My rabbit has became aggressive

Question
I got my rabbit in April of 2015. Her mother was a meat rabbit and her father was a minature (I do not know the exact breeds). She has acted very well, she is litter trained and very social. I keep her in a cage that is about 4 1/2 feet in length and about 1 1/2 feet in width. I try to let her out as much as possible, when she is out she can freely go anywhere in my room. Though,there are some days where I am busy and can not always let her out. Here lately, she has not wanted to leave her cage, she grunts, charges, and bites when I try to pick her up. She was so happy a few months ago. She is also making quite a mess in the litter box; whereas before she never did. It is almost as she is "nesting". I was curious to know if the aggressiveness towards me and the making a mess has something to do with the hormones, in which she should be spayed? Or if I have been doing something that I should not have been. I want to do what is right for her! Thanks!

Answer
Hi Hannah,

This behavior is almost always hormonal.  Getting spayed will usually reduce these problems.  The nesting could be false pregnacies which should also be relieved with spaying.  It would benefit her to get more out of the cage time if possible.  If you are not able to let her out more I would suggest getting an x pen.  These are the wire enclosures in which you would see little dogs put in outside to play.  You can attach this right to her regular cage and this will give her more room to exercise while keeping the stuff in your room safe.

I suspect once you get her spayed you will see a dramatic improvement in her behavior.  These things are very classic non-spayed, teenage rabbit problems.

Good luck

Pam