Primary enclosures.

§ 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) Groups 3 through 5 144   6 through 8 288   9 or more 432 Individual adults 3 through 5 180   6 through 8 360   9 through 11 540   12 or more 720 Nursing females 3 through 5 576   6 through 8 720   9 through 11 864   12 or more 1080 (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 weights kg lbs Minimum floor space m  2 ft  2 Minimum interior height cm in Individual rabbits (weaned) <2 2–4 4–5.4 >5.4 <4.4 4.4–8.8 8.8–11.9 >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 female kg lbs Minimum floor space/female & litter m  2 ft  2 Minimum interior height cm in Females with litters <2 2–4 4–5.4 >5.4 <4.4 4.4–8.8 8.8–11.9 >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. [32 FR 3273, Feb. 24, 1967, as amended at 55 FR 28883, July 16, 1990] Animal Health and Husbandry Standards