Problems witrh courage to butcher

those two are more than 6 months now, didn't even advertise them since they are so skittish I wouldn't feel comfortable giving them to anyone. They are not used to being handled, just getting them will induce massive stress. Getting a clean shot at a wriggling rabbit with the captive bolt gun is going to be a challange
I really don't like this situation. I calibrated my air rifle for 3 meters yesterday, as an alternative, but I'm still not confident to get a decent shot.

I don't like those two rabbits, the other two litters trust me completly ( which will make things difficult in other ways), but I don't like to stress them out, which seems unavoidable. Got everything ready today, took a day off, watched Grumpys video several times, cleaned and sharpened the tools, had a beer for courage.... , well now I'm at he sixth or seventh beer,now with the purpose to accept my defeat.

Sigh, not fishing for sympathy, just venting about my stupidity...

Preitler, it's not stupidity. It's always difficult to dispatch an older rabbit.

I assume the two rabbits are free ranging? Is there something they particularly like that you can use to get them close to you.

I suggest using the air rifle -- less stress for both you and the rabbits. Whatever stress they feel will be brief and I think you will find that once they are dead that your own stress will ease.

But not today. Beer and jobs like this one do not mix well.

~ Maggie

I feel for you. I will have to dispatch at least one breeder soon. I am fortuante that they trust me, but as you say that makes things hard in different ways.

I like MaggieJ's thinking. I habitually feed treats in the days leading up to freezer camp day. Inevitiably everybunny comes running up to me and it is much less stressful, but mine are not free ranging. Conversely if my husband, who only helps with processing, tries to go collect one it is chaos. Has to be the one that feeds them.

Are you worried on how to put them down? We always just shoot them in the head

It is hard to hold an animal steady and do that at close range, also hard to do at a distance if they are on the run? I use captive bolt stunner these days, I am in town. discharge of a firearm is illegal.

I just reach in and scruff the neck and put them into holding cages and walk them around to my garage. I use an original hopper popper. I clean and gut there. Then I take them to the kitchen to vac seal and pop in one of the freezers. I separate all the meat from the innards (liver, kidney and hearts) in there own bags because they fry up so deliciously.

Well, it's not about the method of dispatching, I'm doing this for 10 years now and I built a pretty powerful captive bolt gun years ago, and there's always a flat steel bar as backup if anything goes wrong. Wearing earmuffs with loud music playing helps me through the whole process, makes it a lot easier for emotional distance.
I just don't like cornering them while still in the hutch (have to get all others out before), grab them against their resistance, and having to hold them with brute force for the shot.
The normal proceedure is that I just pick them up, set them down in front of a bowl with oatmeal, - big eyes *all for me???* -munch, nam,nam, nam, munch - CLICK.

Anyway, that's just part of the issue, even if those two were not good or pleasent rabbits I got to know them well, we got along, they listened to the basic commands like return to the hutch, and just were skittish and insisted that I never come too close or, god forbid, touch them.

I'm living alone, and just getting normal things done gets ever more difficult, that's one reason why I got rabbits in the first place, they keep me going, I have a reason to get up in the morning, I have to function to some degree. A dog would be too much. It was easier at my old apartment where I had a neighbour with whom I did a lot of things together, shared my car, kept chickens, had a vegetable garden, kind of dumpster diving for useful stuff, caring for one anothers animals, etc, and after moving away 7 years ago she's still the only person who I get to talk about how I'm doing once or twice a week via skype. Apart from that, and the job, I'm pretty much alone with my rabbits, and you get to know them well when they are all the company you have. My buck and his cuddlebun even are my free range house bunnies.
So the line between pet and livestock is as smeared as it can be. But I can deal with that, mostly, but like now it's not always smooth sailing.

Now it's done, and in hindsight my reluctance was irrational, it wasn't that bad as I felt it would be before, as always. Always good to get something done.

And, heaven, I'm feeding them way too rich, this time I saved the fat for rendering, it's almost as much as the livers.

Preitler said:

those two are more than 6 months now, didn't even advertise them since they are so skittish I wouldn't feel comfortable giving them to anyone. They are not used to being handled, just getting them will induce massive stress. Getting a clean shot at a wriggling rabbit with the captive bolt gun is going to be a challange
I really don't like this situation. I calibrated my air rifle for 3 meters yesterday, as an alternative, but I'm still not confident to get a decent shot.

I don't like those two rabbits, the other two litters trust me completly ( which will make things difficult in other ways), but I don't like to stress them out, which seems unavoidable. Got everything ready today, took a day off, watched Grumpys video several times, cleaned and sharpened the tools, had a beer for courage.... , well now I'm at he sixth or seventh beer,now with the purpose to accept my defeat.

Sigh, not fishing for sympathy, just venting about my stupidity...

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Pray your aim is sure and your hand steady. My principle is not to waste life, if life is to be taken it must be for a good cause either to sustain or to protect the lives of my family or ones I care deeply about. Peace and blessings.

Preitler said:

Well, it's not about the method of dispatching, I'm doing this for 10 years now and I built a pretty powerful captive bolt gun years ago, and there's always a flat steel bar as backup if anything goes wrong.

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How did you build a bolt gun? I’d be interested in seeing pics or hearing more about this.

Thanks for sharing this. This weekend I need to cull papa bunny, whose teeth problems are insolvable. Since I was expecting to have him around for a while, I had bonded with him in a way that's going to make it tough. I've had some anxiety about it all week, but it helps knowing that other folks have a similar response!

Preitler, I'm glad you got through it and can put it behind you now.

I understand what you mean about being alone most of the time. It still feels very strange and at times uncomfortable, but having my cat, Jenny, helps. She's good company and I'm sure your rabbits give you the same kind of companionship.

~ Maggie

As I and my wife have gotten older the animals give you a reason to get moving ! If not carful it would be awfully easy to stay in bed, or in my favorite chair. At 75 still working for the public, it helps me seem essential, that and I am my wife’s favorite ranch hand!

Sorry. I didn't connect to the emotional part.

urbanfarmgirl said:

Thanks for sharing this. This weekend I need to cull papa bunny, whose teeth problems are insolvable. Since I was expecting to have him around for a while, I had bonded with him in a way that's going to make it tough. I've had some anxiety about it all week, but it helps knowing that other folks have a similar response!

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Oh most definitely you are not alone.

Big Mac said:

Pray your aim is sure and your hand steady. My principle is not to waste life, if life is to be taken it must be for a good cause either to sustain or to protect the lives of my family or ones I care deeply about. Peace and blessings.

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I agree 100%. All life is precious!