With the price of meat going up people should be thanking him for this information and buying their own rabbits instead of insulting him. He's trying to help us all with this know how. Thank you sir for sharing your know how with us.
Consuming meat is totally unnecessary, period. I have done without it for almost seventy years! I have owned rabbits for several years. They are protected from the elements, live in big pens in with opportunities to explore and exercise. They eat high quality fresh Timothy hay, and drink water from large crock bowls to make sure they are never thirsty, and the water stays cool for them. They get their nails trimmed and eat fresh greens, and herbs daily as well as a little fruit for treats. They have apple branches to chew on, and straw to keep them warm in the winter. And, they live as bonded pairs, so they are not lonely. Never, ever once have they been covered in the filth the doe in this video is covered in. If you think this man is kind to animals, you have a serious problem. Not everyone eats meat or is prepared to cause animals to suffer. Decent moral humans show compassion. This man doesn't have even know what the word means. Also, poverty or an unwilliness to spend money to provide comfort to animals is no exuse, because cruelty is never justified under any circumstances! People like this need to be reported for animal cruelty!
@S Jordan I’m not sure if you were listening but he said the babies were trampling around on the mommy. I’m sure their little feet were messy. The cages didn’t look bad compared to what they can become.. Rabbits are filthy, smelly, hairy animals. Remember they’re originally wild animals. They live through rough elements. Having someone provide food, water, and shelter for them is a luxury. Give the man a break.. sorry you’re having a bad day.
@@marycopeland6267 just FYI, domesticated breeds of rabbit - like what we use for both meat and pet rabbits - are no where near their wild roots and will die if let loose in the wild. They have zero comprehension of a life without humans and are to wild rabbits what pugs are to wolves. Which is to say not at all similar aside from species. Neither they nor any of their ancestors for hundreds of years have experienced living through “rough elements” or any of the aspects of living wild like food and water and safety scarcity. They know as much about the wild life and all the hardships that come with it as an average human toddler. For these rabbits and all other meat and pet rabbits, being fed and taken care of by a human isn’t a “luxury” they otherwise wouldn’t have, it’s a necessity, as they cannot survive without it.
Wow, I can’t believe how disconnected our society is when it comes to how we get our meat! I culled a couple of chickens not to long ago and people look at me as if I was crazy. Not sure how they think meat gets to the stores. 🤷🏻♀️
From personal experience I will say the snap the neck doesn't always work so make sure you slit their throats afterwards. I had"broke" a rabbit's neck and started to skin it and it woke up on me and started screaming in gut wrenching screams that I will never forget. Never skip the throat slitting. It will save you years of nightmares. So many people will break their necks and go straight to skinning to keep any blood from being on the pelt. Don't make that mistake. Just saying.... Still remember that scream from 40 years ago.
Renee Brown , Sorry to hear that. I'm sure you did your very best with the knowledge you had at the time. Make sure to give God thanks for the life of that animal every time the memory returns.
Raising Rabbits, ducks and chickens. Yesterday was butchering day. It was the hardest thing I ever did. BUT, it's part of living on a small farm. Single Mom and Grandmom. Love your videos, and your instructions. Quail are next to be raised.
I know what you mean. processing day is never fun. But, like you said, it is what has to be done. Thank you for watching my videos, I am glad you like them.
Thank you for this video. I am actually getting out of quail but transitioned into rabbits. I have tons to learn with them and your videos are certainly a big help!
I've found that penetrative bolt guns (like those used for cattle, but smaller) are the least stressful method of dispatch for my situation. If you're not familiar, picture an syringe with a bolt instead of a needle. It's cleaner and more precise than a pellet gun. Come harvest I can stroke the kit until it is completely calm and continue stroking it's head with the bolt gun as I line up with the brain. I can click a button to fire the bolt and the kit is rendered dead before petting has stopped.
@@dallinstuart2773 The place I bought mine from was www.bunnyrancher.com. Worth every penny, I purchased the larger model ($120ish) one since I also raise French Lop rabbits for show, and responsible breeding is key with any rabbitry :)
Thank you for a very nice detailed video...we have 2 breed ready does and 1 breed ready buck (have 1 more buck from litter but not breed ready yet) Hoping to breed both does next month and get some good litters...we haven't dispatched rabbit before...have done 2 batches of meat chickens (cornish X) and I had to watch videos tons of times to get it all in my head and kinda desensitize myself...hubby helped...he dispatches and I do most the rest...looks a bit easier/faster than chickens hence no feathers...again, thanks for great explanation and showing how its done
Thank you for this video. I dispatched and processed my first rabbit today and this was invaluable to me. You're right...it was extremely difficult. I cried. But you got to do what you got to do.
I like the heart as well but I am the only one that does. Sometimes I save them and cook them up in some bacon grease with onions. Didn't really feel like it this time.
