Cervical Dislocation; do they bleed out?

[aussiegirl]

Check the concentration and rate at which the gas was put in, and then do it slower. Start with a low concentration and increase as time goes. What kind of set up did you have? Really need a regulator so can insure doing slowly. You can do without but slower is better. Also having a way for the oxygen to escape out the top (CO2 displaces it, heavier gas) will help. You will see them pass out first and continue to breath, they need to be left there for at least 10 minutes after passing out or you can have a bunch of rabbits wake back up that you did not expect to have do that. The first time I had that happen, scared the daylights out of me and if I do that let them sit for 15 to 20 after they black out to insure death. It is painless and they don't know what's going on if done correctly. It burns when done too fast unfortunately and they can panic.... If done slowly, should take about 30-40 minutes to do and can do large batches (I've done 15 or so rabbits at once), they won't know a thing is going on and just pass out before it actually kills them (no oxygen to brain leading to organ failure). You CAN use it for those 2 weeks and up, BUT you have to be careful not to rip the entire rabbit apart....they are very soft at that age and it can be done easily. I do the broomstick method, since my regulator crapped out on me and I'm not comfy doing it without being able to know. Looking for a replacement as I liked it much better, easier to clean and use them than broomstick and I don't have to have my hands on them.

The CO2 setup consisted of two 45 ltr clear containers with the hose connection drilled into the containers, a large CO2 gas tank, a regulator, a mesh insert to keep rabbits off the floor.

When I could bring myself to watch the whole process I think they turned it on relatively slowly to begin with then they slightly opened the lid for for a few seconds and closed it again, by then the rabbits were running around & squealing a little bit before collapsing ( I think they all collapsed within 3 - 5 minutes and seemed to be dead by 15 minutes). To me 3 - 15 minutes is WAY too long, I can process the same amount of rabbits if not more within the same time using the 'Dislocation' method and it is almost instant (I expect them gone within 10 seconds with no noises coming from the rabbits).

I have just over 300 rabbits to do in a few days time so I might have to re-design our homemade wringer possibly using a smaller diameter rod to allow us to do the smaller rabbits, hopefully the rabbits will be gone within seconds with no stress; no noise and no damage to the rabbits themselves.

No animal wants to die and I feel that if we choose to keep and breed animals for the sole purpose of processing them for food, then it is OUR responsibility to make sure that they are treated with respect and are processed as Humanely & quickly as possible with minimal to no stress. I don't want the rabbits to suffer because of my decision.

 

[michaels4gardens]

No animal wants to die and I feel that if we choose to keep and breed animals for the sole purpose of processing them for food, then it is OUR responsibility to make sure that they are treated with respect and are processed as Humanely & quickly as possible with minimal to no stress. I don't want the rabbits to suffer because of my decision.

exactly...

 

[wamplercathy]

After looking into factory farms I have been moving my family's diet away from grocery store meats. It's a slow trip but better for us. We feel better knowing the animal had a good life prior to being our food and died quickly and humanly. As for dispatch, it's best to choose a system that you are comfortable with. If you're comfortable then there is no hesitation, that in-turn will lead to a quick pain free kill.

 

[TF3]

Interesting about ears heritage!
I find it so unnerving to see the REW eyes change colour so fast.

 

[FourRingCircus]

Interesting about ears heritage!
I find it so unnerving to see the REW eyes change colour so fast.

That is one thing I found interesting as well - it's a good visual confirmation at least.

 

[aussiegirl]

Check the concentration and rate at which the gas was put in, and then do it slower. Start with a low concentration and increase as time goes. What kind of set up did you have? Really need a regulator so can insure doing slowly. You can do without but slower is better. Also having a way for the oxygen to escape out the top (CO2 displaces it, heavier gas) will help. You will see them pass out first and continue to breath, they need to be left there for at least 10 minutes after passing out or you can have a bunch of rabbits wake back up that you did not expect to have do that. The first time I had that happen, scared the daylights out of me and if I do that let them sit for 15 to 20 after they black out to insure death. It is painless and they don't know what's going on if done correctly. It burns when done too fast unfortunately and they can panic.... If done slowly, should take about 30-40 minutes to do and can do large batches (I've done 15 or so rabbits at once), they won't know a thing is going on and just pass out before it actually kills them (no oxygen to brain leading to organ failure). You CAN use it for those 2 weeks and up, BUT you have to be careful not to rip the entire rabbit apart....they are very soft at that age and it can be done easily. I do the broomstick method, since my regulator crapped out on me and I'm not comfy doing it without being able to know. Looking for a replacement as I liked it much better, easier to clean and use them than broomstick and I don't have to have my hands on them.

The CO2 setup consisted of two 45 ltr clear containers with the hose connection drilled into the containers, a large CO2 gas tank, a regulator, a mesh insert to keep rabbits off the floor.

When I could bring myself to watch the whole process I think they turned it on relatively slowly to begin with then they slightly opened the lid for for a few seconds and closed it again, by then the rabbits were running around & squealing a little bit before collapsing ( I think they all collapsed within 3 - 5 minutes and seemed to be dead by 15 minutes). To me 3 - 15 minutes is WAY too long, I can process the same amount of rabbits if not more within the same time using the 'Dislocation' method and it is almost instant (I expect them gone within 10 seconds with no noises coming from the rabbits).

I have just over 300 rabbits to do in a few days time so I might have to re-design our homemade wringer possibly using a smaller diameter rod to allow us to do the smaller rabbits, hopefully the rabbits will be gone within seconds with no stress; no noise and no damage to the rabbits themselves.

No animal wants to die and I feel that if we choose to keep and breed animals for the sole purpose of processing them for food, then it is OUR responsibility to make sure that they are treated with respect and are processed as Humanely & quickly as possible with minimal to no stress. I don't want the rabbits to suffer because of my decision.

We processed the 1st 100 out of just over 300 rabbits the other day but my husband wanted to try the CO2 instead of Dislocation, I reluctantly agreed as long as the rabbits didn't suffer.
I have to say I was quite impressed with my husband as he did a great job 1st time using the CO2 as the rabbits made NO noise what so ever and they didn't rush around the container, I timed the whole process with four batches of rabbits and they consistently passed out within 15 seconds and dead within 3 minutes when the gas was turned on (death was confirmed by eye colour and absence of breath).