Michigan

[Olive Hill]

Hmm, rabbits are one I've never butchered before. Jenn & Silly, what is your preferred kill method? Seems like they'd be a bit squirmy for neck slitting and/or head chopping. Do you break necks?

 

[wansul]

Quote:
I saw it done with a bat or pipe to the back of the head.

Wanda

 

[SillyChicken]

I have seen that as well, but I think there's too much room to err. I'm going to use a hanging board, I guess that's what it can be called. Put their head in a slot and pull to break their necks, or the broom stick method. ........... or .22 which ever way I find the quickest, least painful for them.

 

[CricketYang]

I have not had a fresh egg in weeks! DH went into the coop this morning to find two of the most perfect little brown eggs in the nesting box waiting for us! yay for Christmas eggs! I wonder who it was?? I don't think I'm going to try and figure it out, too many pullets to consider. I'm just glad they finally started! I've gotten eggs before but it never loses its excitement for me. I hope they keep it up.

 

[keyt1969]

Two doses of Baytril down for Gidget the rabbit. So far so good. He's so good about it too! He's still eating and drinking normally but he does seem a little slower. Not sure if it's the med or the Wry Neck.

We haven't had eggs in about 3 weeks and Aric found 2 nice eggs. One brown one an off-white-ish color. The brown one was very oddly shaped! Might be a new layer but no way to tell right now.

Yesterday Aric bravely carried full 5 gallon buckets full of water from the side of the house and put it in the duck pond. The little white calls and a couple of others were filthy, especially the calls! They have a large run yet they like to lay where the sun shines on the run and melts the snow and turns it into mud. We never got around to draining the pond but they like laying in the frozen pond so he took some of it out (that wasn't fun) then put water in there. Just enough for them to bathe. I was so frustrated at first because the only ones that got in there were the ones that didn't need bathing!

Well, the only thing i miss about the holidays is the baking. I see everyone on Facebook talking about the stuff they're making. No money for it this year but Aric makes some cool stuff all year long so we're not really missing anything. I finished crocheting yet another baby blanket but this one isn't promised to anyone so I'll probably put it on ebay or craigslist. I have another one in the works. Monday I find out my surgery date so at least I'll have something to do afterward!

Hope everyone has a safe and happy time with family and friends!

 

[Olive Hill]

Merry Christmas Eve Day, All!

Quote:
Sounds like a lot of room to err to me too. I'd probably miss my mark and just bludgeon the poor thing. I don't have the best aim when it comes to that sort of thing.

I'm thinking of picking up a few kits from the amish family that sells them every year in the spring and using them as lawn mowers for between my raised beds all spring / summer (under portable pens so they can't eat the plants I care about) and then butchering for the freezer in the fall when the grass quits growing. (I do know you're not supposed to raise rabbits on the ground. What can I say, I'm a rebel.

) I can't let the geese in there without supervision because they discovered what tomatoes were last year and I'm sure the breeders who overwinter will teach the young'uns in short order next year if given access. Stinkers. I'll probably go with a .22, that's one thing I *am* a good aim with.

 

[chickflick]

Quote:
I make my manacotti with a meat/cheese filling. I use hamburger or turkey. My kids favorite meal. You'll have to come over and have some!

 

[RIRJen]

Quote:
Sounds like a lot of room to err to me too. I'd probably miss my mark and just bludgeon the poor thing. I don't have the best aim when it comes to that sort of thing.

I'm thinking of picking up a few kits from the amish family that sells them every year in the spring and using them as lawn mowers for between my raised beds all spring / summer (under portable pens so they can't eat the plants I care about) and then butchering for the freezer in the fall when the grass quits growing. (I do know you're not supposed to raise rabbits on the ground. What can I say, I'm a rebel.

) I can't let the geese in there without supervision because they discovered what tomatoes were last year and I'm sure the breeders who overwinter will teach the young'uns in short order next year if given access. Stinkers. I'll probably go with a .22, that's one thing I *am* a good aim with.

lol I use a 22 and call it good. I've had to do it other ways but I'm not a very big person and I don't have the leverage to to the "swinging neck break" thing. The one time I tried it it wasn't pretty and I ended up just using the 22 anyways.

 

[justcelia]

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and happy end of the year! (Hope I covered everyone!)
I hope everyone is doing whatever they love most.
All our love from our home and hens to yours!

Celia
85 days till Spring!

 

[RIRJen]

Quote:
I'm keeping my fingers crossed that he comes out of it!

Like I said it'll go one way or the other pretty fast once he starts tilting like that.

Hope the Baytril does the thing, I asked around a bit and I've heard from a couple people who had good luck with it.


I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas!!!