Great vid, have seen probably the most "humane" dispatch technique by Polyface farms - stunning by means of metal rod to head in between ears, then hang and knife to jugular and bleed out. Major benefit is that shoulder muscles are not strained or pulled, and of course the rabbit's only pain is being stunned unconscious before death, which takes a minute or two.
Thanks for the educational video. One day I'd like to have a small holding and raise rabbits and chickens along with a vegetable garden. Ducks are good for snail and slug patrol in your gardens or farms too.
Chris. You need to check out Havala knives. They basically are knives that use surgical blades which can be replaced w new blades so always super sharp. Comes ins various sizes. Just be careful not to cut yourself
Thanks for the video. I've been watching your videos for a couple years. Got into raising quail after watching your videos. Great job. Take care and best wishes.
This is a good c;lear informative video..Thank you for that..However Q?s: Did you compare the weight of the processed RTC (ready to cook) carcass Vs the weight of the dispatched rabbit before processing.. If yes whats the weight.. is it possible to identify the cooked meat (a male from female) ?Thank you
Thank you so much for sharing your method of dispatching honestly I've scoured the Internet looking and asking and there's no other way other than just to break the neck back and I even had a dream about how hard that might be to physically hold a rabbit and break the neck and does not even do it right or the end
This is the way I was taught how to clean rabbits when I was younger. It works very good. Nothing like a good rabbit to eat. Very tasty. Far as that goes I think I'm going to put that on the weekly menu. Just as good as eating a chicken.
I'm building me a dispatch station for my rabbits and quail. That way I can sit and clean as many as are needed. It makes it easier and more productive. I can clean both at the same station at the same time as needed
Absolutely, but the dehydration is for long term storage. If you process 6-8+ rabbits you could be left with a lot of treats. Could feed some raw when it's fresh, and dehydrate the rest. We don't do it for excess, we do it for sustainability and to fill the gaps.
Here for saying thank you for sharing informative videos, I started watching several years ago and after preparing and constantly learning it’s now come for this step. I myself can not do the dispatching I heavily rely on my husband for that step. I’ve raised/cleaned my own chickens and pigs so I’m thinking this will be a much faster and easier process.
I'm surprised you didn't keep the liver to dry out for your dog too, or even just feed raw. Heard your quails in the background and was worried for a second that my boys were up too early! Hahaha I really hope your videos like this don't get removed, I learnt to process my quail from you and hate to think that one day people won't be able to see videos on raising meat animals because youtube has turned into an overly concerned grandma.
Chris throw all the organ meat in the dehydrater with the ears, organ meat is very good for dogs. Lungs would be difficult but the heart, kidneys, and liver will dry into very healthy crunchy snacks for your buddy! My dogs favorite is dried duck heads from the feed store, I’m hoping dried quail heads will be an adequate replacement, today is incubation Day 9 for my first batch of meat quail
Nice! I have pet rabbits so I wouldn’t do this, but it’s nice that people truly care for them to butcher them humanely and I like people like you who find ways to make good use of the animal :)
Thanks for the video, it was a bit gross but really cool at the same time. I’ve never tasted rabbit before but my dad says it tastes like chicken 😂 Looks yum! 😁
I respect your way of skinning a rabbit but I can skin a rabbit in under a minute and have it freezer ready in 2 minutes,IL try to explain,the rabbit has expired,in the center of the back pull about a quarter sized ball of fur out,skin will be showing,cut skin,stick each pointer finger under skin,pull one way towards head,use other finger to pull towards tail,wah lah...pull skin completely off of body...gut,quarter it and ready for freezer after washing
I like to eat livers and hearts too. Most of the time I save them but i just had too much going on and knew I wasn't going to get to using them up in the next day or two (and I prefer them fresh over frozen).
When you use the ears for dog treats, is there any special prep? Do you take the fur off or just dry them out? Forgive my ignorance, I’m strongly considering rabbits going into next year. Also, I have chickens that have a run and also free range. Do you think there would be any issues having the cages raised off the ground in the run?
As long as your chickens have had there wings cut..... .Trimmed so they don't fly on top of rabbit cages....and poop on or in the rabbits food or water or on the rabbit.
I used to disarticulate my rabbits with a wall mounted device but it seemed that they always struggled and seemed stressed. I’ve moved to a .17 cal air powered pellet gun. I can put the rabbit on the ground and calm them and then a pellet to the back of the brain. Also didn’t like the bloody meat up around the neck and that’s eliminated with that technique.
Everything was perfect 100% Only one thing I have to say that when you cut the throat you have to do it little fast. If you do it in slow speed that will be very painful to them I think.
I shot a cane cutter once. We soaked it in ice water and lemon juice for four days. Cooked it in a stew. The vegetables and gravy was great. But you couldn’t eat the rabbit because it was so tough. Your raised rabbits are very good to eat. My wife cooks a lot of wild game, but that cane cutter was the only thing I didn’t enjoy.
