The Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021: guidance for rabbit breeders
This guidance applies in Scotland only, and is issued by the Scottish Ministers to provide details of the requirements of the new Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities Involving Animals) (Scotland) Regulations 2021, in relation to rabbit breeding.
Annex C Minimum enclosure sizes (excluding exercise run/area)
| Weight of rabbit | Maximum stocking density | Minimum floor area (m2) | Example dimensions (m) W x L | Minimum cage height (m) | Additional floor area for each additional rabbit (m2) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Up to 4kg | 4 | 0.75 | 1.5 x 0.5 or 1.0 x 0.75 | 0.45 | 0.25 |
| 4 – 6kg | 2 | 0.75 | 1.5 x 0.5 or 1.0 x 0.75 | 0.5 | 0.25 |
| >6kg | 2 | 1.08 | 1.8 x 0.6 or 1.5 x 0.72 | 0.8 | 0.54 |
Enclosures should be large enough for rabbits to be able to stand fully upright on their haunches without their ears touching the roof and lie fully outstretched (without touching the sides of the enclosure or another rabbit). Slatted, grid or wire mesh floors must not be used in rabbit accommodation. Where exercise runs are attached to enclosures these must be of sufficient size to allow rabbits to hop, jump and generally enjoy total freedom of movement.
Contact
Email: Animal.Health@gov.scot
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