How to deal?

[katiebear]

So yesterday I sent 6 more 10 week olds to freezer camp...went pretty well overall...But one of the brown does just wasn't being very cooperative, she kept standing on her hind legs and looking out the window, I started to talk to her to get her to cooperate. But she put her front paws on my chest and her nose on my chin, then she pulled her head back and stared right into my eyes....I swear if she could talked she would have said, " come on, I know you don't want to do this...lets put it off for a while.." I did her anyway but now her big brown eyes are haunting me.... :|

 

[DBA]

You just have to learn to associate your meat rabbits as food, not pets.

 

[Rabbitdog]

Actually, she was saying "Wow, I'm really glad I get to feed you. I'm sure I'll be delicious". You did the right thing. Never yield to the temptation to not butcher a meat animal. Don't let Bambi syndrome overcome you lest you end up with a barn full of pets that eat you out of house and home!
You done good!

 

[katiebear]

You just have to learn to associate your meat rabbits as food, not pets.[/quote

Yes I know, I have processed about 30 this season..I just never had one look at me with such intelligent eyes..I know she couldn't know what I was thinking..but still..

Actually, she was saying "Wow, I'm really glad I get to feed you. I'm sure I'll be delicious". You did the right thing. Never yield to the temptation to not butcher a meat animal. Don't let Bambi syndrome overcome you
You done good!

Thank you, Easter is not a good time to process..Stupid, soft heart...

 

[MamaSheepdog]

It's a lot easier to send the ones to camp that act up when you get them out of the cage, isn't it?

The only way to avoid what you just went through is to breed a line of demon bunnies so you just can't wait to kill them! And then you would miss out on the sweet moments that led up to this discussion, and none of us would really want that, would we? :encourage:

She had a good life and is fulfilling the reason you raised her.

 

[Zass]

One of the problems with breeding sweet rabbits...it becomes harder and harder to let them go. The same goes for pet type buns.

I can tell she was well cared for and respectfully handled just by your description of her behavior. She had a good life. That is what raising your own meat is all about, right?

 

[Susie570]

Yeeaahhhh.... I definitely won't be able to process my own rabbits if it comes time to do it. I'm working hard to sell the little buggers... all except for little Sprinkles. I'm not sure I can let her go. She's such a little doll.

 

[PSFAngoras]

It's hard even just selling them sometimes!

Since I've made the choice to let go of all but my favorite angoras, I've had a very hard time actually going through with the decision. I like my champs, and I hope that I can make enough selling breeding pairs and trios to maybe recoup some of my feed costs (angoras aren't as popular in my area, so i never came close to it in three years) but that hasn't made the decision any easier.

Certainly not when I was just getting close to good show quality and my angoras have such an easy going temperament. The last doe I sold went to an amazing home, but not before i almost changed my mind and kept her when she decided to take a nap on her back while I was grooming her. I actually cried after she left.!

 

[Susie570]

Oh my gosh... what a doll...

Here I am, looking for breeding does. I'm going to end up in rabbits up to my ears. :dig-hole:

 

[jeannie]

That's one of the best pictures EVER! She looks so huggable

 

[katiebear]

Thanks for the pep talk guys...oddly enough I am usually the one who gives the endurance, courage and patience lecture.. :lol:
Anyway, heart feels better and I am putting perspective on the situation. I am raising for meat, have been for a couple of years. I am getting better at all aspects of husbandry. Including a quick and as painless as possible dispatch.
I guess when you talk to them so much it's not a stretch to think they understand.. :lol:

 

[countmein]

Katiebear--I highly respect you for having these types of feelings...and voicing them. Those who think nothing of taking a life, and how they do it are the type of people I would question.. There have been quite a few over the years that I have "saved" at the last minute for those same expressions of curiosity, or "trying to tell me something" looks...they became brood animals. Regardless I thank them all for their contribution to my life. I am adamant about a quick, painless, instant death, after having a life filled with respect, good food, and excellent care....Dont be too hard on yourself..I can tell by your post you provided them with all of the above

 

[Zass]

Katiebear--I highly respect you for having these types of feelings...and voicing them. Those who think nothing of taking a life, and how they do it are the type of people I would question.. There have been quite a few over the years that I have "saved" at the last minute for those same expressions of curiosity, or "trying to tell me something" looks...they became brood animals. Regardless I thank them all for their contribution to my life. I am adamant about a quick, painless, instant death, after having a life filled with respect, good food, and excellent care....Don't be too hard on yourself..I can tell by your post you provided them with all of the above

:yeahthat:


Oh, and :welcome: to RT Countmein.