As far as the waste, what do you do with it? I know alot of dumps do not accept things like guts and skins of animals. Just curious because I am about to harvest my first rabbits in about a week. Great video very informative.
You could also use it in your garden. I just bury mine a foot or more in the ground. Lol we have patches of great grass from where I use to bury the offal.
I would put the hearts and livers in a pot and boil them for my dogs to go along with the ears for treats, I always try to use all that’s possible, otherwise I thank no it’s wasteful and doesn’t as you say respect the animals.
Honestly, I think it is more what would be better for you. The quail will do equally well in either but which is going to be easier for you to manage is really the question.
QUESTIONS: What are white spots on the liver? What does it mean? Can you still eat the rabbit? I had one white spot on a liver. I thought it was a little bit of fat.
That is a sign of a parasitic disease known as Coccidiosis. The meat should be still safe to eat as long as it is cooked properly. You will want to treat your rabbits for it though.
@@Slightlyrednecked The one rabbit that had it was alone in a cage. Separate from the others, because it was the only male of 6 kits. They are all dispatched now. I will desinfect the cage with Dettol and put it in the sun before I use it again. Would that be enough?
Seems a waste to throw away anything. Furs are useful no matter what and organs are the healthiest parts of any animal. I have dogs ans cats that eat raw organs and they love it.
The rabbits who are fryers there pelts are not worth trying to tan....now the bigger ones say a 15 week old rabbit it would be because they are bigger.
I used the choke chain method last week. And after I skinned it, I saw that it's leg muscles had fine tremors.. I got a good cervical dislocation. I never saw that when I used the broomstick method. Your thoughts?
Generally, the muscle will begin to twitch once you start skinning. I usually cull all of mine first and then work on processing. It gives the nerves time to fully shutoff so you don't have that as much
Appreciate your instructions. Way off topic here but I was wondering if you could tell me what type of plant was in your hanging basket in this video. I remember my grandma had tons in a flower bed and I would like to be a little nostalgic and grow them in my silver years. Thanks
Howdy. I can't get a close enough look at the details to be certain, but try doing an image search for "Adromischus filicaulis ssp marlothii" or simply "Adromischus" as a starting point. That might lead you towards identifying your grandma's plants. Best of luck!
The market goal is 5 pounds at 8 weeks. My experience has been 5 pounds at 10 to 12 weeks. After processing getting 3-3.5# dressed. Just a point of interest, if you have quail or chickens, keep anything you don't put in the freezer abd toss in a bucket with holes in the bottom and top to farm some maggots. Best free protein and virtually no waste.
Hello chris, long time no see! you should really use a rabbit neck wringer. Works amazing and its a lot easier and faster, you should really check this out i swear!
Why would the stick method be better than a bullet? Gun would be instant while the stick method they are concious for being put under the stick and as you get into position then finally they get grabbed a bit brutally... to me the shot sounds less cruel and less room for error.
Chris, is it that much better to process 2 or 3 a week to get fresh meat? In other words, does previously frozen rabbit meat taste that much different from freshly butchered ones? Lastly, do you rest the meat before you freeze? Thanks!
I haven't noticed a big difference myself. I do rest the meat though. if you want it to be fresh you need to either use it right away or let it rest until rigor mortis leaves the meat (about 48 hours usually). Otherwise the meat will be very tough. I always let it rest before using or freezing.
@@Slightlyrednecked by "resting the meat" do you mean just leaving it in the fridge for 48 hours? Do you leave it in a bowl of water or something or just open? Im getting ready to butcher my first litter. Thanks for all you help, Chasity
I do something similar with the broomstick method. I haven't tried to hang them but have seen other people use things like choker collars for basically the same result.
I think that 12 weeks is probably slightly old! Harvesting at about 9-10 weeks will give you a better yield, ie (dressed weight/live weight). It was explained to me that after 9-10 weeks the rabbits would start developing their sex organs(which we don't eat) so not efficient to continue feeding.
12 weeks isn't too old at all. It really depends on the growth rate of your rabbits. My current doe produces babies that grow a little slower so 12 weeks is pretty much the norm for her.
@@Slightlyrednecked hi Chris, thanks for your content. My question is - would 12 weeks of age be old enough to get nice quality pelts for tanning/pickling?
I agree,......... if your gonna humanely dispatch the rabbit. And the rabbit gives his life for us as food, we should all be good stewards to use as much of the rabbit (or any animal) we can. You have a fine dog there, that dog would love to go to town on some rabbit liver and hearts.
You can sure do that if you want to. I don't feed that stuff to my dog because it gives him stomach issues. I am sure he would get used to it if fed all the time but I don't have it all the time.
