Light intensity and fur-chewing rabbits

Authors: Blackmore DK, Schultze WH, Absolon GC
Publication: New Zealand Veterinary Journal, Volume 34, Issue 9, pp 158, Sep 1986
Publisher: Taylor and Francis

Animal type: Livestock, Wildlife
Subject Terms: Behaviour, Integument/skin/wool/hair/fur/feather, Environment
Article class: Correspondence

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Abstract: Fur-chewing is a relatively common apparent behavioural problem of farmed rabbits. Unlike the preparturient doe, who pulls out fur from ventral body surfaces to line her nest, rabbits of either sex which fur-chew, bite off hair from any part of the body which is accessible and may partially denude more than 50% of their body surface. The condition often appears to be self-inflicted, and unlike whisker chewing in mice, or feather plucking in chickens, a rabbit may either chew its own fur or that of others. The condition is a serious problem for commercial producers of rabbit pelts and for those attempting to carry out nutritional studies which require analysis and comparison of food intake and faecal output. For instance, in digestibility studies, fur-chewing constitutes a confounding variable in relation to nitrogen analysis. Although there are numerous theories concerning causal associations related to fur chewing in rabbits, including nutritional, behavioural and seasonal factors, there is a dearth of recorded controlled studies on the topic. It was for these reasons it was thought appropriate to record the results of the present investigation. During the course of studies on amino-acid requirements of individually caged New Zealand White rabbits, it was observed that during a six week period, approximately 30% were badly fur-chewed and there was no…

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