Killing Meat Rabbits

[TariLynn]

Please remember English may not be his first language and people may not be aware of the negative connotations of the slang phrase "gunning down".

I agree with sommrluv...I have worked with several people that English is not their primary language. Many times they are unfamilar with not only slang but also commonly used idioms. I being from Kansas did not actually take offense to the term "gunning them down" and I think that I might be more sensative to that than everyone else but seeing that the post was from Thailand, I just figured the reply meant to shoot them! Even common words don't always mean the same from one English speaking country to another so we can expect some different interpretations to happen when moving from one language to another. Thanks sommrluv for reminding us of this!

After reading through all of the posts, I just want to add that even thought this thread has some "spice" to it - I am glad it was started because I have appreciated all of the ways that have been shared. I am still working on the "meat" avenue of rabbit raising but I am getting closer and I think my family is coming around. I still have problem with the cuteness but just today - my husband said he would have no problem doing this. The girls and I are the ones who take care of them so I think that this would work well if he is willing to do it. He loves animals but doesn't tend to get as attached as the girls and I do.

 

[Guest]

What ever happened to 'Ye Ol Fashion hatched and yonder stump'
many a chicken dinner at my Uncle Lloyds started with a hatched. Only one I ever heard about was his wife complaining about him bruising the meat after she had told him to sharpen the hatched. But that was one out of 12 he did that time, first animal I slaughtered too was one of his chickens for dinner. He didn't like wringing the neck, via Wind Mill technique, too much bruising.

I LOVE this tested and true method!!! Only problem I could see is the rabbit moving and me missing the neck :-(

__________ Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:34 am __________

Bop with two to the back of the head
four blades, I'd make it curved with and arch path and twisting, straight up horror film/saw....
bit of an over well kill???
I like the bop, east to hold them down and two to make sure they don't hop out of the trash, had a doe named Lazarus one time as a kid, cervical dislocation, um apparently she only got a sprung neck...

This is why I want their heads off. They can bleed and twitch all they want, but i dont care what doctors say, until you are 100% brain dead your body still registers feeling. Does anything ever go wrong with bopping (besides missed targets and undead rabbits)?

__________ Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:43 am __________

I think about nothing else.

The raising of the bunnies is the fun part. Feeding, cleaning, petting, caring, everyone likes cute little bunnies. You know what I like? A hot plate of meat. I can stand the blood, it'll all wash away (and I know a few tricks on how to get it out of carpets if anyone is ever interested).

Four blades around the neck? Thats hardcore. I know just the type of contraption to build for that

A gun is a gun and you can call it a different name or action, but I don't think I could point death at an animal and make it so. You might not be criminally "gunning it down," but you are taking a gun to its head and pulling the trigger. In every interpretation of that action, it is doing what criminals do. Not that I have a problem with guns or people using them, but when it comes to my preferred method of execution, I'd take a beheading over a shot to the head anyday! Besides, who WANTS to go buy bullets? You're already out the money it costs to raise them, perhaps trying to recoup costs by selling them and another expense taxes an already minimal profit gain? Business-wise, that seems like a no-no to me, but I was trained to keep a low inventory to cut down on costs. I digress...

I suppose there are worse ways the deed can be done. I am eager to experience it, all I have seen is youtube videos but I'm sure the real thing is more......dramatic.

Metalex,

There is nothing different between beheading a rabbit and shooting it in the head. Both are methods of execution, both have the same end result, BOTH have been used by criminals- past and present. Guns are not by definition bad or only for criminals. As for keeping overhead low, I would imagine that building that guillotine properly will cost you a pretty penny.

We have tried many different ways, broomstick (too much margin for error on my part), pellet gun to back of head (quick, efficient and instant kill), karate chop to back of neck (also quick, efficient and instant kill, at least the way my hubs does it), manual cervical dislocation (hmm...not the best for us) and I have ordered a rabbit wringer so that I can "do the deed" sometimes and hubs doesn't always have to do it. The only reason I don't want to do the pellet gun is that we have a break barrel style and if we missed on the first shot and only injured the rabbit (hasn't happened yet, thank God) it takes a bit to reload.

What it boils down to is this....the best way to dispatch a rabbit is whatever way works best for you. All of these are humane, quick and efficient. Just my opinion...

No difference? What about ease of execution? How long does it take to reload a gun vs. a guillotine? Besides costs (gun, pellets, gas to get both or either), the added precautions of owning any object that fires projectiles that can kill, and since the head has got to come off anyway, I just thought a guillotine would cover all the bases. As far as costs go, I was just going to use some 2x4s and sharpen some metal strips on a grinder until they were blades. I was thinking at most it would cost $100 for materials and that's ridiculous if it does! So after that $100 investment, I won't have to deal with the prementioned extras that come with guns, AND I already have a GREAT idea on an executioner's mask (not to discount the feelings of the soon-to-be slaughtered, but I believe if you're gonna do something you better do it right)!<br /><br />__________ Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:44 am __________<br /><br />

We kill kosher whenever possible. So even if we do shoot them (haven't tried yet) I bleed them out. It's really a must in my mind for health of the meat.