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With the price of meat going up people should be thanking him for this information and buying their own rabbits instead of insulting him. He's trying to help us all with this know how. Thank you sir for sharing your know how with us.
Consuming meat is totally unnecessary, period. I have done without it for almost seventy years! I have owned rabbits for several years. They are protected from the elements, live in big pens in with opportunities to explore and exercise. They eat high quality fresh Timothy hay, and drink water from large crock bowls to make sure they are never thirsty, and the water stays cool for them. They get their nails trimmed and eat fresh greens, and herbs daily as well as a little fruit for treats. They have apple branches to chew on, and straw to keep them warm in the winter. And, they live as bonded pairs, so they are not lonely. Never, ever once have they been covered in the filth the doe in this video is covered in. If you think this man is kind to animals, you have a serious problem. Not everyone eats meat or is prepared to cause animals to suffer. Decent moral humans show compassion. This man doesn't have even know what the word means. Also, poverty or an unwilliness to spend money to provide comfort to animals is no exuse, because cruelty is never justified under any circumstances! People like this need to be reported for animal cruelty!
@S Jordan I’m not sure if you were listening but he said the babies were trampling around on the mommy. I’m sure their little feet were messy. The cages didn’t look bad compared to what they can become.. Rabbits are filthy, smelly, hairy animals. Remember they’re originally wild animals. They live through rough elements. Having someone provide food, water, and shelter for them is a luxury. Give the man a break.. sorry you’re having a bad day.
@@sjordan7085 i didnt read your comment but im sure its vegan related, no one cares about the vegan agenda
@@jonathanharris8281 my favorite vegans are the ones who justify being pro-choice while morally policing people who eat animal meat for food
@@marycopeland6267 just FYI, domesticated breeds of rabbit - like what we use for both meat and pet rabbits - are no where near their wild roots and will die if let loose in the wild. They have zero comprehension of a life without humans and are to wild rabbits what pugs are to wolves. Which is to say not at all similar aside from species. Neither they nor any of their ancestors for hundreds of years have experienced living through “rough elements” or any of the aspects of living wild like food and water and safety scarcity. They know as much about the wild life and all the hardships that come with it as an average human toddler. For these rabbits and all other meat and pet rabbits, being fed and taken care of by a human isn’t a “luxury” they otherwise wouldn’t have, it’s a necessity, as they cannot survive without it.
I guess people think no animal has to die when you buy meat from the grocery store and then defrost it from your freezer.
Some people do seem to think that way.
It's crazy that they think the meat came out of thin air.
Wow, I can’t believe how disconnected our society is when it comes to how we get our meat! I culled a couple of chickens not to long ago and people look at me as if I was crazy. Not sure how they think meat gets to the stores. 🤷🏻♀️
From personal experience I will say the snap the neck doesn't always work so make sure you slit their throats afterwards. I had"broke" a rabbit's neck and started to skin it and it woke up on me and started screaming in gut wrenching screams that I will never forget. Never skip the throat slitting. It will save you years of nightmares. So many people will break their necks and go straight to skinning to keep any blood from being on the pelt. Don't make that mistake. Just saying.... Still remember that scream from 40 years ago.
I have heard rabbits scream before. I know what you mean.
Renee Brown , Sorry to hear that. I'm sure you did your very best with the knowledge you had at the time. Make sure to give God thanks for the life of that animal every time the memory returns.
Love the videos. Educational and informative. Always showing the "real world" applications. Thanks!
You can also dehydrate the livers for dog treats!
Also the ear for dog deworming.
Thanks for this man 😊😊
Raising Rabbits, ducks and chickens. Yesterday was butchering day. It was the hardest thing I ever did. BUT, it's part of living on a small farm. Single Mom and Grandmom. Love your videos, and your instructions. Quail are next to be raised.
I know what you mean. processing day is never fun. But, like you said, it is what has to be done. Thank you for watching my videos, I am glad you like them.
My quails are hatching next week and going to get our rabbits the 5th. Already have about 26 chickens for mostly eggs.
This is just what I needed to get me started on processing my rabbits for my family. Thank you for your thorough demonstration! God love you.
Thank you for this video. I am actually getting out of quail but transitioned into rabbits. I have tons to learn with them and your videos are certainly a big help!
I am so glad to hear that you are finding my videos helpful. Thank you for watching.
Once again a great video on how to. Keep up the great work
Thank you so much for the kind comments.
I've found that penetrative bolt guns (like those used for cattle, but smaller) are the least stressful method of dispatch for my situation.
If you're not familiar, picture an syringe with a bolt instead of a needle. It's cleaner and more precise than a pellet gun.
Come harvest I can stroke the kit until it is completely calm and continue stroking it's head with the bolt gun as I line up with the brain. I can click a button to fire the bolt and the kit is rendered dead before petting has stopped.