 

[Ramjet]

I have a real hard time dispatching .... to the point that I generally put it off until I just don't have a choice but to thin the herd.
Maintaining a breeding schedule has helped me with this part because it pretty much forces my hand.
I generally have two litters in grow out , two litters with momma & two does pregnant. When its time for those litters to be delivered , I have to make room ...

As for doing the deed , I built a box that holds the rabbit in place , I close the box and it has a hole for the barrel of the pellet rifle and all I see is the box .... makes it a bit easier by removing the visual aspect.

Once they have been dispatched , I have no trouble butchering or eating them .... just that one hurdle.

 

[Susie570]

As for doing the deed , I built a box that holds the rabbit in place , I close the box and it has a hole for the barrel of the pellet rifle and all I see is the box .... makes it a bit easier by removing the visual aspect.

Once they have been dispatched , I have no trouble butchering or eating them .... just that one hurdle.

If it came down to having to dispatch them myself, I think I would have to go a similar route... and honestly, I'm glad we are blessed with the capacity to empathize. It would be a cold world indeed without it.

 

[Ramjet]

I guess when you talk to them so much it's not a stretch to think they understand.. :lol:

Missed this earlier .... I think they do understand. Today pretty much proved that to me.


I had to butcher 8. First one went without a fuss as did the second but from 3 thru 8 .... they fussed and squealed like pigs as I removed them from the cage. These animals are used to being handled by me or my kids on a regular basis , they are tame as can be so this behavior was very out of the ordinary. First one , Ok , its a fluke , second .... that's odd. But six in a row ?! That's no fluke. They knew what was going on.

Sure didn't make the task any easier ....

 

[katiebear]

I have a real hard time dispatching .... to the point that I generally put it off until I just don't have a choice but to thin the herd.
Maintaining a breeding schedule has helped me with this part because it pretty much forces my hand.
I generally have two litters in grow out , two litters with momma & two does pregnant. When its time for those litters to be delivered , I have to make room ...

As for doing the deed , I built a box that holds the rabbit in place , I close the box and it has a hole for the barrel of the pellet rifle and all I see is the box .... makes it a bit easier by removing the visual aspect.

Once they have been dispatched , I have no trouble butchering or eating them .... just that one hurdle.

Yeah, Me too...Dispatch will always be the hardest part. I have talked about it so many times here..I think folks are getting a little tired of answering all my dispatch method questions. I have not gone so far as to build a box,...but I have thought about it. :lol: I have tried almost every method there is..I have the captive bolt gun now and it works well, I need to fine tune a bit but if I position the bun correctly I won't be looking at their face and it is quick..But it is still a hard thing for this old lady(well not that old..54) to do..
And I do have some Killer recipes... :lol: (I also have a twisted sense of humor) <br /><br /> __________ Tue Apr 07, 2015 10:15 pm __________ <br /><br />

First one , Ok , its a fluke , second .... that's odd. But six in a row ?! That's no fluke. They knew what was going on.

I joke that they are saying to each other "oh no,.. here she comes ...she took Bob and Sam..You are next..she ain't gonna get me!!"I put them in a box one at a time no one sees me do the deed but yes, somehow they know. :?

 

[3mina]

I really don't care for dispatching but if I want to keep having two week old kits around then I have no choice

 

[Rabbitdog]

Ooh, am I gonna git in trouble for this post! :evil:

Save the empathy for humankind. Beasts have no ability to reason and feel what you and I feel. They are animals. That's why my cat can catch a baby bird that has just fallen from its nest and eat it alive. Your buns don't know you're about to kill them and they aren't watching their litter mates walk the plank.
Now before I'm ripped to shreds for being so cold hearted, we do indeed have a responsibility to care for all animals that we own in a humane and healthy manner. That's just common sense and part of living life with common decency. Of course, neither is very common in American culture anymore.

 

[Zass]

Beasts have no ability to reason and feel what you and I feel.

I disagree Rabbitdog. Although some do understand (or care) more than others. I doubt they ponder as in depth as some members of humankind.... Amount of understanding seems to vary between species and individuals. I'm not saying it to be argumentative, mostly just to share that some of us have alternate opinions.

My rabbits seem to understand violence, but not death, and violence seems to be OK if it's not going to affect them.
I guess colonies can be pretty violent in nature.

Mucky will nurse kits while we're dispatching and processing a few feet away. :? I guess she feels those rabbits have nothing to do with her.

It doesn't mean that the fryers will not be upset or frightened by the smell of blood, or the sound of a gunshot.