire Plastic

Wooden T&G with 16g foxproof mesh on the run and windows

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? Shop Brought Homemade

Technically shop bought, I bought it secondhand and renovated the entire thing.


12. What type of bedding do you use?

Floors are vinyl, they have rugs/blankets on the floor and their litter trays are filled with newspaper, megazorb then hay

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? Once a day >once a day
Alternative days Twice a week
< twice a week

Every day

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes/ No
If yes what enrichment do you use?

Yes. they have different levels/toys, regular natural chew materials such as apple branches/leaves and most importantly, a bonded partner

How often do you change the enrichment?

Toys get changed regularly, willow balls/chew toys get replaced as necessary.


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies Alone In Pairs

In colonies

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows In trees under bushes

Burrows

17. Rabbits are: Predators Prey

Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild?

multiple acres per day



19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

8 - I live opposite a nature reserve with lots of wild rabbits, so I often go and watch them in the wild.

 

[catherine09]

Can I just add - we are not the 'general public' when it comes to rabbit keeping, so I fear asking your questions on here will skew your results away from the reality that joe public's opinion on rabbit housing falls WAY short of welfare standards.

What are your plans to educate the general public about welfare standards after your study?

ETA: please don't take this the wrong way, but there are a number of spelling/grammar mistakes in your wording. Might want to spellcheck/proofread as, for a uni student, it can look unprofessional :wave:

 

[Angie B]

Can I just add - we are not the 'general public' when it comes to rabbit keeping, so I fear asking your questions on here will skew your results away from the reality that joe public's opinion on rabbit housing falls WAY short of welfare standards.

What are your plans to educate the general public about welfare standards after your study?

ETA: please don't take this the wrong way, but there are a number of spelling/grammar mistakes in your wording. Might want to spellcheck/proof read as, for a uni student, it can look unprofessional :wave:

You put it a bit more eloquently than I would have ... :thumb:

 

[lauralittleninja]

1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for? 2yrs

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own? Lionhead , 3 lionhead crosses

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group? Pairs

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Inside

6. Are there any children in your household? No

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? No

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) m X m X m
Each pair have the run of a huge room in my house. Pair 1 downstairs and pair2 in lounge and upstairs

9. Do they have an outdoor run? no

If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m



10. What type of enclosure is it? None

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade?

12. What type of bedding do you use? Vet beds and aubiose for littertrays

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? Morning b4 work and all evening

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes
If yes what enrichment do you use? Toys/Digging Trays

How often do you change the enrichment? When it wears out


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows

17. Rabbits are: Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild? I read that its about 4x football pitch in area size



19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
6

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[Angie B]

Questionaire
1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes
2. How long have you owned Rabbits for? 2 years

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own? Rex Minis (satins)

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group? pair

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? out

6. Are there any children in your household? yes

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? googled it, so yes

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) don't know as it's a shed with a hutch in

9. Do they have an outdoor run? yes
If yes how big is the run 2m X 2m x 1m high

10. What type of enclosure is it? wood frame/wire netting

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? bought


12. What type of bedding do you use? straw

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? more than once a day

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? if you mean toys then yes
If yes what enrichment do you use? toys

How often do you change the enrichment? not that often though I do move them about so they're in different places i.e. what was in the hutch is put on the shed floor


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: colonies In colonies Alone In Pairs

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: burrows In burrows In trees under bushes

17. Rabbits are: dinner Predators Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild?

they have an average territory of about 3 football fields

19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

6

My answers are in bold (I hope!)

 

[Emma H]

Hi Helen

Happy to complete your dissertation questionnaire but will do it when I have access to a PC tomorrow as trying to do it on the app on the phone is quite difficult a

Have you thought about using survey monkey?

Sorry if I'm teaching you to 'suck eggs' so to speak.....but please make sure that the majority of your results come from the 'general' population? I.e other people that are not members of this forum. Only reason I say that is because your results from people on this forum will more than likely not be akin to the general public so may skew your results. The majority of members on here I'd argue are VERY knowledgable on rabbit housing in adequate welfare terms.

Good luck in completing your research!

Xxxx


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Oonagh]

1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes/No

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for?
at least 7 years

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own?
Mini rexes

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group?
Singly

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Inside Outside
Inside, but she will move back outside when the weather is better
6. Are there any children in your household? Yes/No
Currently under 18 myself and I am the main career of my rabbits ad have been since we first got them.

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? Yes/No
yes, books, internet and a vet
If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) m X m X m
Outside hutch is 1.83 X 0.61 X 0.61 (double tier), currently free ranging inside

9. Do they have an outdoor run? YES/ NO
If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m
2.13 X 0.91 X 0.91

10. What type of enclosure is it? Wooden wire Plastic
wooden hutch and metal run

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? Shop Brought Homemade

homemade hutch and shop bought run
12. What type of bedding do you use?
newspaper, hay and straw (only in winter)

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? Once a day >once a day
Alternative days Twice a week
< twice a week
Multiple times each day

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes/ No
If yes what enrichment do you use?
shop bought and homemade toys
How often do you change the enrichment?
every week they are rotated


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies Alone In Pairs
colonies

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows In trees under bushes
burrows
17. Rabbits are: Predators Prey
Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild?
ACRES!!!!