Somewhat related...any ideas on how to use the blood? Put it in to shavings for gardening? Put it into cornmeal and feed to chickens?

Halloween is coming up :twisted:

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Metalex,

There is nothing different between beheading a rabbit and shooting it in the head. Both are methods of execution, both have the same end result, BOTH have been used by criminals- past and present. Guns are not by definition bad or only for criminals. As for keeping overhead low, I would imagine that building that guillotine properly will cost you a pretty penny.

We have tried many different ways, broomstick (too much margin for error on my part), pellet gun to back of head (quick, efficient and instant kill), karate chop to back of neck (also quick, efficient and instant kill, at least the way my hubs does it), manual cervical dislocation (hmm...not the best for us) and I have ordered a rabbit wringer so that I can "do the deed" sometimes and hubs doesn't always have to do it. The only reason I don't want to do the pellet gun is that we have a break barrel style and if we missed on the first shot and only injured the rabbit (hasn't happened yet, thank God) it takes a bit to reload.

What it boils down to is this....the best way to dispatch a rabbit is whatever way works best for you. All of these are humane, quick and efficient. Just my opinion...

No difference? What about ease of execution? How long does it take to reload a gun vs. a guillotine? Besides costs (gun, pellets, gas to get both or either), the added precautions of owning any object that fires projectiles that can kill, and since the head has got to come off anyway, I just thought a guillotine would cover all the bases. As far as costs go, I was just going to use some 2x4s and sharpen some metal strips on a grinder until they were blades. I was thinking at most it would cost $100 for materials and that's ridiculous if it does! So after that $100 investment, I won't have to deal with the prementioned extras that come with guns, AND I already have a GREAT idea on an executioner's mask (not to discount the feelings of the soon-to-be slaughtered, but I believe if you're gonna do something you better do it right)!

__________ Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:44 am __________

We kill kosher whenever possible. So even if we do shoot them (haven't tried yet) I bleed them out. It's really a must in my mind for health of the meat.


Somewhat related...any ideas on how to use the blood? Put it in to shavings for gardening? Put it into cornmeal and feed to chickens?

Halloween is coming up :twisted:

Hmm, some of that is kind of disturbing and I am pretty sure this is crossing over into territory that will offend some folks...let's be sweet, ok?

You CAN kill someone with just about anything....not just guns. And as far as ease of execution goes, it is very quick and easy. Never had a problem yet. I would be more scared of cutting off one of my fingers or hands with a guillotine. I already owned the pellet gun and tons of pellets, so no outlay on gas or $$ there for me. But, to each his own! I am perfectly comfortable with guns, we have many.

Now, why not spend $50 and get the RabbitWringer? It is quick, efficient, requires no projectiles and will never cost you another dime.

 

[sommrluv]

We might try the pellet gun. It's for 'fun' so we own pellets and the gun, 12 pellets every few months or so would be pretty minimal cost in my mind, when I'm normally just shooting it into the field out back anyway.

 

[HendricksHearth]

Metalex, from my understanding it is unclear to even physicians and scientists about weather guillotine is instant. Some experiences and studies I have seen over the years at school suggest that there can still potentially be consciousness after the head is separated from the body, where as there is no doubt if the brain is obliterated via gunshot. Discovery Health also interviewed a physician that was working on this. Here is straight from the article:

"Hillman also goes on to point out that the so-called painless guillotine is likely anything but. He states that "death occurs due to separation of the brain and spinal cord, after transection of the surrounding tissues. This must cause acute and possibly severe pain." This is one of the reasons why the guillotine, and beheading in general, is no longer an accepted method of execution in many countries with capital punishment."

I only did a brief search, but there were thousands of links with information. Since you are interested in this, it would only be beneficial to look into it much further and see if it really would be the best for what you are trying to do. I would also have great reservations about testing a homemade guillotine like you are describing with multiple blades, etc. myself.

Best of luck,

Lauren

 

[Guest]

Metalex,

There is nothing different between beheading a rabbit and shooting it in the head. Both are methods of execution, both have the same end result, BOTH have been used by criminals- past and present. Guns are not by definition bad or only for criminals. As for keeping overhead low, I would imagine that building that guillotine properly will cost you a pretty penny.

We have tried many different ways, broomstick (too much margin for error on my part), pellet gun to back of head (quick, efficient and instant kill), karate chop to back of neck (also quick, efficient and instant kill, at least the way my hubs does it), manual cervical dislocation (hmm...not the best for us) and I have ordered a rabbit wringer so that I can "do the deed" sometimes and hubs doesn't always have to do it. The only reason I don't want to do the pellet gun is that we have a break barrel style and if we missed on the first shot and only injured the rabbit (hasn't happened yet, thank God) it takes a bit to reload.

What it boils down to is this....the best way to dispatch a rabbit is whatever way works best for you. All of these are humane, quick and efficient. Just my opinion...

