9 C.F.R. § 3.53

Current through April 30, 2024
Section 3.53 - Primary enclosures

All primary enclosures for rabbits shall conform to the following requirements:

(a)General.
(1) Primary enclosures shall be structurally sound and maintained in good repair to protect the rabbits from injury, to contain them, and to keep predators out.
(2) Primary enclosures shall be constructed and maintained so as to enable the rabbits to remain dry and clean.
(3) Primary enclosures shall be constructed and maintained so that the rabbits contained therein have convenient access to clean food and water as required in this subpart.
(4) The floors of the primary enclosures shall be constructed so as to protect the rabbits' feet and legs from injury. Litter shall be provided in all primary enclosures having solid floors.
(5) A suitable nest box containing clean nesting material shall be provided in each primary enclosure housing a female with a litter less than one month of age.
(b)Space requirements for primary enclosures acquired before August 15, 1990. Primary enclosures shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide sufficient space for the animal to make normal postural adjustments with adequate freedom of movement. Each rabbit housed in a primary enclosure shall be provided a minimum amount of floor space, exclusive of the space taken up by food and water receptacles, in accordance with the following table:

Category Individual weights (pounds) Minimum space per rabbit (square inches)
Groups3 through 5144
6 through 8288
9 or more432
Individual adults3 through 5180
6 through 8360
9 through 11540
12 or more720
Nursing females3 through 5576
6 through 8720
9 through 11864
12 or more1080

(c)Space requirements for primary enclosures acquired on or after August 15, 1990.
(1) Primary enclosures shall be constructed and maintained so as to provide sufficient space for the animal to make normal postural adjustments with adequate freedom of movement.
(2) Each rabbit housed in a primary enclosure shall be provided a minimum amount of floor space, exclusive of the space taken up by food and water receptacles, in accordance with the following table:

Individual weightsMinimum floor spaceMinimum interior height
kg lbs m2 ft2 cm in
Individual rabbits (weaned)[LESS THAN]2
2-4
4-5.4
[GREATER THAN]5.4
[LESS THAN]4.4
4.4-8.8
8.8-11.9
[GREATER THAN]11.9
0.14
0.28
0.37
0.46
1.5
3.0
4.0
5.0
35.56
35.56
35.56
35.56
14
14
14
14

Weight of nursing femaleMinimum floor space/female & litterMinimum interior height
kg lbs m2 ft2 cm in
Females with litters[LESS THAN]2
2-4
4-5.4
[GREATER THAN]5.4
[LESS THAN]4.4
4.4-8.8
8.8-11.9
[GREATER THAN]11.9
0.37
0.46
0.56
0.70
4.0
5.0
6.0
7.5
35.56
35.56
35.56
35.56
14
14
14
14

(3) Innovative primary enclosures that do not precisely meet the space requirements of paragraph (c)(2) of this section, but that do provide rabbits with a sufficient volume of space and the opportunity to express species-typical behavior, may be used at research facilities when approved by the Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee, and by dealers and exhibitors when approved by the Administrator.

9 C.F.R. §3.53

32 FR 3273, Feb. 24, 1967, as amended at 55 FR 28883, July 16, 1990