Cerise is a Color I’m not familiar with those. Does is penetrate the skull?
@@dallinstuart2773 yes, exactly. It's merely a spring loaded bolt gun
@@dallinstuart2773 The place I bought mine from was www.bunnyrancher.com. Worth every penny, I purchased the larger model ($120ish) one since I also raise French Lop rabbits for show, and responsible breeding is key with any rabbitry :)
We love you at Deercreek homesteading helped inspire us to start our own channel
Thank you so much for the kind comments. good luck with your channel. I hope it goes well.
Thank you for a very nice detailed video...we have 2 breed ready does and 1 breed ready buck (have 1 more buck from litter but not breed ready yet) Hoping to breed both does next month and get some good litters...we haven't dispatched rabbit before...have done 2 batches of meat chickens (cornish X) and I had to watch videos tons of times to get it all in my head and kinda desensitize myself...hubby helped...he dispatches and I do most the rest...looks a bit easier/faster than chickens hence no feathers...again, thanks for great explanation and showing how its done
Thank you for watching. I am glad you found this video helpful. And yes, rabbits are much easier than chickens.
Neatly done.. ❤❤
Thank you for this video. I dispatched and processed my first rabbit today and this was invaluable to me. You're right...it was extremely difficult. I cried. But you got to do what you got to do.
Yes, I think I might cry too...
You have a beautiful name btw.
Omg, I cringed when you threw out the heart. The heart is delicious, please don't waste it!
I like the heart as well but I am the only one that does. Sometimes I save them and cook them up in some bacon grease with onions. Didn't really feel like it this time.
@@Slightlyrednecked I'm trying to understand, but my heart won't let me. Lol
Great vid, have seen probably the most "humane" dispatch technique by Polyface farms - stunning by means of metal rod to head in between ears, then hang and knife to jugular and bleed out. Major benefit is that shoulder muscles are not strained or pulled, and of course the rabbit's only pain is being stunned unconscious before death, which takes a minute or two.
/
That sounds like a very humane method indeed.
Thanks for the educational video. One day I'd like to have a small holding and raise rabbits and chickens along with a vegetable garden. Ducks are good for snail and slug patrol in your gardens or farms too.
Chris. You need to check out Havala knives. They basically are knives that use surgical blades which can be replaced w new blades so always super sharp. Comes ins various sizes. Just be careful not to cut yourself
I have seen those. They look nice. I may give them a try some day.
Excellent instruction.
Thank you so much. I am glad you liked it.
This is the best video on this topic I have seen. Thank you very much. God Bless you also.
I love watching your videos. Thank you for your diligence. I look forward to raising my own rabbits and quail.
Thank you so much. I am so glad to hear that you found this video interesting.
The “Hopper Popper” works great...insant cervical dislocation when done right.
Thanks for the video. I've been watching your videos for a couple years. Got into raising quail after watching your videos. Great job. Take care and best wishes.
Thank you so much for the kind comments. And thanks for watching.
This is a good c;lear informative video..Thank you for that..However Q?s: Did you compare the weight of the processed RTC (ready to cook) carcass Vs the weight of the dispatched rabbit before processing.. If yes whats the weight.. is it possible to identify the cooked meat (a male from female) ?Thank you
Instead of cordage I would use a couple of dog choke collars that are the chain type. Works great for skinning my catches on trap line.
Thank you so much for sharing your method of dispatching honestly I've scoured the Internet looking and asking and there's no other way other than just to break the neck back and I even had a dream about how hard that might be to physically hold a rabbit and break the neck and does not even do it right or the end
Good video, thanks. I also raise meat rabbits. Do you restrict food from the rabbits you will butcher over night so their bowels are not so full?
I don't bother with restricting food myself. I don't find it makes much of a difference.
This is the way I was taught how to clean rabbits when I was younger. It works very good. Nothing like a good rabbit to eat. Very tasty. Far as that goes I think I'm going to put that on the weekly menu. Just as good as eating a chicken.
Thanks for the helpful and informative videos!
Thank you for watching. I am glad that you found this video helpful.
I'm building me a dispatch station for my rabbits and quail. That way I can sit and clean as many as are needed. It makes it easier and more productive. I can clean both at the same station at the same time as needed
That sounds like a great idea.
You don’t need to bake dog treats .. you can feed legs head ears liver lungs pancreas kidney heart skin rib stomach to the dog … RAW.
Absolutely, but the dehydration is for long term storage. If you process 6-8+ rabbits you could be left with a lot of treats. Could feed some raw when it's fresh, and dehydrate the rest. We don't do it for excess, we do it for sustainability and to fill the gaps.
Here for saying thank you for sharing informative videos, I started watching several years ago and after preparing and constantly learning it’s now come for this step. I myself can not do the dispatching I heavily rely on my husband for that step. I’ve raised/cleaned my own chickens and pigs so I’m thinking this will be a much faster and easier process.
