Processed My First Rabbits!

Kwings · #1 05/06/11, 07:17 PM

It wasn't as bad as i thought it would be. Last night one of my mini lops died for no reason so i decided to practice on it because i knew i was doing the meat bunnies today(and to see if i could see anything wrong inside), i'm glad i did (sad that rabbit died though) it didn't go near as smooth as i'd figured it would be and its a good thing it was going to the dogs anyways lol. I came back and watched more "how to..." videos on butchering rabbits.

The first meat rabbit i did was pretty quick to go. The second one gave me more trouble. Skinning an already dead rabbit is one thing but killing it yourself is another and it didn't bother me as much as i figured it would either.

Now i'm not an expert at all obviously but if your new to rabbits and haven't processed your own yet i'll tell you something none of the videos told me when i watched them. The rabbit is REALLY warm and almost hot in some places while your skinning it so don't get creeped out i'ts normal but it surprised me exactly HOW warm they were under that fur. don't know why i didn't think about it but it never crossed my mind that they would be so warm.

Only thing i regret is that both the rabbits today are for a girl at work so i don't get to eat any of them.

The Mini Lop had what looked like white spots on its liver, any ideas what it could have been that killed it? (the 2 meat rabbits i did today had normal non-spotty livers) The mini's are kept inside while the meat rabbits are outside unless one is having babies.

I used the "hold the rabbit by its back feet and hit over the head" method and then i broom sticked them just to be sure. Went really smooth except the second one squealed just because it didn't like being held by its back feet, that unnerved me a bit.

I don't have a scale to weigh the meat with i know some of you were interested in the dress out weights because of the strange mix they were. I kept the best female from the bunch and i cant wait to see the babies she gives me.

If i find a scale i'll weigh one and post the results. It took me a little under an hour per rabbit so it wasn't as time consuming as i figured it wold be either lol.

MaggieJ · #2 05/06/11, 08:46 PM

The white spots on the liver could have been coccidiosis. It can kill a rabbit, especially a young one. Coccidiosis is a protozoal infection. There are two types, in the liver and in the intestinal tract.

There are other diseases that can cause white spots on the liver, but they are less common. The meat of a rabbit with coccidiosis is edible, but the liver (and probably the other internal organs) should not be used.

Kwings · #3 05/06/11, 08:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MaggieJ

The white spots on the liver could have been coccidiosis. It can kill a rabbit, especially a young one. Coccidiosis is a protozoal infection. There are two types, in the liver and in the intestinal tract.

There are other diseases that can cause white spots on the liver, but they are less common. The meat of a rabbit with coccidiosis is edible, but the liver (and probably the other internal organs) should not be used.

I tossed all the organs, i was going to feed it to the dogs but i saw it as all spotted and tossed it out, i know what liver i supposed to look like and that wasnt it! lol.

bigfoot2you · #4 05/06/11, 09:15 PM

Good for you!!

I bought 2 meat rabbits, all gung ho to raise them to eat....

.....wellllllllllll I sold them off.........I just cannot dispatch them...

...nope, no way..........sigh...........dang it

Kwings · #5 05/07/11, 02:46 AM

When it was all done the meat around where the head was is brighter/darker then the rest. Is that normal?

shanzone2001 · #6 05/07/11, 03:27 AM

You are my hero...I am still struggling!!

Kwings · #7 05/07/11, 05:48 AM

My crazy dog won't eat the rabbit meat. The puppy took to it instantly but Angel won't touch it, every time i give her a piece she tries to bury it lol. She'll tear into any other raw meat i give her but not her bunnies. Crazy pooch.

Badger · #8 05/07/11, 11:31 AM

When it was all done the meat around where the head was is brighter/darker then the rest. Is that normal?

Sounds like bruising, either from the bop, or the broom sticking. If you set them on the ground and pet their ears back so the ears are lying down then bop they won't bruise as bad. Remember, you're only trying to stun with the bop, not kill. Hang by the hind legs while stunned and remove the head, you'll get alot better bleed out.It gets easier with practice.

Kwings · #9 05/07/11, 01:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Badger

When it was all done the meat around where the head was is brighter/darker then the rest. Is that normal?

Sounds like bruising, either from the bop, or the broom sticking. If you set them on the ground and pet their ears back so the ears are lying down then bop they won't bruise as bad. Remember, you're only trying to stun with the bop, not kill. Hang by the hind legs while stunned and remove the head, you'll get alot better bleed out.It gets easier with practice.

Ah ok! Thanks! This helps a lot.