I thought I would share some of the notes I made to myself after my first weekend experience butchering so maybe another first timer might learn from my experience. I hate learning by experience!! I just had one litter of 8 to dispatch. I am only doing the rabbits for myself and my family, so no big production.
It was in the low 90's (cooled off a little for me!), so first note to self was to plan butchering day for cooler weather! Which means altering breeding day as well because from now until who knows when, it will be HOT! And I have 19 to harvest in 6 - 8 weeks. That means August.
Along the same lines, bugs were terrible! If it is a hot day, I will use a citronella candle or some such thing to keep the flies off me and the buns. Unless the citronella will affect the rabbit meat flavor?
Have a bucket with a lid (due to flies) for the waste. One of those step on trash cans would be even better!
Tupperware type thing with a lid and chilled water for the livers.
Only dispatch 4 - 6 at a time until I get better at it. It took me about 4 hours to dispatch 8 bunnies. My back and neck were sore the next day and I was exhausted (yep, I'm a whimp).
Be prepared with a tarp or some such covering if rain is likely. (No threat this weekend, just something I thought of.)
Those are some of the things that came to me immediately following my first butchering. Anybody have anything to add? What about in cold weather?
It was in the low 90's (cooled off a little for me!), so first note to self was to plan butchering day for cooler weather! Which means altering breeding day as well because from now until who knows when, it will be HOT! And I have 19 to harvest in 6 - 8 weeks. That means August.
Along the same lines, bugs were terrible! If it is a hot day, I will use a citronella candle or some such thing to keep the flies off me and the buns. Unless the citronella will affect the rabbit meat flavor?
Have a bucket with a lid (due to flies) for the waste. One of those step on trash cans would be even better!
Tupperware type thing with a lid and chilled water for the livers.
Only dispatch 4 - 6 at a time until I get better at it. It took me about 4 hours to dispatch 8 bunnies. My back and neck were sore the next day and I was exhausted (yep, I'm a whimp).
Be prepared with a tarp or some such covering if rain is likely. (No threat this weekend, just something I thought of.)
Those are some of the things that came to me immediately following my first butchering. Anybody have anything to add? What about in cold weather?