Thank you for watching. I am glad that you found the video helpful. And you are correct, it is much easier than pigs or chickens.
I'm surprised you didn't keep the liver to dry out for your dog too, or even just feed raw.
Heard your quails in the background and was worried for a second that my boys were up too early! Hahaha
I really hope your videos like this don't get removed, I learnt to process my quail from you and hate to think that one day people won't be able to see videos on raising meat animals because youtube has turned into an overly concerned grandma.
That is an option. But my dog isn't accustomed to that kind of food and it would give him some unpleasant stomach issues so I avoid it. :)
Max heard you had tasty ears for him! He is just too excited to wait!
lol. That is probably it. :)
Great video I’m about to process for the second time I have California New Zealand buck and a harlequin doe
Thank you for watching. I am glad that you liked it. Good luck with your processing.
I boil the head and stomach with barley, lotus seeds, in stone pot for the besr soup ever..but it has to be fresh, not frozen. So good.
Chris throw all the organ meat in the dehydrater with the ears, organ meat is very good for dogs. Lungs would be difficult but the heart, kidneys, and liver will dry into very healthy crunchy snacks for your buddy!
My dogs favorite is dried duck heads from the feed store, I’m hoping dried quail heads will be an adequate replacement, today is incubation Day 9 for my first batch of meat quail
That is a great idea. I do dehydrate the ears for him and he loves them.
Slightly Rednecked yeah, I heard you say that about the ears, that’s why I was like “why ain’t he keeping those livers and hearts..”
good stuff bro!
Nice! I have pet rabbits so I wouldn’t do this, but it’s nice that people truly care for them to butcher them humanely and I like people like you who find ways to make good use of the animal :)
Thanks I am so scared my first time
Thanks for the video, it was a bit gross but really cool at the same time. I’ve never tasted rabbit before but my dad says it tastes like chicken 😂
Looks yum! 😁
It is a little gross for sure but i am glad that you found it at least somewhat interesting. And yes, rabbit is very similar to chicken.
I respect your way of skinning a rabbit but I can skin a rabbit in under a minute and have it freezer ready in 2 minutes,IL try to explain,the rabbit has expired,in the center of the back pull about a quarter sized ball of fur out,skin will be showing,cut skin,stick each pointer finger under skin,pull one way towards head,use other finger to pull towards tail,wah lah...pull skin completely off of body...gut,quarter it and ready for freezer after washing
I can do that with a wild rabbit. Domestic rabbits are a little tougher though and I find it doesn't work as well (at least not for me).
Thank you so much this really helped me butcher a rabbit for the first time!♡!
I eat those livers and hearts. Also could save them for catfish bait!!
I like to eat livers and hearts too. Most of the time I save them but i just had too much going on and knew I wasn't going to get to using them up in the next day or two (and I prefer them fresh over frozen).
When you use the ears for dog treats, is there any special prep? Do you take the fur off or just dry them out? Forgive my ignorance, I’m strongly considering rabbits going into next year. Also, I have chickens that have a run and also free range. Do you think there would be any issues having the cages raised off the ground in the run?
As long as your chickens have had there wings cut..... .Trimmed so they don't fly on top of rabbit cages....and poop on or in the rabbits food or water or on the rabbit.
What would you do if there is a white spot on the liver? Does the entire rabbit need to be thrown out?
No, you just can’t eat the liver.
max is very excited
I used to disarticulate my rabbits with a wall mounted device but it seemed that they always struggled and seemed stressed. I’ve moved to a .17 cal air powered pellet gun. I can put the rabbit on the ground and calm them and then a pellet to the back of the brain. Also didn’t like the bloody meat up around the neck and that’s eliminated with that technique.
I know what you mean. i have tried a pellet gun before but it just didn't seem to act as fast for me.
YOu cant use the head for soup then.
Everything was perfect 100%
Only one thing I have to say that when you cut the throat you have to do it little fast. If you do it in slow speed that will be very painful to them I think.
True but in his case it was already dead
Rabbit meat is good
Yah really good and 100% good once natural and organic fed.
Great video. I soak ours in ice cold water before skinning. But works the same.
After dressing I toss in ice water with a little vinegar for 5 minutes then in a clean water bath. Helps to keep the muscles relaxed.
@@damonrice6809 Im always up to trying something new.
I soak them in water after I process them but never did that before processing.
I shot a cane cutter once. We soaked it in ice water and lemon juice for four days. Cooked it in a stew. The vegetables and gravy was great. But you couldn’t eat the rabbit because it was so tough. Your raised rabbits are very good to eat. My wife cooks a lot of wild game, but that cane cutter was the only thing I didn’t enjoy.
I have never tried cane cutter but have had plenty of wild cottontails. Never had a problem with them being overly tough.
I wonder if he keeps the skin?
As far as the waste, what do you do with it? I know alot of dumps do not accept things like guts and skins of animals. Just curious because I am about to harvest my first rabbits in about a week. Great video very informative.
Good question. I just throw it in the trash myself. Never had a problem.
@@Slightlyrednecked I will check in my area. Great information in your videos.
You could also use it in your garden. I just bury mine a foot or more in the ground. Lol we have patches of great grass from where I use to bury the offal.
I would put the hearts and livers in a pot and boil them for my dogs to go along with the ears for treats, I always try to use all that’s possible, otherwise I thank no it’s wasteful and doesn’t as you say respect the animals.
Your videos are really educateable
The amount of snowflakes in this comment section is hilarious 😂
How long should I let them together before processing them?
Wow..rabbit..i love that.
What would be better for a small flock of quail a six foot area or four 30 by 8 inch separate cages and just split them up into smaller groups??
Honestly, I think it is more what would be better for you. The quail will do equally well in either but which is going to be easier for you to manage is really the question.
QUESTIONS: What are white spots on the liver? What does it mean? Can you still eat the rabbit? I had one white spot on a liver. I thought it was a little bit of fat.
That is a sign of a parasitic disease known as Coccidiosis. The meat should be still safe to eat as long as it is cooked properly. You will want to treat your rabbits for it though.
@@Slightlyrednecked The one rabbit that had it was alone in a cage. Separate from the others, because it was the only male of 6 kits. They are all dispatched now. I will desinfect the cage with Dettol and put it in the sun before I use it again. Would that be enough?
I have a pet rabbit why am I here
Good question
Mine had babies and i am wondering the same thing...
Seems a waste to throw away anything. Furs are useful no matter what and organs are the healthiest parts of any animal. I have dogs ans cats that eat raw organs and they love it.
The rabbits who are fryers there pelts are not worth trying to tan....now the bigger ones say a 15 week old rabbit it would be because they are bigger.
Too many children in the comments section. Where are the adults?
I used the choke chain method last week. And after I skinned it, I saw that it's leg muscles had fine tremors.. I got a good cervical dislocation. I never saw that when I used the broomstick method. Your thoughts?
That is pretty common actually. I have had rabbits that are completely dressed out still quivering. It is just nerves.
Generally, the muscle will begin to twitch once you start skinning. I usually cull all of mine first and then work on processing. It gives the nerves time to fully shutoff so you don't have that as much
Is the blue tarp under the cage to like direct the poo to a container? Or something like that?
yes. It basically just catches it all and then I use an old wheel barrow handle to run underneath it and move it all to a tub in the middle.
This is exactly what I do, too. Great idea.
Thanks for sharing
Appreciate your instructions. Way off topic here but I was wondering if you could tell me what type of plant was in your hanging basket in this video. I remember my grandma had tons in a flower bed and I would like to be a little nostalgic and grow them in my silver years. Thanks
I would have to ask my wife. I can't remember what it is called. I will try to remember to do that.
Howdy. I can't get a close enough look at the details to be certain, but try doing an image search for "Adromischus filicaulis ssp marlothii" or simply "Adromischus" as a starting point. That might lead you towards identifying your grandma's plants. Best of luck!
It looks like moss rose or another name for it is portulaca
My does will lay underneath their feeders and let their babies climb on them so they can reach the food.
Yeah, they have no respect for mom for sure. :)
could you make a video on making a diy quail incubator?
If I ever make an incubator i will be sure to film it. Not sure if I will do that or not though.
Exactly the way I do it! Great...do you save belly flaps for jerky?
How do you do that? Thanks in advance! :)
@@missmarjolein92 Just like you would any other meat. I just cook the belly flaps for the dogs since it's not really a part I like to eat.
Why would a buck in a 3 section cage (3 bucks )the center one look like that?
Thank you for your videos.
Thank you for watching.
You can show it .. why do you spray everything against your deck
How much does your rabbits weigh at 12 weeks! 3 pounds? Thanks
so does it take 4 months from start to processing ? do rabbits gain any weight after 4 months ?
The market goal is 5 pounds at 8 weeks. My experience has been 5 pounds at 10 to 12 weeks. After processing getting 3-3.5# dressed.
Just a point of interest, if you have quail or chickens, keep anything you don't put in the freezer abd toss in a bucket with holes in the bottom and top to farm some maggots. Best free protein and virtually no waste.
@@damonrice6809 5 pounds at 12 weeks sounds about the same as we get. We let them grow for 4 - 4.5 months castrating all males before 12 weeks.
I didn't weigh these but they were close to 5 pounds.
Sounds like Max would like the organs.
You keep on ice? In ice water? For how long?
Label as educational
Hello chris, long time no see! you should really use a rabbit neck wringer. Works amazing and its a lot easier and faster, you should really check this out i swear!
