My Rabbit Journey~New Pics pg 17

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
I know of that method, but really don't think I can do that. The thought makes me cringe--not because it isn't humane, but because I would be afraid that I'd do it really wrong and just injure and not kill. I have also thought of "broom sticking" them....Idk the gun seems the easiest way to go.

 

[Connorrm]

Jaime,

Be careful with a high powered pellet gun. I've put down several hundred rabbits. The pellet gun sometimes doesn't do the trick. The way I prefer is with a hammer (I know sounds barbaric). I just hold the rabbit from the top of the hits with one hand while he's dangling I rap him on the back of the head HARD with the hammer. Remember you can never hit it too hard. A rabbit scream is the most awful thing you'll ever hear. Fortunately they're rare. Good luck!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
*Cringe*..ok thanks. Oh boy..what have I gotten myself into? LOL.

Like I said, I will post vids and pics.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I have a new thread going for the butcher process:

https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=508402

Go there to see how I did

 

[EweSheep]

Quote:
That is the method my father used on our Cali/NZ crosses we had. We butchered five, three of them screamed. It was a sledge hammer blow once to the back of the head and throat slit. Quick if you ask me and the first time I saw it had its reflexes, it shocked me...Dad said it was normal for them to react and it was quick.

Talk about delicious meat you will have after butchering the buns. I love them grilled!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Hi Everyone,

I have butchered two of my rabbits. One four month old Satin and one seven month old NZ. I found a recipe I am going to use on them this week. I will let you know how it goes.

I will be making both the rabbits for one large meal for us, a friends family and my In Laws.

Elizabethan Rabbit:
http://www.food.com/recipe/elizabethan-rabbit-423126

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I cooked both rabbits tonight in the recipe I linked above. It was delicious. I have to express my surprise that the older 7 month old doe was not, in any way, tougher than the 4 month old buck. The both had firm meat, but it was very tender-- no knife needed. I had dinner guests.

I cooked all four quarters, plus the loins of the larger rabbit only. This much rabbit fed four adults and three children, and three adults had second helpings. In addition to that large meal my husband has a good sized lunch packed for tomorrow and I also have a lunch. Thats a LOT of food for such small looking animals!!

And yet there's more! LOL I still have the loins of the smaller rabbit, abdominal muscles and rib cages of both rabbits, plus liver, hearts and kidneys. I will make some rabbit stock and find something to do wtih the organ meat. I have to say I am more than satisfied with my results!

 

[Lark Rise]

Quote:

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Ok..so today is day 29 post breeding my Champagne. I can't really tell if she is pregnant or not, to me she looks like she's got a slight bi-lateral "pooch" to her tummy. I tried to palpate about 10 days ago with no luck. So today I put in a nest box for her and so far she's interested but not going inside it. She doesn't do any of the "nesting" behaviors such as carrying hay around. But last night when I fed them I saw two large clumps of hair in the cage--looked to me like she started pulling hair. This morning, nothing at all. LOL

So my "nest box" is a large cat carrier (crate). I took the door off and stuffed it with hay, plus, I covered the vent holes in the sides with cardboard so that it's draft-free for the kits. So now I guess I just wait and I am too excited to see if she's got any kits in a few days. Oh, almost forgot this part. I also took the two halves of the crate apart and reattached them with only two zip-ties so that I can open the lid and check the kits.

On another note...since she's been bred she's gotten increasingly more friendly and now she will come up to me when I open the door to the hutch. She won't allow petting but this is a big difference from her pre-breeding behavior of stuffing herself into the corner and pretending I'm not there LOL.

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I have a nice healthy litter of 6 kits and Mommy is being a great first timer! I am thrilled with her being so wonderful, she's very relaxed and friendly now that she's had her babies.

She had 8 to begin with, three died because they crawled out of the nest box (which was a cat crate) I switched out the nest box to a nomral commercial made one and she had another baby about 6 hours after I first counted. Here's the original picture of the 8 babies: