First time processing by myself-Have questions

[reereechickens]

Last week my DH processed 1- 8 month old rabbit and gave me a quick skinning lesson. Looked easy enough b/c I process my own chickens and skin them to avoid plucking. Well I had 2 more to process b/c I'm getting a trio of NZW. Well Tues my DH shoots the last 2 rabbits and leaves and that left me scrambling in a hurry to get ready. :evil: I don't do well with suden change in plans!

So here are the questions:

What do you use to cut the head off? Where to cut make any difference?

Where do you get a hatchet or ax sharpened if that is what you use for the head?Or how could I sharpen?

What do you cut the front and back legs off with?

I bought some of the hanging hooks to help with the hanging until I get back to work and can afford the rabbit wringer.

I did not soak or let the meat rest so it is tough! Is that because the rabbits were too old or because I didn't let them soak/rest? My dog will be eating great this week!

The experience sucked but in the end it helped me with hopefully processing my up coming litter which is only 3 1/2 weeks old to get over the cuteness factor and process them young so I can use the broomstick instead of waiting on someone else to help. And to work out any other of my issues! Any advice would be helpful!

:bunnyhop:

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I strongly advise you to read and watch this thread.
my-butcher-video-t6202.html

 

[trinityoaks]

Get a good, sharp hunting knife. That will enable you to cut everything except bone. The hooks help A LOT--I can't imagine successfully processing a rabbit without them.

Any meat that you're not putting into a pre-heated pot, oven, or grill within 15 minutes of dispatching needs to be put into ice water until you're finished with all the rabbits, and then the meat needs to rest in the refrigerator for at least 3 days before you cook it.

 

[-HRanchito]

I watched that youtube video and went with scissors for most things and garden shears for bone.

 

[reereechickens]

The video is awesome! Yes I do need some of those scissors! I don't know why I did not soak b/c last week I did and the rabbit was fine. The joys of learning the hard way!

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

The difference between the video and when we did ours. We have done a few now. I like to hang mine instead i didnt like lying it down. I use sissors all the way. I dont use a knife anymore like i did in the beginning.My husband kills the rabbit like in the video and i water it down and hang it. I just make sure i dont cut the bladder bag , But when it is hanging it is right there. I make sure that is out first then the colon and then the rest. With it being hung gravity helps with the guts coming out right into a pail below. I use sissors that are made for bone for kitchen . You can get it at walmart. Cost only 8 dollars and they are worth the money. I keep kidney,liver and heart. I check to make sure everthing looks good and check the lungs also.

 

[Miss M]

We hang ours to skin, and take them down to clean. For some reason, our rabbits' guts don't usually cooperate like that.

We like using a fish and bone knife to skin. They're very, very sharp. We have small anvil pruning shears for the feet, and larger bypass lopping shears for the head (made to cut 1" branches).

 

[Kyle@theWintertime]

I skin mine similar to how I skin deer, just scaled down...I start at the head and work my way down past the shoulders.

I admit I gut before skinning, old habits die hard, or whatnot, so the belly is open from throat to tail when I skin them, too. Makes it a bit easier for me anyways.

Basically though, whatever works for you, go with it. If hanging them feels more comfortable, do it...if laying them flat works, do that instead. The first few times you butcher them it'll be a little awkward...and then you'll find your groove, find what works best for you, and before too long you can skin and butcher them in your sleep.