Texas

[bnjrob]

occasionally you can still find the old kero-bators on eBay

I love the things.. but I didn't inherit the ones my grandparents used..one of my Aunts snagged those!

cool, have never thought to look. Haven't been on Ebay in ages.

 

[yinepu]

http://houston.craigslist.org/grd/3749190060.html

wonder where DW would ship me off to?

you NEED a parrot! (I vote for african greys though)

if i wanted to get into raising some rabbits, what are some breeds to look into. i know about the flemish giants, my gramps use to raise them when i was a lil-guy. but aside from that i have no clue really...just curious as to what some of the other "production" style rabbits are. Would like to get a pair and as the breed grow out the kits(is that what they are called?) for meat.

And also, what are the first steps in starting this process? any info is appreciated!

New Zealands or Californias are nice meat rabbits.. even crosses of them can fill out nicely

get young bucks and does (you would be surprised how many people will sell you old worn out rabbits and swear they are "good breeding stock")
if you're breeding for meat.. breed often.. here with as hot as it gets I had the best luck with winter and early spring litters of kits.. the heat can be pretty rough on the bucks (heat sterility).. but by winter they are recovered and should be able to produce again

if you need advice on butchering when the time comes .. let me know.. We've butchered a heck of a lot of rabbits when we were in full on production.

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no experience .. just been drooling over them for a while now!

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..."in a few weeks" is pretty darn vague ya know....

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I saw one on there back in December .. maybe January.. haven't searched for them since

 

[Cockle-Dood]

DW is actually on board with the rabbit project...still kinda just puts up with the chickens, lol! but i plan on looking into making some rabbit hutches and reading more into the process! i will definately take you up on the processing part. i have killed and cleaned many squirrels in my life...would kinda imagine it being similar, no?

 

[Cockle-Dood]

here is the most recent shot i have of the roo...the hen always runs away when she sees the camera...camera shy i guess

 

[yinepu]

DW is actually on board with the rabbit project...still kinda just puts up with the chickens, lol! but i plan on looking into making some rabbit hutches and reading more into the process! i will definately take you up on the processing part. i have killed and cleaned many squirrels in my life...would kinda imagine it being similar, no?

similar

killing can be best done by either a shot to the head (air rifle or .22) or broomsticking

If you plan to hang him... trim around the feet then hang 'em by the back feet... if you are dressing him out on a table just chop off the feet and head first
give him a zipper down the belly with a sharp knife (careful not to cut through the body cavity exposing the guts... save that til a bit later) and peel back the hide like removing his 'clothes" (they peel VERY easily when still warm).. if you have one that is a bit stubborn you can slide your hand under the skin to help loosen it.. but if you are adept at dressing out a dead bunny you're fast enough not to have to do that. I have found that I'm faster skinning them out if I have them hanging.. so I have more leverage in removing the hide.. I usually leave the tail attached to the hide.. so if you want to do that you'll have to snip it off as well.

once the hide is off.. take a sharp knife and slice open the body cavity.. gut (reserve liver if you want.. we feed those to the dogs).. then slice open the diaphragm to remove the heart and lungs (more doggy treats).. also make sure you clear out the rectum.. otherwise you'll have a bit of a "surprise" later

a quick rinse and you can quarter the bunny up from there (actually it's 5 sections if you part out the back)

 

[yinepu]

here is the most recent shot i have of the roo...the hen always runs away when she sees the camera...camera shy i guess

I gotta get some yokohamas one of these days....

 

[Kilsharion]

similar

killing can be best done by either a shot to the head (air rifle or .22) or broomsticking

If you plan to hang him... trim around the feet then hang 'em by the back feet... if you are dressing him out on a table just chop off the feet and head first
give him a zipper down the belly with a sharp knife (careful not to cut through the body cavity exposing the guts... save that til a bit later) and peel back the hide like removing his 'clothes" (they peel VERY easily when still warm).. if you have one that is a bit stubborn you can slide your hand under the skin to help loosen it.. but if you are adept at dressing out a dead bunny you're fast enough not to have to do that. I have found that I'm faster skinning them out if I have them hanging.. so I have more leverage in removing the hide.. I usually leave the tail attached to the hide.. so if you want to do that you'll have to snip it off as well.

once the hide is off.. take a sharp knife and slice open the body cavity.. gut (reserve liver if you want.. we feed those to the dogs).. then slice open the diaphragm to remove the heart and lungs (more doggy treats).. also make sure you clear out the rectum.. otherwise you'll have a bit of a "surprise" later

a quick rinse and you can quarter the bunny up from there (actually it's 5 sections if you part out the back)

Or, leave them whole, stuff and cook.....that's what we did the other night. I took the carcass and filled the cavity with apples, herbs and shredded cheeses. Pinned it shut, wrapped him in bacon and roasted on a low heat until cooked through. Made a light, red wine gravy and served with yorkshire pudding.

That's if you aren't processing for storage, obviously

 

[Cockle-Dood]

similar

killing can be best done by either a shot to the head (air rifle or .22) or broomsticking

If you plan to hang him... trim around the feet then hang 'em by the back feet... if you are dressing him out on a table just chop off the feet and head first
give him a zipper down the belly with a sharp knife (careful not to cut through the body cavity exposing the guts... save that til a bit later) and peel back the hide like removing his 'clothes" (they peel VERY easily when still warm).. if you have one that is a bit stubborn you can slide your hand under the skin to help loosen it.. but if you are adept at dressing out a dead bunny you're fast enough not to have to do that. I have found that I'm faster skinning them out if I have them hanging.. so I have more leverage in removing the hide.. I usually leave the tail attached to the hide.. so if you want to do that you'll have to snip it off as well.

once the hide is off.. take a sharp knife and slice open the body cavity.. gut (reserve liver if you want.. we feed those to the dogs).. then slice open the diaphragm to remove the heart and lungs (more doggy treats).. also make sure you clear out the rectum.. otherwise you'll have a bit of a "surprise" later

a quick rinse and you can quarter the bunny up from there (actually it's 5 sections if you part out the back)

yeah, sounds like what i would do! its been years but i think i still have the jist of it. what is processing age for rabbits?

 

[Cockle-Dood]

Or, leave them whole, stuff and cook.....that's what we did the other night. I took the carcass and filled the cavity with apples, herbs and shredded cheeses. Pinned it shut, wrapped him in bacon and roasted on a low heat until cooked through. Made a light, red wine gravy and served with yorkshire pudding.

That's if you aren't processing for storage, obviously

Love that idea! maybe even on a smoker.....

 

[yinepu]

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whatever size you want them..just like for chickens

you can butcher for fryers (a few months old) . or stewing rabbits (old worn out breeders).. breeds like flemish giant take longer to reach a good meat to bone ratio... so that's why they usually go with young new zealands or california bunnies for fryers