Do you eat Rabbit?

[Rin]

Lord. I knew I should have avoided this topic. I was thinking that now that I have chickens who's eggs I can't wait to eat. I was thinking about building a hutch and getting a rabbit from one of the bazillion "Rabbits for sale $5" posts on the way to town and fatten them up to eat. I hear rabbit is better for you than chicken - more lean and such. I've never had it before but have heard of it as compared to chicken often enough to know it'd be nice to try at least once. At least for the fertilizer if I find out I don't have the balls to slaughter it.

Does anyone here have any good diagrams or videos on how to go about the slaughter and butchering? I've never done either before in my life with an animal and someone posted that they're easier to dress than chickens?

That sounds promising.

 

[Bleenie]

Maybe some promising news everyone...

I met a local guy at the auction today (I went in hopes of finding another Doe) that i was talking to about buying a goat from. I ended up going to his place to see the momma & baby (both pregnant). I noticed he had LOTS of bunnies all over, lol. he said most were ones that got loose and bred but he also butchers them too. There was 1 GORGEOUS tortise(sp?) shell colored doe, he said if he can catch her i can have her(woo hoo!). He's totally in love with me so hopefully he will try to catch her

.

now off the subject, the momma & baby goat that were preggers..he is only asking $200 for the pair & says mom has twins and baby has a single. They are some type of dwarf breed, black & white, Very cute. anyone know if it's a good deal? I would let mommas raise the babies of course, then sell the boys if there is any.

 

[Cetawin]

Love rabbit...I just cannot kill them. skin yes kill nope. LOL

 

[Rin]

Quote:
Sounds good to me, personally I'd jump on the chance if someone offered a deal like that to me. But, I'm a nub and I'm considering Nigerian Dwarf Goats specifically - most of these I find for sale are about $200 /each/ and it's usually males

 

[lilwhispers]

You might try Youtube they have videos on butchering just about anything that is normal table fare in the US.

 

[Anianna]

Quote:
I concur. There are some very good videos on youtube about butchering and dressing rabbit. I lost my bookmarks to a computer crash recently, but they shouldn't be hard to find. I recall finding some good ones rather easily.

 

[Gonzo]

Used too all the time when I was little... Yummy!

 

[Bettacreek]

Quote:
It may depend on your area. Around here, $75-$100 is the average price per dwarf doe, bucks are $45-$75. Babies, I'm unsure about. But, I'd say that it's at least an alright deal, if not a really good one.

 

[bobm]

Hi, I raise meat rabbits professionally, and can offer this advice. Buy and read the book "Storey's Guide to Raising Rabbits", by Bob Bennett. It is the absolute bible on backyard rabbit keeping. If you follow his advice, you WILL BE SUCCESSFUL.

Also, get ahold of PEL-FREEZ, in Rogers, Arkansas. They are a processing plant, and will mail you an excellent cook booklet for free, with recipes for rabbit from around the world.

Best of luck with your bunnies. You can email me at [email protected] if you need help or pointers on your new hobby.

 

[ack123]

awesome. When you get her treat her for parasites, coccidia, intestinal worms, fur mites, etc. Sometimes a free roaming rabbits can be loaded with those, and are always exposed to them(which is one of the reasons they should never run loose). A dose of fenbendozole(sp?) pancur) will get the worms, and mites. corid will get the coccidia. You should be able to get both at any farm store. You can find pancur paste in the horse section. Just a drop the size of a pea on your finger will do. Liquid corid is two teaspooons to a gallon of water. Powdered is one teaspoon to a gallon of water. Add right to the drinking bowl. She also might be wild and crazy when you get her in a cage. So you may have to give her some space for a couple of months till she comes around, before you are able to breed her.