Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[kacklinkelly]

OUCH - Glad for you that the deed is done. I have 3 rabbits that are coming due for harvest. This will be my first time harvesting rabbits. DH wants nothing to do with assisting. We have all fallen for the critters. I sold several (at his request

), am keeping two and have two 7 wk olds still posted on cl. These three are 13 weeks old and all at or slightly over 5 lbs. Am thinking I will wait until 16 weeks to see what, if any, weight differential there might be. Anyone have experience with rabbits? I've considered so many methods and believe that the wringer method would work best. Time will tell.

 

[Kassaundra]

I think rabbits are much easier then chickens. I use a pellet gun easy peasy, but have read lots of positive experiences w/ the wringer too.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

We had to process 6 birds 2 weeks ago. 5 cockerels and a 3 year old rooster. The rooster had to be demoted. I have a younger RIR that I have placed into the main flock...but having the 2 older roosters ...they were not going to accept the new one. So we culled the second rooster. He was a good rooster, just wasn't contributing much to the flock. So I told him thank you for his time and life now to feed us. I felt bad for him. He knew what was coming, and looked away all day and didn't crow anymore. It is difficult to cull an animal that one has come to know.

 

[Kassaundra]

We had to process 6 birds 2 weeks ago. 5 cockerels and a 3 year old rooster. The rooster had to be demoted. I have a younger RIR that I have placed into the main flock...but having the 2 older roosters ...they were not going to accept the new one. So we culled the second rooster. He was a good rooster, just wasn't contributing much to the flock. So I told him thank you for his time and life now to feed us. I felt bad for him. He knew what was coming, and looked away all day and didn't crow anymore. It is difficult to cull an animal that one has come to know.

So true, that is by far my hardest now, the older established ones that either are not needed or have filled their purpose, or are not well.

 

[IttyBiddyRedHen]

I had hoped there was some way to allow him to "retire" and live to his old age...but it just wasn't possible. I dislike culling a good rooster. They seem to be hard to find.

 

[HollyDuckFarmer]

I had hoped there was some way to allow him to "retire" and live to his old age...but it just wasn't possible.  I dislike culling a good rooster.  They seem to be hard to find.

I'm sorry, but grateful.

 

[kacklinkelly]

Just completed processing my first backyard meat rabbit. It definitely did not go as quickly as the people on youtube are able to do it. I wanted to be home alone when I processed the first one. It took me about an hour from start to finish (including clean up). I started in my back yard but cleaned and dressed it out in my kitchen because we live in an HOA neighborhood and didn't want the neighbors in the two story house behind me watching. No one else I know is into working to raise their own food in my neighborhood. I learned a lot from the process and know what I will do differently for the others I still have to process. This one was 14 weeks and weighed about 6 lbs live weight. After dressing him out, the carcass weighed 3 lbs (bone in). There was more meat available than on the cornish cross I did last year. They were definitely not worth the effort in my opinion. (and almost no offensive stink this time!!) I'm glad I have a place to come and just share the experience. My family is starting to come home now and I'll be sharing the story with them next. Peace

 

[fisherlady]

Just completed processing my first backyard meat rabbit. It definitely did not go as quickly as the people on youtube are able to do it. I wanted to be home alone when I processed the first one. It took me about an hour from start to finish (including clean up). I started in my back yard but cleaned and dressed it out in my kitchen because we live in an HOA neighborhood and didn't want the neighbors in the two story house behind me watching. No one else I know is into working to raise their own food in my neighborhood. I learned a lot from the process and know what I will do differently for the others I still have to process. This one was 14 weeks and weighed about 6 lbs live weight. After dressing him out, the carcass weighed 3 lbs (bone in). There was more meat available than on the cornish cross I did last year. They were definitely not worth the effort in my opinion. (and almost no offensive stink this time!!) I'm glad I have a place to come and just share the experience. My family is starting to come home now and I'll be sharing the story with them next. Peace

I am glad your first rabbit experience went without too many hitches, even if it was slower than you wanted... it will improve with experience.

As far as your Cornish Crosses.... it may have been your hatchery stock you used. I have done many runs of it from 2 different sources (one Ohio, one Michigan) and both sources have resulted in nice birds with butcher weight in the 5lb area at 8 weeks or so, and many which I held to 10 weeks and dressed out in the 7 to 8lb range.
now the smell... that is just something you don't get away from with them, though I understand it is reduced with fermented feed, which DH and I intend to use next year. I am really hoping the reports on the decreased feed and decreased waste and poo are true!

 

[kacklinkelly]

I'm sure you are right. It was a learning experience so I picked up a batch from a local feed store. I had one that didn't even make it to 7 weeks (couldn't walk and the others were walking all over her) I was shocked to hear crowing from the males at 8 weeks. I had to do it then because of the HOA. I went to the local county fair last weekend and saw great specimens of 8 week old cornish cross. Mine definitely were not comparative.

 

[Coralietg]

It's that time of year again! We have 19 Cornish X in the back in a tractor, and they're nearing the end of their tenth week. My husband gets home from work on Sunday, and it will be time for the males to go. I need to find information on wet resting. Last year we rested them in the fridge, and their skin got really dried out even when covered.