First butchering

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

When I was out giving the rabbits their evening meal, I decided to double check the sex of the doe trio in one of my hutches. Turns out Tara was actually a buck. I already have 3 bucks so we decided it was freezer day for him. My husband did the honors while I finished feeding the others. Before I knew it, he had finished and was taking the rabbit inside to dress. We were sure that being this his first time, we would have to pitch the hide. Surprisingly enough, DH did a fantastic job! It took him around 20 minutes. He was able to save the hide, the head and guts are in a bowl for my border collie's enjoyment, and we have a gorgeous rabbit carcass resting in our fridge. I'm really glad we had the opportunity to practice on this one because in 3ish weeks, we'll have Sierra's litter of 7 to do. Shortly after that we'll have another 3 litters worth of kits to do.

 

[mystang89]

Woot! Grats on the successful 1st time butchering. I was really amazed at how easy they are to process. My first rabbit was a wild rabbit that got too near to my garden. Took my bow to her and was shortly processing her via looking at the internet following directions. Was really easy to see what and how to do everything. The next one was even easier, this time without the internet.
Hope he tastes good!

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Congrats on a successful first butcher! It only gets easier... Make sure to let that rabbit rest in the fridge for 2-3 days before you eat it, so it will be nice and tender. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Congratulations on a successful first processing experience! Way to go, husband!

Your dog is going to enjoy her treat. Our dogs love butchering day.

I bet Tara regrets letting that dratted SCF come into the hutch.

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

Woot! Grats on the successful 1st time butchering. I was really amazed at how easy they are to process. My first rabbit was a wild rabbit that got too near to my garden. Took my bow to her and was shortly processing her via looking at the internet following directions. Was really easy to see what and how to do everything. The next one was even easier, this time without the internet.
Hope he tastes good!

Unlucky rabbit! Isn't the Internet a wonderful thing?! I'm hoping he tastes yummy as well. This will be my first ever rabbit cooking/ eating endeavor so fingers crossed. <br /><br />__________ Wed Oct 31, 2012 12:38 pm __________<br /><br />Thank you all! I'm immensely proud of DH. Tara is currently resting in the fridge and will be cooked tomorrow. Ziggy (border collie) loved his snack. He ended up getting all inerds, the head and tail. He ate everything except the liver and tail. I always have a hard time getting him to eat liver so that was no surprise really. The tail he's using as a play toy. It's actually pretty hilarious watching him toss it around the yard. I'll let you all know how Tara turns out.

 

[mystang89]

Yeah, I'll be interested in seeing how you liked him. I cooked mine before I found this website with all the recipes and everything and it didn't turn out as good as I hoped. But my philosophy is that you never are perfect the first time you try something so keep practicing. Fortunately I've got 12 kits to practice on now

 

[MamaSheepdog]

He ended up getting all inerds, the head and tail.

Our dogs love the feet as well.

My apologies to Ziggy for calling him a her.

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

Yeah, I'll be interested in seeing how you liked him. I cooked mine before I found this website with all the recipes and everything and it didn't turn out as good as I hoped. But my philosophy is that you never are perfect the first time you try something so keep practicing. Fortunately I've got 12 kits to practice on now

That's a great philosophy! Are all 12 kits from one doe?<br /><br />__________ Wed Oct 31, 2012 4:19 pm __________<br /><br />

He ended up getting all inerds, the head and tail.

Our dogs love the feet as well.

My apologies to Ziggy for calling him a her.

Apology accepted. He's so beautiful, he gets called a girl pretty often. Lol!

 

[mystang89]

No, they are from 3 does at the same time. They began with 18 but 6 died and 2 were given to a surrogate.

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

No, they are from 3 does at the same time. They began with 18 but 6 died and 2 were given to a surrogate.

I'm sorry to hear about the loss of those 6. Thankfully the majority lived!

 

[ColdBrook]

May I just say it's just so nice to be around people who eat animals with names and think nothing of it. That's how I grew up and how I still am. I get grief for that all the time in other places and people look at me like I'm inhuman for saying that Taffy or Rusty or Buster or Lil Joe really tasted good!

 

[Miss M]

Congratulations on the first butchering! Glad it went so well!

