O.T. dispatching rabbits?

[warmfuzzies]

I am hoping to have some meat rabbits soon, I am still deciding if I am going to be able to do this. DH is a hunter and has shot many wild rabbits, but he says hes not to interested in killing our own. Go figure...

So if it is done, i think it will be up to me. I have no trouble doing chickens, but I dont know about bunnies. I know they are still young and cute when you do it...

I guess for me the broomstick method may be best. Or maybe knocking them out and then slitting the throat.

Is it a pretty easy tug to break the neck, or do you have to really jerk?

 

[calgal98]

I raised rabbits for a while and began by using a bar to whack them behind the ears. It worked well, but seem a bit brutal to me. I ended up using a pellet gun, travel pen and the lawn. I'd put the bunny in the pen and let him eat. When he was busy and occupied I'd put the muzzle of the gun close to his head and shoot. It was much quicker for me. I'm very familiar with guns so it wasn't as difficult as thumping. You still need to slit the throat and bleed them. I couldn't bring myself to broomstick them. Everyone has a method that works better for them. Find what works best for you.

 

[warmfuzzies]

Oh, I could definitely do the pellet gun thing. That sounds like a good idea. Or a .22 would work too. A B.B. gun will kill them?

 

[RabbitIndustryCouncil]

Hello, everyone--glad to see a rabbit discussion, and I may be able to help answer some questions on humane killing.

(A note to Sal of the Rabbit Wringer: In case you hadn't noticed, I'm on YOUR device's 'development team' too--if you ever took advice, which you don't. All I did was test and report my results, which sadly were negative.
I've seen the video and replicated the technique. There's no question that the device has potential--but with the high percentage of failures on a humane basis, there's no way I can recommend it as a humane killing method for rabbits at this time. A device which results in spine separations BEFORE the stun/kill has occurred is not humane. Neither is one where the jaw is broken first and a backup method has to be applied.)

Okay, now that I've addressed THAT....

Humane killing:
Humane killing is called 'euthanasia' and means giving the animal a fast
and painless death, minimizing or eliminating all avoidable fear, stress,
and distress.
In rabbits, this is done by disrupting brain function as quickly as
possible, usually by way of direct trauma to either the brain or brainstem,
which results in a stun OR a kill. Immediate decapitation or at very least
complete bleed-out of the stunned/killed animal is imperative to both ensure
death and from a food safety standpoint.

From a humane standpoint, ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have a back-up method.
Messing it up is traumatic and painful for all concerned, not to mention
embarassing.

There are a zillion different methods, but here are some of the most
common techniques and their humane issues:
Blunt trauma: The old 'hit 'em on the head'. Works well to stun or
kill; immediate decapitation or throat-slitting to the spine is required to
ensure death while the rabbit is definitely unconscious. May be more
difficult to remove the head due to the spine remaining intact.
Gunshot: A shot with a .22 or larger (be reasonable here, and DON'T EVER
FORGET the safety factor!!!), directed from the base of the skull toward the
mouth or tip of the nose, is generally sufficient. NEVER perform on
anything that can cause a ricochet, even with snakeshot/birdshot loads!
Deep, soft soil free of rocks is best; a bottomless small enclosure with a
little pile of treats keeps the bun content and still.
Note: when I trialed the use of an 'average' (non-CO2) pellet
gun, I was very disappointed with the result, which was an injurious stun
rather than the kill I'd hoped for, so be aware--decapitate or bleed out
QUICK! once stunned.
Cervical dislocation: Breaking the neck at the base of the skull is
probably one of the more difficult skills to master doing with one's bare
hands, but there are mechanical aids which can make this more certain and
easier on all concerned. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES should one use a method
which causes pain before the spine separates from the base of the
skull...that comes under 'avoidable pain' and is NOT a humane death.
Manual cervical dislocation is a time-honored, humane skill which I
definitely recommend one have a tutor for! The point of pressure and the
angle at which the skull is held relative to the spine is vital to the
success of the method (that, and remembering to NEVER close one's hand
around the jaw...). Those with limited strength or short arms may need help
adjusting the technique for success.
'Broomsticking', done properly, is quite humane. Use a narrow,
STRONG rod and your sense of balance to lay the rod across, stepping lightly
but firmly on one end. Use your other foot (tip on the heel to bring the
toe and rod to the ground when ready) to pin the rabbit's head to the ground
and pull UP on the hindlegs at the same instant. If your timing is off,
this is not a humane method.
All of these methods of cervical dislocation may be humanely
performed/practiced on a rabbit which has been stunned by the blunt trauma
method, by the way--as long as the skull is intact and you work quickly.

I hope this is helpful information, and invite you to the Meatrabbits group
on YahooGroups if you have further questions, or you can email me directly
at [email protected] . There's a TON of information on butchering in the
Meatrabbits archives.

Thank you for your time.

Pamela Alley, RVT
Director, Rabbit Industry Council
ListSis, Meatrabbits

 

[Rabbit Wringer]

How to handle, position, and slaughter a rabbit with this device

Do not just put the rabbit in the device and pull toward the junction of the angle and the bar stock)

1. Hold rabbit against your body with the rabbits head on your left side.

2. Grasp both feet with your right hand, and put your thumb and index finger around the neck loosely.

3. Gently insert the rabbit into the device until the bar and shelf are making contact with the rabbit (Not Tight).

(Steps 4 thru 8 should be in quick succession so the rabbit, does not experience any pain or discomfort until the final moment)

4. Position the rabbit at a 90 degree angle or perpendicular to the bar, not the shelf, with the chin of the rabbit resting on the shelf, and the bar at the the base of the skull.

5. Elevate the rabbit slightly so that the rabbit’s body is almost level with the floor keeping the rabbit at a 90 degree angle to the bar.

6. First envision the rabbit being stretched out about three inches.

7. Give thanks to the rabbit, and to God!

8- With one quick jerking motion pull the rabbit’s feet up slightly and back snapping the rabbits neck.

It is important to envision the stretch first, then when you pull, your only trying to accomplish a separation of the skull, and the first vertebra not a decapitation. When done right, the separation will occur at the axis of the skull and cervical spine.

Some people cut off the head with a knife while the rabbit is still in the device, while others hang the rabbit and then cut.

Insulting comments removed... be courteous to members at all times--reread the rules, please!

Many thanks, and good day!​

 

[bryan8]

Im a big rabbit hunter and when the dogs chase down a rabbit and dont rip it to sheds, or you dont kill them with the first shot i like to do this.

If im in a hurry, a swift stomp to the head (only head! dont want to dmage meat) will kill them as soon as your boot hits the ground.

Also sometimes we grab them by the neck with one hand and then grab the head with the other hand and twist untill the head pops off. This way is slightly longer and takes a good amount of strenght to do corectly.

Or a .22 behind the ears.....

~Bryan