Housing rabbits in large groups is believed to improve their welfare. We designed large partitioned pens by connecting 4 individual enriched cages (elevated platform, burrow and gnawing wood) through a hatch located at the platform level. The aim of this work was to study the space use, exploring behaviour and mixing of rabbits from different litters in such large partitioned housing system. A total of 222 growing rabbits, from 28 litters of 8 rabbits, were used from 35 (weaning; D35) to 63 days of age. Litters were housed separately with their does in individual cages until weaning. At D35, does were removed and each four adjacent cages were connected together opening the hatches between them. The use of space allowance, burrow and platform as well as mixing of litters within a pen were measured through direct observations made several times a week and a video recording (40 min at D62). The proportion of rabbits staying within their birth cage decreased with time (56% vs 30% in week 1 vs week 5; P < 0.001). At D62, 56% of rabbits were in contact in groups of two or more congeners, of which 26% within groups containing 4 or more rabbits. The proportion of rabbits in the burrow increased from 2% (week 1) to 12% (week 5; P < 0.001) and at D62 a rabbit entered or left the burrow on average every 15 min. The proportion of rabbits on the platform was stable along the experiment (19%) and at D62, a rabbit reach or left the platform on average every 11 min. These results illustrated the gregarious and exploratory behaviour of growing rabbits. Such a housing system offered perspectives to design new housing that would improve the welfare of growing rabbits while remaining compatible with all-in all-out rabbit farming system.