May I just say it's just so nice to be around people who eat animals with names and think nothing of it. That's how I grew up and how I still am. I get grief for that all the time in other places and people look at me like I'm inhuman for saying that Taffy or Rusty or Buster or Lil Joe really tasted good!

That's the way it is for a lot of us! It's nice to have a place you can talk like that and not catch flak for it.

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

May I just say it's just so nice to be around people who eat animals with names and think nothing of it. That's how I grew up and how I still am. I get grief for that all the time in other places and people look at me like I'm inhuman for saying that Taffy or Rusty or Buster or Lil Joe really tasted good!

I honestly think that's the way it should be. My animals get the absolute best care I know how to provide until the day they die. After that they help nourish my family and my carnivorous pets. I as well very much appreciate the atmosphere around here!<br /><br />__________ Wed Oct 31, 2012 10:59 pm __________<br /><br />

Congratulations on the first butchering! Glad it went so well!

May I just say it's just so nice to be around people who eat animals with names and think nothing of it. That's how I grew up and how I still am. I get grief for that all the time in other places and people look at me like I'm inhuman for saying that Taffy or Rusty or Buster or Lil Joe really tasted good!

That's the way it is for a lot of us! It's nice to have a place you can talk like that and not catch flak for it.

Thank you! And I agree completely.

 

[mystang89]

May I just say it's just so nice to be around people who eat animals with names and think nothing of it. That's how I grew up and how I still am. I get grief for that all the time in other places and people look at me like I'm inhuman for saying that Taffy or Rusty or Buster or Lil Joe really tasted good!

I NEVER eat things that I have given a name :!:
I'm just not that good at coming up with enough names for all of them or I forget that I named it If they have a name and I eat them that means one of the kids or wife named it hehe

 

[3mina]

A friend of mine has been bugging me about naming my brood does cause I seldom name them. I know who's who and that's enough

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

*Update- I put the rabbit in the crockpot today with potatoes, carrots, onions and cream of mushroom soup. I cooked him for 6 hours on low heat. It turned out pretty good. The meat literally fell off the bone and tasted pretty darn amazing! Both my kids inhaled it. I can't wait until the kits are old enough to butcher. I'm seeing fried rabbit in our very near future!

 

[MaggieJ]

He ate everything except the liver

When you next butcher some rabbits save the livers, kidneys and hearts for yourselves. Slice and saute in real butter until just done, add salt and pepper to taste. Rabbit liver is the liver hater's liver!

You do need to remove the gall bladder, but it is quite easy to pinch the little white tube above it and strip it off.

 

[Miss M]

When you next butcher some rabbits save the livers, kidneys and hearts for yourselves. Slice and saute in real butter until just done, add salt and pepper to taste.

:yeahthat:

Wonderful that your first rabbit meal was well received by all! :razz: Sounds delicious!

 

[NatureBunsRabbitry]

He ate everything except the liver

When you next butcher some rabbits save the livers, kidneys and hearts for yourselves. Slice and saute in real butter until just done, add salt and pepper to taste. Rabbit liver is the liver hater's liver!

You do need to remove the gall bladder, but it is quite easy to pinch the little white tube above it and strip it off.

Thank you! I'll try that next time. Sounds yummy! <br /><br />__________ Sat Nov 03, 2012 10:59 am __________<br /><br />

When you next butcher some rabbits save the livers, kidneys and hearts for yourselves. Slice and saute in real butter until just done, add salt and pepper to taste.

:yeahthat:

Wonderful that your first rabbit meal was well received by all! :razz: Sounds delicious!

Thank you! It was quite delicious. My one year old son devoured all of his and half of his 3 year old sister's with a huge smile on his face. I do believe its his new favorite food. My daughter was put off at first because she knew that rabbit quite well, but as soon as she tried some all bets were off. She even did her happy dance she liked it so much.

 

[AnnClaire]

When you next butcher some rabbits save the livers, kidneys and hearts for yourselves. Slice and saute in real butter until just done, add salt and pepper to taste. Rabbit liver is the liver hater's liver!

:mbounce: AB-SO-FREAKING-LUTELY!!!!! I just tried it this way the other night and MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM better than fried (by just a smidge )