I bet those do work well. I have seen them before and they are a great concept.
Thanks for the great video
Why would the stick method be better than a bullet? Gun would be instant while the stick method they are concious for being put under the stick and as you get into position then finally they get grabbed a bit brutally... to me the shot sounds less cruel and less room for error.
guns aren't as instant as you would think. But if you want to use them there is no reason not to.
@@Slightlyrednecked , yes, I know there are lots of methods of dispatch...folks need to use what works for them :)
Chris did a humane dispatch I don't get ur point. Not mention bullets cost money and that if ur in a spot u can use them🤨
Does anyone find that the blood drain isnt as good with this method vs. the bop and bleed? I have heard it lowers the taste quality of the meat.
Now I got an excuse to use my 9mm. Time to raise some rabbits.
9 mm would sure do the job. May be a little more than is needed though. :)
Chris, is it that much better to process 2 or 3 a week to get fresh meat? In other words, does previously frozen rabbit meat taste that much different from freshly butchered ones? Lastly, do you rest the meat before you freeze? Thanks!
I haven't noticed a big difference myself. I do rest the meat though. if you want it to be fresh you need to either use it right away or let it rest until rigor mortis leaves the meat (about 48 hours usually). Otherwise the meat will be very tough. I always let it rest before using or freezing.
@@Slightlyrednecked Awesome, thanks buddy
@@Slightlyrednecked by "resting the meat" do you mean just leaving it in the fridge for 48 hours? Do you leave it in a bowl of water or something or just open? Im getting ready to butcher my first litter. Thanks for all you help, Chasity
@@farnashcreekranch5661 I let ‘em soak in salt water for 48 hours
@@jamesdempsey5702 absolutely a good idea “ brining” the meat helps tenderize it and adds flavor. After 48 hours use it or freeze it.
Have you tried the head bending method where you just put the rabbits head all the way back till the neck breaks? or when there hanging?
I do something similar with the broomstick method. I haven't tried to hang them but have seen other people use things like choker collars for basically the same result.
Thanks great info here
Gd day. I have some almost 4 wk old kits who are not pooping yet.
It's my first batch, is this normal?
Wanted to see those dispatchings 🤷🏾♂️💯🤫🤔👌🏽💪🏾💪🏾💪🏾👍🏾
RUclips doesn't like for me to show the actual dispatching.
ME TOO !!!!!! 😢
RUclips let’s everyone else show it
Did you breed during the summer. It seems that you did
Just saw your shirt, Joplin. Is that Joplin, MO?? I was raised in Neosho, MO.
You are the best
Thank you so much.
I think that 12 weeks is probably slightly old! Harvesting at about 9-10 weeks will give you a better yield, ie (dressed weight/live weight). It was explained to me that after 9-10 weeks the rabbits would start developing their sex organs(which we don't eat) so not efficient to continue feeding.
12 weeks isn't too old at all. It really depends on the growth rate of your rabbits. My current doe produces babies that grow a little slower so 12 weeks is pretty much the norm for her.
@@Slightlyrednecked hi Chris, thanks for your content. My question is - would 12 weeks of age be old enough to get nice quality pelts for tanning/pickling?
Nice touch with the Mora.😊👍🏽
Why not use the offal for dog food?
Looks like a relaxing Saturday activity actually *eyes the jersey wooly that’s currently being a jerk and thinks *
The organs are good to eat full of goodness why waste at least feed dog it 🤗🤚🏿🤚🏿✋🏾✋🏾✋🏾✋🏽✋🏼✋🏻✋🏻✋
I do like liver and heart. I do save those sometimes to eat. But no one else likes them so it is just me eating them.
I agree,......... if your gonna humanely dispatch the rabbit. And the rabbit gives his life for us as food, we should all be good stewards to use as much of the rabbit (or any animal) we can. You have a fine dog there, that dog would love to go to town on some rabbit liver and hearts.
Do you just keep the fur on the ears when you make dog treats?
yes. It doesn't need to be removed.
How many pounds do your kits usually weight when you process them?
I try to get them to around 5 pounds.
Before or after dress out? My rabbits are new zealand and Californians mix and they are bout 5 lbs till like 5 months
I use a tire thumper to the back of the head. Kills them instantly everytime
That works well too.
That's pretty brutal.
@@1roundleft821 def sounds like it, but it’s very quick and instantaneous
Why do you not keep the liver and heart for your dog food? Even if you are not going to eat it, it can be fed to your pets. Waste not want not.
You can sure do that if you want to. I don't feed that stuff to my dog because it gives him stomach issues. I am sure he would get used to it if fed all the time but I don't have it all the time.
@@Slightlyrednecked , yes, we saved hearts and livers from chickens and will probl do same with rabbits...hubby says they also make great fish bait...