Social behaviour in young domestic rabbits under semi-natural conditions

Abstract

Little is known about the social behaviour of young domestic rabbits, although in rabbit meat production young animals represent a large category and problems with aggressive behaviour are known to occur. Whether this behaviour is part of the normal social development of young rabbits, leading to injuries only because of lack of space or of places to hide from attacks, or whether it is a consequence of too high densities or of the food supply being concentrated in one place, is unclear. To help in answering such questions we investigated the social behaviour of young domestic rabbits during the fattening period (Days 30–125 of life) in two successive breeding groups in an enclosure (600 m 2) covered with grass and bushes and with additional feeding huts provided. During 117h of observation quantitative data on 13 individuals were collected. Under these semi-natural conditions the young rabbits were subdominant towards older and adult conspecifics and their mothers were not preferred social partners, except for suckling attempts. Aggressive behaviour was rather rare; although it may have occurred as early as Day 30 no injuries were detected. A rank order became apparent among males after Day 70, when they showed their first sexual activities; these became increasingly important from Day 90 onwards. Females may also have been aggressive, but no clear-cut dominance relationships could be perceived among them even after Day 90. Females approached each other less than males. After Day 90 the rabbits generally displayed adult behaviour and were dominant over younger conspecifics. The adult α-male of the group initiated many encounters; these were friendly to the young and females but sometimes aggressive against subadult males. He also patrolled the enclosure, initiated contacts with all conspecifics and intervened when others were fighting or sexually active. The adult females had fewer encounters with other group members and seemed to keep their distance from the young. The social development of young domestic rabbits seems to be largely similar to that of young wild rabbits, as far as this is known. The practical implications for keeping fattening rabbits in age groups are discussed.