Raising our New Zealand Meat Rabbits *Start to finish - Birth to processing* Possible Graphic pics*

[chiklee]

my rabbits I always separate one always wants to be the queen so they will fight.

 

[Crickett]

Looks like the little one made it!

 

[Angelicisi]

yay! Great score on the buns too!

 

[Jordi15]

Is it necessary to separate the kits to the "grow out" pen. Can they stay with mom until they are at butchering age? I read this thread and don't remember reading about this anywhere.

 

[Angelicisi]

I seperate because of room, plus hormones start up on males a lil bit sooner so they may try to do their thing. Usually for space and to keep mom from getting too mad at then since she's so Mich bigger tho is why I do it. Some people have colony situations and probably don't...

 

[Angelicisi]

rabbits doing great! Still growing.

 

[Angelicisi]

Well, we processed a buck today. 12 weeks old, 5lbs live, dressed out to 2.45lbs. Sound decent?
Hubby actually did the whole process (i cleaned it lol) while I was out on a 20 min delivery
He used a wringer type method and said it was instant. Zero struggle. All of our rabbits are socialized well so handling him was easy as was hooking his head quick around bent bar and pull...done. so easy and quick hubby said. I watched him gut upon returning and then we cleaned it up, inspected it and sealed it. I am so happy. I have a line of people wanting our meat and was scared I would chicken out or be too upset or maybe hubby would not want too? But all worked out!

 

[SA Farm]

Looks good!

 

[Angelicisi]

A super duper customer is making us rabbit wringers. So awesome. We have a station set up but using a makeshift wringer for the one processed rabbit we did and long term it would not work...but then a customer with a welder and some skills made us one we will be trying it out probably this weekend on a few 12 week olds we have! I will have to send him some dressed rabbits! He's giving them to us at no charge I love our community.

 

[Crickett]

Awesome! I'm using the "bash'em in the head " method.