Massive bruising using wringer!?!

[GBov]

A good friend gave me a wringer and, I have to say, it really is the bee's knees.

BUT!

On some of my rabbits I am getting massive bruising! Mostly in the loin where I am also getting some broken backs and some bruising on the legs. As I sell meat to friends and family its important that it looks good.

What am I doing wrong?

I have watched the videos and am practicing in its use but I only have two or three rabbits to do at any given time so its like a brand new tool each time I go to use it.

 

[SuburbanHomesteader]

Not sure what might be wrong. I use a wringer - bought an "official" one from the guy on the internet that makes them. Anyway, the only bruising I get is right at the neck area and even then it's only bad with the older rabbits - larger and stronger necks. I haven't had any other bruising anyplace else.

Are you grabbing the body or the just the back feet? Maybe you've got a super-vice-grip! You never know, what with adrenaline flowing, and wanting to get it over with quickly, etc.

I usually just have a hold of both rear feet and pull. Don't know if that helps or not. I know other folks on here use wringers of various sorts so maybe they can offer some suggestions.

 

[Dood]

You might have it mounted too low and are pulling the rabbit up "/" instead of level "-" or slightly down "\"

You want the head to be at a more natural level so it will "pop" first otherwise the back will "pop" and usually right behind the ribs

On 6+ pounders I occasionally break the backs mainly from using too much force as I worry about not being strong enough to do it quickly and I don't do enough at this weight to guage the force needed. I almost never do it on the smaller rabbits, although my first couple California crosses had broken backs as I wasn't prepared for their finer and easier to break bones.

 

[JessiL]

How do you pick them up, out of the cage and then out of the holding carrier? It's amazing to see how scruffing them improperly can leave serious marks on them...

To be clear, I often have to scruff my meaties to get them safely from point A to point B - and then I can tell later who was difficult and who was tame.

We have a "Rabbit Wringer" mounted where I still think is too high for me (love you hubby!), but we've not had back or leg breaks using it. I grip them around the ankles (hocks) immediately after/during slipping their necks in place. We do often pull hair away from the back of the neck, which I suspect indicates that the pulling angle isn't quite right. So perhaps check your grip on the rabbit or the relative location of the wringer.

 

[TriumphTriple]

The first time I used the dispatcher I make, it left some bruising. It was a combo of it being the first time and pulling too hard and bad angle. All rabbits after that had very little bruising around the neck.

 

[GBov]

It must be too low. Its right below my waist as that was the only place I could find to attach it.

I shall try harder to find a new place, how high should it be for a 5'3" person?

 

[Sagebrush]

I figured you wanted it about chest height. So about 4' would be my guess.