Processing........is a part of the process.

[grumpy]

It's tough!! But, when you started this journey, surely you knew where the
road would lead you. Knife in hand, bucket of water ready, knives sharpened,
skinning gambrel in place. The time has arrived.

It's an emotional leap and one that many have difficulty doing. But, it's got
to be done. You knew this from the get-go!! Attachments be damned, your
family comes first. You've invested "MONEY", time, blood, sweat, and tears.
So, take a big gulp of courage and get on with it!!

God bless you for your soft hearted sentiments towards the creatures you've
nurtured and cared for. But now, think of the nearly perfect product you'll be
able to provide for your family. No additives, no GUNK that is secretly hidden.
Only perfection. As quickly as possible, end the life, and begin the process.

Best of luck.....take a nerve pill if you must.....but do it.

grumpy.

 

[Miss M]

Very well said, Grumpy!

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

I have no problem doing the deed.. It is the ones that I have to pick out is the hardest for me.. Do I keep you or not.. And that is what I have been going through right now.. I have another two weeks before I do the deed again... Once I made up my mind of which ones going in the freezer to feed my family and my dogs.. that is why I have meat rabbits for,, to eat them and knowing I am eat healthy meat..
Here is one of my meals from the other day.. Roasted Rabbit with a salad.. Yum.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Processing rabbits is not my favorite thing to do, and I sometimes put it off in favor of doing something more pleasant... but once I get started, look out bunnies! Who's next? :twisted:

It is very satisfying to provide that meat for my family, have open cages, and less feed consumption.

I now also have a cull buyer that supplies zoos and reptile people so I get cold hard cash :money: for the rabbits not processed for personal consumption or meat sales. I will be busily doing so this weekend not only for myself, but my friend who raises Satins, and a rabbit judge who is coming tomorrow to help us cull through our barns for convention.

 

[Mary Ann's Rabbitry]

that is good news MSD.

 

[ilovehome]

You are right, grumpy. I told myself I would not stay in rabbits unless I could do the processing when needed.
I usually try to wait and time it for when my husband is available to do the deed. He was very busy this week, and there was no real point in waiting, so I did it. I even processed a beautifully typed elop with wry tail...just wasn't any point in continuing to feed him, so he went too. I do LOVE the seven pints of canned rabbit sitting on my counter right now. It makes it all worth it.

 

[Bigrig]

As part of my own "education" before buying the rabbits I decided to purchase a one at the local farmer's market yesterday (gutted with heart/liver/kidneys). In trying to break it down today I learned some valuable lessons.

1) It apparently takes more than 28 hours to defrost a rabbit in the refrigerator after it has been frozen to what seems to be absolute zero.
2) It is better to wait until it is thawed otherwise you are not "butchering" the rabbit, you will "butcher" the job! Next time I will use the cold-water method of thawing.

At least I was able to remove the legs (one front leg looking slightly mangled) and have them soaking in a brine for grilling tonight! I'm thinking a chicken rub and 30-40 minutes at 400 should work.

Baby steps. While I grew up next to my grandparent's farm and helped with chickens and such that was a LONG time ago. However old skills and attitudes will return and I will reinforce my appreciation for where our food comes from. It is too easy to distance the food we buy at the grocery from the source. I know my grandmother wasted NOTHING from the animals she slaughtered. What we did not eat was fed to the other animals on the farm.

 

[dayna]

I don't mind the killing/butchering as much as I thought I would. My biggest fear always has been and will be not getting a clean kill. I only want the animal to die in a humane and safe/calm manner. I comfort my chickens and calm them down before killing them even. Silly as it sounds, I hold them close to my body, slowly turn them upside down, whispering sweet nothings to them. I gently set them in the "comfort cone", petting their heads, keeping calm calm calm. I locate the jugular and kill with one quick, sharp and deep cut, taking care not to cut the windpipe. 95% of the time the chicken falls asleep and a few moments later is just dead with no thrashing or upset.

With the rabbits, I use an air gun, a little treat on the ground, the muzzle of the gun between the ears. One shot and it's all over.

For me its all about an animals "rights". I know that folks hate that word. But to me an animal has a "right" to live a healthy life and to have the best death possible given the circumstances if being kept in captivity. So I make sure we have healthy food, lots of fresh air, clean water, toys, companions if they are a companion species, and a quick humane death.

I'm glad that pretty much everyone here on think similarly to me, even if they don't phrase it the same way.

 

[Bigrig]

With the rabbits, I use an air gun, a little treat on the ground, the muzzle of the gun between the ears. One shot and it's all over.

For me its all about an animals "rights". I know that folks hate that word. But to me an animal has a "right" to live a healthy life and to have the best death possible given the circumstances if being kept in captivity. So I make sure we have healthy food, lots of fresh air, clean water, toys, companions if they are a companion species, and a quick humane death.

I agree. Although I like to term it "welfare" myself it is about respect and responsibility. Personally I will be purchasing a Crosman 1377 (had something similar as a child) soon and will practice until I am SURE I can have a "clean" kill. If I had a place outside I would use my Ruger 22/45 but my city frowns upon using firearms within city limits. Either way it is our responsibility to provide a decent environment and as painless a death as possible.

 

[ramblingrabbit]

Well, by the time I got to doing my first rabbit, it was old hat after chickens and ducks for years. Mostly I was thrilled at how much easier rabbits were.

But the importance of taking responsibility for doing what must be done with your own hands--in the midst of a dysfunctionally disassociated society that largely doesn't appreciate it--should not be forgotten. And the significance of what we do (the ENTIRE process) never ceases to awe me, while "closing the loop" never ceases to inspire me.

Thanks, Grumpy!

 

[grumpy]

I've been involved with animals my entire life in some form or some fashion.
I can well remember my first "hunt" at the ripe old age of 4. I can recall
shooting a squirrel with my grandpa's old 410 double barrel. I cradled the
squirrel in my arms......crying......all the way home.

But.......I remember the flavor of fried squirrel, mashed potatoes, gravy,
and green beans for supper that night. It was a vivid lesson I learned while
I was so young. I've pretty much lived that way ever since. It's funny now,
six decades later, that I can almost smell the aroma of that first squirrel.

Some things, I suppose, never quite change.

grumpy.