1st Time for Butchering

[Zookeeper9000]

Thanks Amy Sue one more ? Do you do something with the fur or just toss it.

 

[amysue2012]

Zookeeper - I've thought about trying to preserve the feet with caps and chains for the ever famous lucky rabbits foot, but at this point we havent yet. As for the skins at this point we just toss them. Tanning the hide is not a step that Im ready for.

 

[harry2008]

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[ChickenTender63]

amysue-well done! I am just starting to get back into raising meat, and I do think I am going to have troubles down the road when it comes time for the kill.

I was raised up growing rabbits like you are. We also raised New Zealand Whites, along with a few others thrown in once in awhile. My brother and I were always responsible for the butchering, and we were doing about 300 per week.

When we dressed them out, we would put the pelts in a plastic bag and freeze them until we had a freezer load, which really didn't take long at our rates. My brother found a company that would buy them from us, and they would do the tanning. All we had to do was remove it and freeze it, then deliver it.

I wish I could remember where it was, because I grew up in Ohio as well, and it was somplace fairly close to us. I am thinking maybe Greenville or that area.

The only time we did chickens though, was when grandpa sent us home with a bag of roosters, and then we would process them the next day. I remember how to pluck, but I don't remember how to finish.

I am proud of you for your accomplishment. I am afraid I am just going to find someone else to do mine. After my brother left for college, thats what we did with the rabbits. There was no way mom & I could continue at those rates ourselves. We used to process at 9 weeks and our fryers would be 3 1/2-4 lbs dressed. Thats right where our customers wanted them. Very easy to skin, and very tender meat. It would be almost as tender as veal.

Good luck to you on your future processing. You did good today.

 

[Acre of Blessings]

I am so glad that you and your mom could work side by side on this. I know for a fact that my mom would not. Great job.

 

[warne008]

I am proud of you for your accomplishment. I am afraid I am just going to find someone else to do mine. After my brother left for college, thats what we did with the rabbits. There was no way mom & I could continue at those rates ourselves. We used to process at 9 weeks and our fryers would be 3 1/2-4 lbs dressed. Thats right where our customers wanted them. Very easy to skin, and very tender meat. It would be almost as tender as veal.
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warne008
family dentistry raleigh

 

[warne008]

We have the White New Zelands because I prefer the clean crisp look over the other breeds, also its said that a lighter colored rabbit will skin easier. Another little tip is that younger rabbits tend to be easier to skin and the meat tends to be not as tough as say a older rabbit might be.
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warne008
digital backs

 

[warne008]

I was very comfortable with the process and skilled, but my daughter came home from school at the same time, I baited her with the video task and she was just great, now she said she wants to be my helper. I just think that most people need to get a little better hold on their emotions, and not over think and cry over the whole thing. Once again I am proud of you, good job.
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warne008
Car Transport

 

[asher]

Good job! I'm not there, yet, but some day...