We I have a pair of ugly Netherlands. Poor girls. Faces only a mother could love. And no one wanted to buy them, so I figured it was time to try processing.
I watched some videos on the broomstick method and tried that. It was not as smooth and stress free (for either of us) as I would have liked. I had to stop and give the first one a cuddle before trying again. I'm hoping I get better at doing it smoothly and swiftly.
I was very surprised by just how much twitching there was. Makes you think you seriously screwed it up but upon opening the rabbit up, it was clear I did the job.
I decided to dispatch one senior who has not been able to catch, no matter who I tried her with--plus she's grumpy/nippy.
Despite the fact she felt lean, she was very fatty on the inside. Lots of fat globs on her organs etc. I think someone mentioned in another post of mine that might be keeping her from getting pregnant.
I was surprised it took less than an hour to dispatch, process and grind the three considering DH did the last 2 -8lb ers and it took him 3 hours. I also didn't find the fur was flying everywhere. It was pretty quick and tidy. Anyway, after all that, I didn't have the stomach to consider eating them myself so I ground them up for the dog. A nice combination of rabbit, organs and some apple--since I find rabbit a bit constipating for the pup.
I hope that the grossness factor (for me it was just the shock that I had killed 3 animals and was skinning them in my kitchen) disappears with time. I did better than I thought I would, but I guess, being a city girl has made me a bit squeamish.
I watched some videos on the broomstick method and tried that. It was not as smooth and stress free (for either of us) as I would have liked. I had to stop and give the first one a cuddle before trying again. I'm hoping I get better at doing it smoothly and swiftly.
I was very surprised by just how much twitching there was. Makes you think you seriously screwed it up but upon opening the rabbit up, it was clear I did the job.
I decided to dispatch one senior who has not been able to catch, no matter who I tried her with--plus she's grumpy/nippy.
Despite the fact she felt lean, she was very fatty on the inside. Lots of fat globs on her organs etc. I think someone mentioned in another post of mine that might be keeping her from getting pregnant.
I was surprised it took less than an hour to dispatch, process and grind the three considering DH did the last 2 -8lb ers and it took him 3 hours. I also didn't find the fur was flying everywhere. It was pretty quick and tidy. Anyway, after all that, I didn't have the stomach to consider eating them myself so I ground them up for the dog. A nice combination of rabbit, organs and some apple--since I find rabbit a bit constipating for the pup.
I hope that the grossness factor (for me it was just the shock that I had killed 3 animals and was skinning them in my kitchen) disappears with time. I did better than I thought I would, but I guess, being a city girl has made me a bit squeamish.
