A rabbits ear is not a handle, when you pick them up this way it hurts, so it is instinct for them to kick and scratch.
The rabbit has always been a prey animal, think how many creatures want to kill them for food, including some humans (not me I hasten to add).
So what would you do if you were in this position, someone came along grabbed you by the ears and tried to lift you, no doubt you would kick and scream and try to hurt them in some way so you could escape.
*That is exactly what the pet is trying to do escape, the tighter you grip him the harder he will struggle to get free.
* Don't do it show a bit of respect.
I get a lot of kids say to me, my rabbit does not like me to pick him up, "even when they are doing it correctly".
Of course they don't as I have said above they are prey animals it is instinct for them to escape.
If the animal is friendly and likes to be stroked he will come to you, he will lay down near you especially if you are on the floor.
Then you are on his level, he can keep an eye on you, he knows you do not want to hurt him.
This way he will accept your touch, but don't force him he will try to run if you do.
*Eventually you will gain the rabbits trust.
*Some pet rabbits become amazingly friendly and will sit on your lap to be petted.
*But do not rush them.
They are related to the rodent family, one characteristic they have kept in common is their ability to chew on anything.
But this is not destructive behaviour, your rabbit is doing what comes naturally, he has to keep gnawing on something because his teeth are always growing.
If he has nothing to chew on to wear these teeth down, they will grow to much and yours could easily starve to death.
There are plenty of products you can buy so the rabbit can chew, look in your local pet shop or go online to find him some.
They can be wooden toys or something like that, the rabbit loves to play, so he might as well wear his teeth down doing it.
There are a lot of ailments that can make your pet rabbit ill, but one of the nastiest is fly attack.
The man has gone crazy, fly attack he is talking rubbish.
Oh I am not, the fly will lay eggs on your rabbit, these in turn will change into maggots and the maggot will bore into the animals skin causing lots of problems.
Most s can combat this trouble, if they are fit enough to groom themselves properly.
But youngsters and old rabbits might not be able to clean their fur enough then it becomes a major issue.
In the worst case they can be that damaged by maggots, the kindest thing to do is get them put down.
Not a pleasant thought the kids would be devastated.
So what can you do vigilance is the keyword here, check the rabbit daily look for any sores or cuts this will be an easy entrance to a fly.
If there is any open wounds get your vet to have a look.
One of the ways to stop this fly attack is to fit fly screens to the hutch and the rabbits runs.
You can buy a treatment to apply on to them back end to stop fly eggs hatching, but this is not a cure all, you have got to check bunny everyday.
I hope I have not put you off the idea of keeping rabbits as pets, they can be delightful creatures, just be ahead of the game and check the pet out on a regular basis.