Freezing whole rabbits

[Mef4]

Does anyone have advice on freezing whole rabbits for dog food? I have a buyer that wants my latest litter when they're grown out but I have 3 from a previous litter to add to the batch. They are already grown out and I don't want to continue feeding them. Tips? Tricks?

 

[tambayo]

As in everything on and in, just dead? Check the feet are clean and the nails short i'd think.

 

[Mckatie]

my rabbits are left whole for my dogs.. but cleaned as in "store bought whole chicken " because all 3 do not eat raw. So I bake the rabbits. Then shred the meat. Is the client's dogs eating raw? How many lbs per day? Some people cut a rabbit in half across and alternate ends. The feet and ears are generally separated for "treats". I freeze my rabbits in vacuum sealed bags..but people could eat the rabbits as well. So I do not freeze anything else with the meat on bone (no heart, liver, etc) but the prepped carcass.

 

[Alaska Satin]

Does anyone have advice on freezing whole rabbits for dog food? I have a buyer that wants my latest litter when they're grown out but I have 3 from a previous litter to add to the batch. They are already grown out and I don't want to continue feeding them. Tips? Tricks?

My friend who sells fryers for dog food simply dispatches, bags and freezes them (what a great hourly wage she ends up making!). She used to skin and gut them, but the dog owners wanted to the whole thing and she was of course happy to oblige! It will probably depend on what your buyers are expecting. Some people don't want to see a "bunny." @tambayo's advice about clean feet and nails, is good, of course.

 

[Mef4]

My friend who sells fryers for dog food simply dispatches, bags and freezes them (what a great hourly wage she ends up making!). She used to skin and gut them, but the dog owners wanted to the whole thing and she was of course happy to oblige! It will probably depend on what your buyers are expecting. Some people don't want to see a "bunny." @tambayo's advice about clean feet and nails, is good, of course.

Thanks! Usually we just dispatch and take out the intestines for her. She said frozen was ok but I've never frozen them with fur and organs.

 

[Mef4]

As in everything on and in, just dead? Check the feet are clean and the nails short i'd think.

Pretty much. She usually comes and gets them whole-minus the intestines. Thanks!

 

[ladysown]

When I did dog food I just tossed the rabbits in the freezer in a freezer bag.... sometimes cleaning out the guts and sometimes not. (at the start that's what I did). but it changed over time.... I stopped doing it because of so many people wanting it different ways. head on, head off, skin on entire, skin on no intestines, skin off but leave the rest intact, and so on and so forth and the arguing over price... everyone wanting it for the same basic price as a fresh killed bunny with no extra work done. GAH. Drove me nuts. So I said I'd rather feed them all to my cats...

 

[Mef4]

When I did dog food I just tossed the rabbits in the freezer in a freezer bag.... sometimes cleaning out the guts and sometimes not. (at the start that's what I did). but it changed over time.... I stopped doing it because of so many people wanting it different ways. head on, head off, skin on entire, skin on no intestines, skin off but leave the rest intact, and so on and so forth and the arguing over price... everyone wanting it for the same basic price as a fresh killed bunny with no extra work done. GAH. Drove me nuts. So I said I'd rather feed them all to my cats...

Good job! I just have one person I sell to when I have culls and she rescues herding dogs so I give her a good deal. But it makes sense for your own animals to get the benefit. Wonder if my kitty would like it ?

 

[ladysown]

i make my own cat food (have a good recipe I use) grind (mice and small critters whole, everything else skin removed) and freeze for a good while, then lightly cook it up for them. Did raw for a bit but one time of cat throw up and I was like nope, cooking it. that was just too "ick" for me and I'm not overly sensitive.... and you know cats... they'll find carpet if they can to throw up on..... I still get the "ick" from it.

 

[GDAQUATICSANDFARMS]

When I did dog food I just tossed the rabbits in the freezer in a freezer bag.... sometimes cleaning out the guts and sometimes not. (at the start that's what I did). but it changed over time.... I stopped doing it because of so many people wanting it different ways. head on, head off, skin on entire, skin on no intestines, skin off but leave the rest intact, and so on and so forth and the arguing over price... everyone wanting it for the same basic price as a fresh killed bunny with no extra work done. GAH. Drove me nuts. So I said I'd rather feed them all to my cats...

What was the basic price that you were charging for 1 bunny fresh killed no extra work? Can you send some of these customers my way? Haha

 

[ladysown]

not down to NC as I'm in Ontario. Go to the rawfeeding groups on facebook and ask if you can post there. I had a base price $2/lb for every extra step I charged $1 more. I kept the heads/feet/fur as people would buy those separately for $1 each. those who didn't want the internal organs, I'd keep those in a separate bag and sold them for $5/medium ziploc bag. I still do sell the odd one, but not as a side hustle anymore. Nowadays i'd be charging $4-5/lb (live weight)

 

[GDAQUATICSANDFARMS]

not down to NC as I'm in Ontario. Go to the rawfeeding groups on facebook and ask if you can post there. I had a base price $2/lb for every extra step I charged $1 more. I kept the heads/feet/fur as people would buy those separately for $1 each. those who didn't want the internal organs, I'd keep those in a separate bag and sold them for $5/medium ziploc bag. I still do sell the odd one, but not as a side hustle anymore. Nowadays i'd be charging $4-5/lb (live weight)

Oh that is a good idea! Thank you so much for the price suggestions! Hope i get at least 1 steady customer soon!

 

[K Rivelli]

Currently I’m in a raw feeding group in the Pacific NW and there is a large rabbit producer that sells to the members of the group.. here is what they charge - sorry for the horrendous computer screen lines)..

 

[Mef4]

What was the basic price that you were charging for 1 bunny fresh killed no extra work? Can you send some of these customers my way? Haha

I'm no business woman! I've sold New Zealands for $20, alive. This person was the first to want them dead, which i could legally do because it was for dogs. She wanted to see the process because she wants to get her own and do it herself. She still doesn't have her setup so she's still buying. This time I'm pretty much donating to her cause. I may need another herding dog someday and she has rescues. Paying it forward I guess.

 

[GDAQUATICSANDFARMS]

I'm no business woman! I've sold New Zealands for $20, alive. This person was the first to want them dead, which i could legally do because it was for dogs. She wanted to see the process because she wants to get her own and do it herself. She still doesn't have her setup so she's still buying. This time I'm pretty much donating to her cause. I may need another herding dog someday and she has rescues. Paying it forward I guess.

Oh wow nice work there! I guess i could technically market it as dog food. Post it on craigslist or something. I can't seem to wrap my mind around it haha.