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In view of recent concerns regarding the current method of housing laboratory rabbits in the UK, the 24 h behaviour of 18 New Zealand White rabbits kept individually in standard laboratory cages (49 cm × 61 cm × 48 cm) was observed. In 24 h each rabbit was observed 288 times for 10 s and behaviour(s) was recorded using an ethogram. Results were analysed by calculating the percentage frequency of each behaviour for individual rabbits, adding these values together, and dividing by 18 to give a mean and standard error for the whole group. The most common behaviours were lie alert (23%), doze (20%), groom (10%), sleep (9%) and eat (8%). Overall, 56% of the rabbits' time was spent inactive. The level of mobility (1.2%) reflected their inability to hop normally and, in addition, they were unable to sit up, rear fully or stretch out because of spatial restriction. All rabbits showed stereotyped activities (11%) such as repetitive hair-chewing (4%), bar-chewing, head-swaying and pawing which indicated psychological problems, particularly in rabbits that were innately more active. Stereotypies and body maintenance activities were also performed at the expense of behavioural diversity. Male rabbits were significantly more likely to chin mark, while females showed a significantly higher level of hair-chewing and licking which could indicate social deprivation. In addition, this study introduces the cyclical pattern of activities throughout the day and night showing that rabbits are nocturnal. It also introduces the extent of boredom behaviours and cage frustration (stereotypies) over 24 h, providing a baseline for further research into improving the welfare of laboratory rabbits.

Activity. --- Bar chewing. --- Behaviour. --- Cage. --- Deprivation. --- Diversity. --- Ethogram. --- Female. --- Females. --- Frequency. --- Frustration. --- Group. --- Housing. --- Kept. --- Laboratory cages. --- Laboratory rabbit. --- Laboratory. --- Level. --- Maintenance. --- Male. --- Method. --- Pattern. --- Pawing. --- Rabbit. --- Rabbits. --- Research. --- Restriction. --- Sleep. --- Social deprivation. --- Social. --- Spatial. --- Stereotypies. --- Stereotypy. --- Time. --- Welfare.