I adopted a rescue bunny at the age of 3 months from an animal shelter. His name is Teak and he is now 1 years old. The shelter had just started allowing rabbits into their facility and he was born there. Unfortunately he was kept with barking dogs and was very skittish when I took him home and would shake anytime we dropped something or made a loud sound. He was very lovable though, but over the course of a year he has become very aggressive. He is neutered and I know rabbits are very territorial and Its natural for rabbits to become hormonal even when neutered or spayed.
He is in an open dog play pen and loves to lift his cage up and slam it on the floor or rearrange the square into a diamond or a different odd shape. I usually fix his cage 5 or more times a day If I am not at work. I let him out for 4 or more hours a day. He has increased his grunting at me when I let him out to play. Normally he will grunt and run away if I try to pet him, but now he has been putting his paws up to push my hands away, trying to scratch or bite me when i put my hand out to pet him and will thump whenever he sees me. Also if I am just casually on the floor watching him run around he will come up to me and will usually scratch me or try to bite me.
I give him plenty of toys to chew on such as cardboard and paper.
I have cut out the sugar from his diet to try and help with his temperament, I only buy timothy pellets and timothy hay, it has calmed him a little, but not really.
I have tried clipping his nails myself, but ends with my boyfriend and I having cuts everywhere. It stresses out my poor bun,Teak so much to the point where he will let out rabbit cry’s or will sniffle. As soon as he does this we stop. I try to give him reassuring pets or talk to him in a soothing voice. I now take him to the pet store in the mall or take him to the vet every 2 or 3 weeks to get his nails trimmed.
If for any reason I have to pick him up and put him in his carrier he will start to sniffle, cry, shake, kick or bite. I normally try and get him to go in by himself, but that is usually a hassle. I don’t want to cause him any more stress.
I want to know if I am doing something wrong? Is there anything I can do? Do I just need to wait it out? I really love him.
I also have another rabbit and she is the sweetest little thing. They both are not bonded, but will usually play nice when they are both out together. They don’t fight.
I apologize for any incorrect grammar.