Found a butchering video- Method I am going to use

[aoxa]

Their pork is awesome too and their rabbit.

I've never had rabbit before. I'd like to try it, though I think butchering a rabbit would be really hard. Something about fur.. It just seems like a pet. I have two rabbits. I free range them as well.

 

[camilleathome]

I've never had rabbit before. I'd like to try it, though I think butchering a rabbit would be really hard. Something about fur.. It just seems like a pet. I have two rabbits. I free range them as well.

We have to start raising a few rabbits for the boas at some point(Most likely when we move), it just takes way too long to raise rats to their size needed especially for the breeder females(To feed the pregnant female boas I mean). Its hard to do but it needs to be done. Heck i used to keep rats as pets. And I mean PAMPERED pets. I had a two level ferret nation and sewed all sorts of cubes and hammocks for them and bought all sorts of toys. Its really hard but the snakes have to eat and the cost of buying them even wholesale is ridiculous. Its more work but costs WAY less to raise your own feeders. And that's out long term goal to be as self sufficient as we can while still being able to enjoy keeping the animals we love.

 

[aoxa]

We have to start raising a few rabbits for the boas at some point(Most likely when we move), it just takes way too long to raise rats to their size needed especially for the breeder females(To feed the pregnant female boas I mean). Its hard to do but it needs to be done. Heck i used to keep rats as pets. And I mean PAMPERED pets. I had a two level ferret nation and sewed all sorts of cubes and hammocks for them and bought all sorts of toys. Its really hard but the snakes have to eat and the cost of buying them even wholesale is ridiculous. Its more work but costs WAY less to raise your own feeders. And that's out long term goal to be as self sufficient as we can while still being able to enjoy keeping the animals we love.

Can you not feed chickens to the boas? They grow quite fast, and that's what the zoo does. Amanda said she has a bunch of frozen cull chicks in her freezer for her snake, but it is not a boa. I know nothing about snakes, just curious.

 

[camilleathome]

Can you not feed chickens to the boas? They grow quite fast, and that's what the zoo does. Amanda said she has a bunch of frozen cull chicks in her freezer for her snake, but it is not a boa. I know nothing about snakes, just curious.

yup, you can. Though unless you have a farm Its much easier to raise rats. But were thinking of varying with a bit of rabbit, chicken and rats for anyting were not selling. Anything we sell is on rats and mice because its much easier for clients to gain access to those types of prey

 

[Kassaundra]

I tried the killing cone w/ slitting the throat first, then tried the axe on the next one, both were traumatic experiences I don't ever care to repeat. I now have a killing cone type set up at an angle and use a .17 pellet rifle. It is perfect for me. I shoot the chicken at point blank it is instant death and they bleed out completely through the head wound. I made my butcher station at the perfect angle and height to accomodate the gun, and a small trash can fits just under and catches all the blood. I did not watch the video, but have seen several that involved a sharp blow to the head w/ both chickens and rabbits, my concern for me w/ that method would be the same issue I had w/ the axe .......... aim.

 

[gg706]

Yes I do believe as Aoxa said there is room for error and being the chicken at the end of the error would not be good! I actually think I made a mistake earlier I Thanked Camille for the video but I looked at it again and I actually think it was Aoxa that posted the video ??? Want to give credit were credit is due..... so Thank You Aoxa for posting the video. It did empower me. I think I can do it and almost ordered a few meat birds today. I struggle with the fact I eat chicken but am too gutless to butcher it. I feel like a hypocrite, it is not a good feeling! I also dont think the store birds are treated well and dont really want to support that. AND I am concerned about the birds health and what meds they were given before my family eats them. Kassundra do ever worry about ricochet?

 

[Kassaundra]

No it hasn't been powerful enough to go through and through to the outside, and if it did my stand is made out of wood it would just hit a piece of wood.

 

[gg706]

Interesting....so does the chicken do all the flapping and such after you shoot them? Or is it just limp and bleeds out?

 

[Kassaundra]

Interesting....so does the chicken do all the flapping and such after you shoot them? Or is it just limp and bleeds out?

Still flaps a little, no vocalizations. A very hands off way to kill them, and they are turned away from you so you don't have to look in the eyes while you do the deed. They never see it coming. My gun has both a .17 barrel and a .22, I have found the smaller .17 (higher velocity smaller projectile) works MUCH better then the .22, just fyi

 

[gg706]

Thank You for the info. That doesn't sound like a bad way. Them not seeing me or knowing it was coming would certainly make it better! Thanks!