If you keep your rabbit in a hutch and let them out for a few hours of “exercise time” each day, you might think you’re providing adequate care. However, groundbreaking new research suggests this common practice may be causing your bunny significant stress—even if your hutch is quite large.
This study, published in Applied Animal Behaviour Science, challenges conventional rabbit housing wisdom by demonstrating that restricted access to exercise areas creates measurable stress responses in rabbits, regardless of hutch size. The findings have already influenced animal welfare policies and could change how we think about proper rabbit care.
Research Background
Despite rabbits being popular pets worldwide, housing recommendations have historically focused on minimum space requirements rather than continuous access to exercise areas. The traditional model of a hutch plus scheduled “run time” has been widely accepted, but little research had examined whether this approach truly meets rabbits’ behavioral needs.
Rabbits are naturally active animals, especially during dawn and dusk hours (crepuscular behavior). In the wild, they spend considerable time foraging, exploring, and engaging in social behaviors throughout these active periods. This study was designed to test whether limiting access to exercise areas—even temporarily—conflicts with these natural behavioral patterns.
Study Details
Researchers conducted a carefully controlled 8-week housing experiment to compare different levels of exercise access:
- Participants: 20 pairs of rabbits housed in identical conditions
- Housing conditions tested:
- Small hutches (0.7 m²) with 3 hours daily exercise access
- Large hutches (1.9 m²) with 3 hours daily exercise access
- Continuous access to both hutch and exercise area (24/7 freedom)
- Measurements: Behavioral observations, stress hormone analysis (corticosterone), and activity patterns
- Duration: 8 weeks to allow for behavioral adaptation and stress response development
The study design controlled for variables like diet, social grouping, and environmental conditions, ensuring that differences in behavior and stress levels could be attributed to housing arrangements rather than other factors.
Key Findings
Primary Results
The research revealed striking differences between housing approaches:
Behavioral “Rebound” Effect: Rabbits with limited exercise access showed explosive bursts of activity when finally released from their hutches. They performed significantly more running, jumping, and playful behaviors compared to rabbits with continuous access—indicating they had been behaviorally suppressed while confined.
Stress Hormone Elevation: Corticosterone levels (a key stress indicator) were highest in rabbits kept in small hutches with restricted exercise time. Even rabbits in larger hutches showed elevated stress hormones when their movement was limited to just 3 hours daily.
Hutch Size Limitations: Surprisingly, increasing hutch size from 0.7 m² to 1.9 m² didn’t eliminate the stress response if rabbits were still confined for most of the day. The issue wasn’t just space—it was access to that space when rabbits naturally wanted to be active.
Secondary Findings
The study also revealed important insights about rabbit natural behavior:
- Peak Activity Periods: Rabbits showed strongest desire for exercise during dawn and dusk hours, aligning with their natural crepuscular patterns
- Social Behavior Impact: Pairs with continuous access engaged in more natural social behaviors throughout the day
- Adaptation Failure: Even after 8 weeks, confined rabbits didn’t adapt to the restricted schedule—stress responses persisted
Implications for Pet Owners
What This Means for You
This research has immediate and practical implications for rabbit housing:
Rethink the Hutch + Run Time Model: The traditional approach of keeping rabbits in hutches with scheduled exercise periods—even generous ones—may be inadvertently causing chronic stress. Your rabbit’s frantic activity when released isn’t just excitement; it’s a stress response indicating unmet behavioral needs.
Size Isn’t Everything: Having a large hutch doesn’t solve the problem if your rabbit can’t access exercise space when they need it. A smaller setup with 24/7 access to both housing and exercise areas is preferable to a large hutch with limited access times.
Natural Rhythms Matter: Rabbits are most active during dawn and dusk hours. Restricting their movement during these peak activity periods conflicts with their natural behavioral patterns and creates stress.
Practical Housing Solutions
Based on these findings, consider these housing improvements:
Connected Exercise Areas: Provide a hutch connected to an exercise run that’s accessible 24/7, allowing your rabbit to choose when to rest and when to be active.
Rabbit-Proofed Rooms: If possible, dedicate a rabbit-proofed room or large area where your bunny can hop, stretch, and explore throughout the day.
Morning and Evening Priority: If you must limit exercise time, ensure access during dawn and dusk hours when rabbits are naturally most active.
When to Consult Your Veterinarian
If you’ve been using a restricted exercise schedule and notice signs of stress in your rabbit—such as excessive bar chewing, aggression, or changes in eating habits—consult a veterinarian familiar with rabbit behavior. They can help assess whether housing changes might improve your rabbit’s well-being.
Study Limitations
While this research provides valuable insights, it’s important to note some limitations. The study was conducted with specific rabbit breeds under controlled laboratory conditions, which may not perfectly reflect all pet rabbit situations. Additionally, the 8-week duration, while sufficient to observe stress responses, may not capture longer-term behavioral adaptations.
The research also focused primarily on behavioral and hormonal measures rather than long-term health outcomes. Future studies examining the health implications of different housing approaches would provide additional valuable information for rabbit owners.
Bottom Line
This research fundamentally challenges the common practice of hutch confinement with scheduled exercise periods. Even large hutches can’t substitute for continuous access to exercise areas—rabbits need the freedom to move when their natural behavior patterns dictate, not when it’s convenient for us.
The key takeaway: Ditch the “hutch plus exercise time” model in favor of housing that provides 24/7 access to both resting and exercise areas. Your rabbit’s explosive activity when released from confinement isn’t joy—it’s a stress response indicating their behavioral needs haven’t been met.
Consider connecting your rabbit’s hutch to a permanent exercise run, setting up a rabbit-proofed room, or providing a larger living space that allows natural movement patterns throughout the day. This change could significantly improve your rabbit’s welfare and reduce stress-related behaviors.
The research has already influenced the UK Rabbit Welfare Strategy, and it should influence your rabbit care approach too. Happy rabbits are active rabbits—and active rabbits need space available whenever they choose to use it.
This article summarizes peer-reviewed research for educational purposes. Always consult with your veterinarian for personalized advice about your pet’s health and behavior.