Love, J. A. 1994. Group housing: Meeting the physical and social needs of the laboratory rabbit. Laboratory Animal Science 44, 5-11.

Group housing of rabbits met the experimental and economic limitations, and so these cannot be used to justify the continued use of single cages for the majority of rabbits. ... Group sizes of four to eight rabbits work well if the groups are to remain together for long periods. ... It is highly desirable to establish the groups when the animals are young, and certainly before they reach puberty. ... The animals in a group should be of the same age and sex, but it is not necessary for them to be littermates. All female groups are best for the long-term, although groups of castrated males will also be stable. ... The pen or bin should be large enough to allow three hops in one direction. ... If a wire mesh cover is used to keep the rabbits in the bin, then it must be at least 70 cm above the floor of the bin to allow larger rabbits to sit up on their hind legs. ... The rabbits were considered [by animal care technicians] to be quieter and less 'stressed out' in the pens. They were highly visible, compared with those in the single-cage situation, and it was a pleasure to see them interact with each other. ... If the animals have been provided with an area to hide, they will usually dart into it. This place should be darker than the surrounding areas, thereby providing the animals with a sense of security. Once in the hiding place, the animals may be picked up quietly without struggling.