HandledWithCare
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- Feb 9, 2012
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Yesterday I butchered my first rabbits. My father was helping us with some construction on the barn and I asked if he would demonstrate for me. We had two New Zealands--half red and half white--that were exactly three months old. We used the "stick" method--held their back feet and struck their neck just behind the head with a strong stick. They died instantly and bled out very quickly. We then case skinned them and managed--even though they were young--to not damage the hides at all. I'm planning to tan them when I have more so they were soaked, rinsed and frozen.
We saved the livers--very clean and BIG--and the meat. Cleaning rabbits is about 300 times easier, cleaner and less smelly than chickens. I put the meat in a big bowl of water until I got them to the kitchen, then we froze them in ziploc bags. I haven't had rabbit in 15 years! It was an experience butchering our first "born on our farm" young rabbits. I think I'll be able to do it on my own from now on. I didn't get AS emotional as I expected. I keep telling myself that I'm taking care of my family and my homestead, and I'm not a bunny-killing monster. Sometimes all the stuff the "anti-meat" people say makes me feel guilty or second-guess the farm lifestyle I'm trying to get to.
Anyway it was faster, easier and cleaner than I expected. Yay!
HWC
We saved the livers--very clean and BIG--and the meat. Cleaning rabbits is about 300 times easier, cleaner and less smelly than chickens. I put the meat in a big bowl of water until I got them to the kitchen, then we froze them in ziploc bags. I haven't had rabbit in 15 years! It was an experience butchering our first "born on our farm" young rabbits. I think I'll be able to do it on my own from now on. I didn't get AS emotional as I expected. I keep telling myself that I'm taking care of my family and my homestead, and I'm not a bunny-killing monster. Sometimes all the stuff the "anti-meat" people say makes me feel guilty or second-guess the farm lifestyle I'm trying to get to.
Anyway it was faster, easier and cleaner than I expected. Yay!
HWC