No difference? What about ease of execution? How long does it take to reload a gun vs. a guillotine? Besides costs (gun, pellets, gas to get both or either), the added precautions of owning any object that fires projectiles that can kill, and since the head has got to come off anyway, I just thought a guillotine would cover all the bases. As far as costs go, I was just going to use some 2x4s and sharpen some metal strips on a grinder until they were blades. I was thinking at most it would cost $100 for materials and that's ridiculous if it does! So after that $100 investment, I won't have to deal with the prementioned extras that come with guns, AND I already have a GREAT idea on an executioner's mask (not to discount the feelings of the soon-to-be slaughtered, but I believe if you're gonna do something you better do it right)!

__________ Mon Oct 17, 2011 6:44 am __________

We kill kosher whenever possible. So even if we do shoot them (haven't tried yet) I bleed them out. It's really a must in my mind for health of the meat.


Somewhat related...any ideas on how to use the blood? Put it in to shavings for gardening? Put it into cornmeal and feed to chickens?

Halloween is coming up :twisted:

Hmm, some of that is kind of disturbing and I am pretty sure this is crossing over into territory that will offend some folks...let's be sweet, ok?

You CAN kill someone with just about anything....not just guns. And as far as ease of execution goes, it is very quick and easy. Never had a problem yet. I would be more scared of cutting off one of my fingers or hands with a guillotine. I already owned the pellet gun and tons of pellets, so no outlay on gas or $$ there for me. But, to each his own! I am perfectly comfortable with guns, we have many.

Now, why not spend $50 and get the RabbitWringer? It is quick, efficient, requires no projectiles and will never cost you another dime.

Oh I'm sorry if the thought of blood and sharp objects that cause bleeding is offensive. Coulda sworn this whole thread was about killing rabbits....

Guillotines should all have a locking mechanism to prevent accidents that need to be disabled before the dead drop. $50 for a RabbitWringer is a very good investment, and should my design fail I will definitely go that route, but cutting off a head as the kill method just seems like an easier and faster way to process: bleed out would be quicker, heads would roll or drop and be collected together underneath, and the best part is that I would not need to do the cutting of said rabbit's head off. Don't you guys think about that when you go to sleep at night!?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I mean, I'm all for it but thats just cuz I haven't done it yet, I don't know how I'll react afterwards, which is why I'd like to make this process as quick and painless as possible.


__________ Mon Oct 17, 2011 12:21 pm __________

Metalex, from my understanding it is unclear to even physicians and scientists about weather guillotine is instant. Some experiences and studies I have seen over the years at school suggest that there can still potentially be consciousness after the head is separated from the body, where as there is no doubt if the brain is obliterated via gunshot. Discovery Health also interviewed a physician that was working on this. Here is straight from the article:

"Hillman also goes on to point out that the so-called painless guillotine is likely anything but. He states that "death occurs due to separation of the brain and spinal cord, after transection of the surrounding tissues. This must cause acute and possibly severe pain." This is one of the reasons why the guillotine, and beheading in general, is no longer an accepted method of execution in many countries with capital punishment."

I only did a brief search, but there were thousands of links with information. Since you are interested in this, it would only be beneficial to look into it much further and see if it really would be the best for what you are trying to do. I would also have great reservations about testing a homemade guillotine like you are describing with multiple blades, etc. myself.

Best of luck,

Lauren

Lauren, all of that is amazing! You know what bothers me though? Certain parts of the brain not being effected by a pellet. It happens to humans who get shot in the head all the time (Gabrielle Giffords for example). While the rabbit is twitching, is it possible it is still somehow alive and conscious long enough to see you slit its throat or decapitate it anyway, but unable to move because the pellet took out the section of the brain that controls motor function? While the visual you described (retaining consciousness after decapitation) made me freeze up, I imagine the head loses that consciousness after a few seconds of blood draining out of it as opposed to the minutes it takes for the bleedout of an entire body.

I also heard a long time ago that gourmet chefs will only buy meat that has been killed humanely because meat from animals who were scared before death have a jump in adrenline that effects the meat somehow when cooking. For this reason, some treats where the head needs to be would be offered for a solid outing.

It is a dark, twisted line of thoughts, but I think that's a good thing. Proves we're not animals...

 

[lyric]

I have been trying to design a guillotine for some time now. So far, my two leading designs employ the classic dead-drop and the other is more of a scissor/garden shears kinda deal.

I could not shoot a rabbit....bullets cost money and that just seems like a loss :-(

I could not "bop" a rabbit with a judo chop or a lead pipe, they are too defenseless for that....

I could not slit it's throat and let it bleed out...wouldn't want to be able to identify with serial slashers :-(

I would not want to break a rabbit's neck, although the rabbit wringer does look like the most appealing way to go...

I have a problem watching the carcass move after death. At least with the head completely gone, it would look more like the finished product and less like an innocent creature that I just sent into the next plane of existence. The metal's strength doing the job I am too shakey to do seems more logical. Anyone see why not? Anyone use something like this now?

The other day I asked Lee how we would put ours to sleep and he said chop the head off. Thus this post caught my eye.