19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

 

[MissSherwood89]

1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes/No

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for? 2 years

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own? Lionhead

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group? Single, soon to be bonded

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Inside Outside

6. Are there any children in your household? Yes/No

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? Yes/No

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) No idea, she's free range

9. Do they have an outdoor run? YES/ NO
If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m

10. What type of enclosure is it? Wooden wire Plastic

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? Shop Brought Homemade


12. What type of bedding do you use? Fleece blankets on floor, Fitch in litter tray

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? All the time

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes/ No
If yes what enrichment do you use? Toys, tunnels, treat ball, boxes

How often do you change the enrichment? Every few months or so


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies Alone In Pairs

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows In trees under bushes

17. Rabbits are: Predators Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild? I'd guess a few acres



19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

 

[sun_city_girl]

1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes/No
I own one rabbit

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for?
on and off for 12 years

3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own?
lionhead cross

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group?
kept singly currently

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Inside Outside
Inside

6. Are there any children in your household? Yes/No
nope

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? Yes/No
sort of

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state
rabbit forum!



Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) m X m X m
my rabbit has free range of the hallway, stairs and spare room when we are at work and the living room too when we are at home.

9. Do they have an outdoor run? YES/ NO

If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m
yes its 7ft x 3ft but we do not use the run, as the garden is secure he has supervised time in the garden
10. What type of enclosure is it? Wooden wire Plastic

metal run

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? Shop Brought Homemade

Metal run is frome the internet


12. What type of bedding do you use?

Bun has a fleece blanket in his space under the stairs, there is also a basket full of hay

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? Everyday and whilst we are in he spends all of his time with us except bedtime! Once a day >once a day
Alternative days Twice a week
< twice a week

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes/ No
If yes what enrichment do you use?
we have tunnels, hidey boxes and hiding places and things to climb on
How often do you change the enrichment?
every now and then, usually when we hoover!

The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies Alone In Pairs

colonies

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows In trees under bushes

burrows

17. Rabbits are: Predators Prey

prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild?

no idea!


19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 = 6

 

[Amy104]

Can I just add - we are not the 'general public' when it comes to rabbit keeping, so I fear asking your questions on here will skew your results away from the reality that joe public's opinion on rabbit housing falls WAY short of welfare standards.

Thats a really good point. Most people who come to my house are really surprised by the large size my set-ups when they aren't really even that big compared to some on here.

 

[Ellasyn]

1. Do you currently own a rabbit or do you want to purchase one in the near future? Yes/No

I own 4 rabbits

2. How long have you owned Rabbits for?


I have owned rabbits for around 24 years


3. What breed of Rabbit do you own or you are looking to own?

I have one double maned lionhead, one lionhead x one dwarf lop and one bog standard medium bunny

4. Is your rabbit housed singly or in a group?

I have a bonded pair and 2 singles awaiting the female being speyed so I can try bonding as the bonded pairs personalities arent suited to my single males

5. Is your Rabbit housed inside or outside? Inside Outside

Outside

6. Are there any children in your household? Yes/No

No

7. Did you seek any advice on housing before purchasing your Rabbit? Yes/No

If yes was it a: Veterinary professional Friend or relative
Pet shop Assistant Websites
Books/Journals Any other please state


Yes, from vets, family, books and rescues


Your Enclosure
8. Approximately how big is your rabbits enclosure(Metres) m X m X m

The main playhouse is 1.2mx1.5m with two shelves totalling another 90cmx120cm
The single male with sight issues is kept on a single tier 5ft hutch with 5x5 run
The single female is in a 5ft double with 5x4 run. These once bonded will have a similar setup to the playhouse

9. Do they have an outdoor run? YES/ NO
If yes how big is the run (Metres) m X mX m

The playhouse has a 1.2m x 2.7m run permanently attached

10. What type of enclosure is it? Wooden wire Plastic

The hutches and playhouse are wooden, the large run is wood and wire mesh, the smaller are metal bars

11. Is your enclosure shop brought or homemade? Shop Brought Homemade

A combination of both


12. What type of bedding do you use?

Megazorb, straw, hay, fleece

13. How often do you interact with your rabbit? Once a day >once a day
Alternative days Twice a week
< twice a week

More than once a day

14. Do you provide enrichment for your Rabbit? Yes/ No
If yes what enrichment do you use?

They have a variety of toys, food from treat balls, forage, where suitable tunnels and steps to go through and hop on, plentiful supply of fresh sticks to chew, bed box huts, digging boxes sometimes (usually most of spring/summer)


How often do you change the enrichment?

Twice weekly on thorough cleanouts


The wild rabbit
15. In the wild do rabbits live: In colonies Alone In Pairs

In colonies

16. In the Wild do rabbits sleep: In burrows In trees under bushes

In burrows

17. Rabbits are: Predators Prey

Prey

18. Approximately how far do rabbits roam in a day in the wild?

Across about an acre?


19. On a scale of 1 – 10 with 1 being very little knowledge and 10 being a lot of knowledge how would you rate your knowledge of the rabbit’s natural behaviours in the wild? Please circle

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10



I would also like to say these setups are too small, and I am working on improving them. As we are expecting to move house this year I intend to have larger run setup with the playhouse and the other two bonded with a shed/playhouse and decent run setup. Til then my singles get daily time free ranging in the garden (weather permitting).