Depending on what you're feeding the rabbits will affect the taste of the meat. My in-laws were buying butchered rabbits from a local for months and he switched feed and that affected the flavor of the rabbits, so they quit buying them.
Rabbit meat taste..
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GBov
Well-known member
I second the question of what the heck kind of rabbit do you have? That is tiny!
I have Swedish Pelt rabbits, it's an old ''household' type breed that's not meant for commercial breeding and butcher weight at 8 weeks, but at 6-7 months when the hides are best. 
Adults are about 3.5 kg. Gamey meat is supposedly popular here, and meatrabbits are not a common thing in Sweden.
I'm about to buy a checkered giant to bring the weight up a bit and get some spotted hides. I know they're not ideal meat rabbits due to big bones and lots of feed going in, but I think they can be a good mix with my SP. Some of these kits are half checkered giat and are developing nicely and round, twice the size of my 1 week younger kits alreasy. Also.. I can get a somewhat cheap CG soonish and meatrabbits are not too common here, I still only know a handful of people in sweden and they live far away or they have Gotland rabbits - which are the same size as mine but grow even slower. Some has nzr but I don't like the temperament of his rabbits. they're way too skittish to live in a colony.
They're actually getting sheep pellets, hay and weeds. More hay and weeds and less pellets once they leave their mothers. None of the ones I've processed grew up here though, the first was fed calf feed, the other two were adults ''in work'' still fed a lot of pellets. Maybe the younglings on forage will taste differently. I could switch feed with a couple of them the last two weeks before processing (I've read that's when flavour is affected) to see a differense. My local store don't have Rabbfor and other options than the sheep pellet are expencive.
Thanks for more food inspiration
Adults are about 3.5 kg. Gamey meat is supposedly popular here, and meatrabbits are not a common thing in Sweden.I'm about to buy a checkered giant to bring the weight up a bit and get some spotted hides. I know they're not ideal meat rabbits due to big bones and lots of feed going in, but I think they can be a good mix with my SP. Some of these kits are half checkered giat and are developing nicely and round, twice the size of my 1 week younger kits alreasy. Also.. I can get a somewhat cheap CG soonish and meatrabbits are not too common here, I still only know a handful of people in sweden and they live far away or they have Gotland rabbits - which are the same size as mine but grow even slower. Some has nzr but I don't like the temperament of his rabbits. they're way too skittish to live in a colony.
They're actually getting sheep pellets, hay and weeds. More hay and weeds and less pellets once they leave their mothers. None of the ones I've processed grew up here though, the first was fed calf feed, the other two were adults ''in work'' still fed a lot of pellets. Maybe the younglings on forage will taste differently. I could switch feed with a couple of them the last two weeks before processing (I've read that's when flavour is affected) to see a differense. My local store don't have Rabbfor and other options than the sheep pellet are expencive.
Thanks for more food inspiration
GBov
Well-known member
I wish I knew a way to get a few of my broken New Zealands over to you, they are such big softies and so calm to work with.
Your SPs sound interesting but just waaaaaay to long to wait for a rabbit dinner :lol:
Your SPs sound interesting but just waaaaaay to long to wait for a rabbit dinner :lol:
I would love abroken NZ
Yeees I know.. that's why I'll get a new buck to add size.. xD I weighed the giant x SP mutts today; +1000gr each at 5 weeks. The pure SP are 400gr at 4 weeks.. both have nice feeling bodies so I think it can be a good match
Yeees I know.. that's why I'll get a new buck to add size.. xD I weighed the giant x SP mutts today; +1000gr each at 5 weeks. The pure SP are 400gr at 4 weeks.. both have nice feeling bodies so I think it can be a good match
coffeenutdesigns
Well-known member
Good news is that anything can be an acquired taste! Maybe try mixing it a bit in your favorite chicken and pork recipes. Grilling is tricky with rabbits because it gets dry. If you rub with a little oil (I use olive oil and seasoning) to hold in some moisture, get a good sear first and then wrap it in foil to finish cooking slowly it turns out much juicier than just grilling or not using oil (or bacon, some kind of fat).
As for feeling like a psycho killer, we would be worried about you if you were just killing for fun with no reason and enjoyed it. The fact that you don't enjoy it and are only doing it as a means to an end, well, that pretty much wipes you of the psycho killer list. I find spending a moment petting and thanking my rabbits and God for the nourishment they will provide my family eases the guilt a little, but I still use a pellet gun because it is a little more "hands off" than other methods.
Just try using rabbit in recipes you LOVE and I'm sure you will find at least a couple of dishes you come to enjoy. Bless you for raising rabbits for meat for such noble reasons and being willing to stick with it.
As for feeling like a psycho killer, we would be worried about you if you were just killing for fun with no reason and enjoyed it. The fact that you don't enjoy it and are only doing it as a means to an end, well, that pretty much wipes you of the psycho killer list. I find spending a moment petting and thanking my rabbits and God for the nourishment they will provide my family eases the guilt a little, but I still use a pellet gun because it is a little more "hands off" than other methods.
Just try using rabbit in recipes you LOVE and I'm sure you will find at least a couple of dishes you come to enjoy. Bless you for raising rabbits for meat for such noble reasons and being willing to stick with it.
