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Produce => Kept Animals => Topic started by: Hi_Hoe on February 07, 2013, 21:06:02
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Does anyone here keep rabbits for home consumption?
Im edging towards contemplating about thinking about deliberating about the idea of keeping our furry little friends in order to snap their necks and eat them.
Can anyone offer advice as to which breeds make good eaters? Ive googled the subject a few times, and from what i can gather, you can simply eat the everyday domestic bunny?! Can this be right??
Any feedback welcome!! (and i'm aware tis isnt an easy subject to broach!!) :wave:
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If you get them giant bunnies, sorry forgot their name but its not Harvey, they have a decent bit of meat on them I think. Chinchillas as supposed to be good but rabbit eating fanciers reckon there is a difference in taste between domestic and wild bunnies.
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Thanks, Lottie, Lou. :happy7:
I had an educated guess that wild would taste different (and better?) to domestic.
I guess there are lots of factors i should be considering too - such as welfare and diseases etc. I wonder if some bunnies are simply more suited to being 'more edible' than others.
Have googled giant rabbits and the info seems more geared to keeping them as pets more than fodder, tho!
One of my memories as a kid was visitng my grandparents house and the sight of 1 or 2 rabbit strung upside down over a bucket in the front porch welcomed me every now and then, along with the overwhelming aroma of rabbit, leek and potatoe stew which was always bubbling away nicely on the stove! Perhaps the self sufficiency gene has surfaced in me!! :toothy10:
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I have kept and bred Rabbits on and off for over 45 years, both for pleasure and for eating. The breed I would recommend for meat production would be the New Zealand white, they were originally developed specifically for the meat and fur trade. They are large docile animals weighing in at 9-12lbs. Most of them are white with red eyes, though there are a couple of other colours which are fairly uncommon.
To my palate, wild Rabbits have a more "gamey" flavour than their domestic cousins.
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I'm right with you Hi Hoe.
I have collected a whole bunch of pallets to make some hutches ready to start a breeding program. I'll try them first in the garden until I get the hang of it, then move the whole operation down to the allotment... I hope.
We could probably swap notes as we go along....:glasses9:
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I recommend gutting one from elsewhere before putting too much effort into breeding them. I recently shot a wild one in the garden and was actually sick when gutting it, despite keeping the stomach etc. intact. There's a unique smell from rabbit insides that you can taste when eating the meat (possibly worse if you were sick an hour ago whilst getting a waft of it) and I couldn't enjoy it. The kids liked it though!
We're so removed from that part of our food - hopefully you're made of stronger stuff than me!
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Yes..killing living things with bare hands for food is not easy and having to sort the meat from the fur is another turn off.
I've never eaten rabbit that is bred for the 'purpose', just wild ones and luckily for me I get them already buthered from gamekeeper.
I do enjoy the flavour but I do have to switch my brain off from thinking what I'm eating or I struggle to swallow the food....poor bunnies.
Ollie's recommendation for trial butchering does make sence..one may end up having garden full of pet rabbits :icon_cheers:
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poor bunnies[/quote
We had a pet one once and I really wished I had eaten it. Fox got it, though not soon enough for my liking. It was a fearsome creature. It growled, spat, kicked and nibbled cables. It sat in its cage and thumped endlessly. It was the summer without vegetables. :BangHead: Give me a rabbit stew any day.
I think that wild ones taste better but a farmed one still makes a very good stew.
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Well we're no strangers to eating wild meat here at home.
Rabbit, pheasant, chicken and sometimes partridge are all eaten with pleasure now the family is used to the idea. Even our four-year-old grandson understands the difference between a pet and food as he's watched them being plucked and/or skinned for the pot.
OllieC... :-) The secret, or not-so-secret, is to gut and prepare them them the day before eating if at all possible. It works for me anyway. Then 'that' scent is no more than a memory and not such a strong reminder that we have to kill in order to eat meat.
No-one likes to kill things, mostly, but if we are to eat meat then we should have the wherewithal to do it ourselves imo.
Incredible isn't it? We are only one or two generations away from everybody having to bring home freshly-killed meat to eat, and yet we perform like its something we haven't done since the stone-age. Just thirty years or so ago and the butchers' window would be full of hanging meat complete with feathers or fur that you had to pay extra for the butcher to prepare for you.
Saturdays used to be full of the smell of the backyard burning of feathers and stuff.
Back to rabbits though. I think the biggest problem I'll have is where to source the right breed, although it is possible to use any breed I know. The NZ Whites sound perfect.
I'll get on with making a batch of hutches/cages when the weather picks up a bit. Then see what's available. :-)
How about you Hi Hoe? Still up for it?
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Thanks for your comments guys! :happy7:
TBH I half expected a bit of flak from the animal lovers amongst us! :tongue3:
Been pondering the subject all day whilst at work, and I see more reasons TO keep rabbits than to NOT!!
I mean, their waste (parcels/ straw etc) = great fertiliser,
and their meat = fnatastic tasting, free(ish), fresh and satisfying!
Not to mention keeping a select few for the kids to play with/ terrorise!!
:toothy10:
NigelB, yeah cool! Seems like you're ahead of me though - I havent got anything in place just, so I guess Ill have to get cracking!!
Been googling the NZ whites and I think they'll fit the bill nicely. They seem like a nice looking bunny, and apparently they're pretty docile - should make the job of despatching them less ...errm...I was going to say less difficult , but...... well, its never going to be easy i s'pose! :dontknow:
Thanks once again guys-
Hutch building will soon commence!! :icon_cheers:
x
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Why bother with all the hutches, feed, straw and work involved in keeping and breeding them. Open any local paper and you will see an ad titled 'Rabbit free to good home'. These have usually outgrown their hutch or the kids have got fed up with looking after them. Tender and fat through lack of exercise, perfect for the pot. Take a nipper along with you to convince the donor that you want a pet. Get it for nothing and usually a hutch for stoking the boiler. As for paunching them, slit them from @rsole to breakfast time and one big shake straight after killing it. It all drops out apart from the lights.
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Why bother with all the hutches, feed, straw and work involved in keeping and breeding them. Open any local paper and you will see an ad titled 'Rabbit free to good home'. These have usually outgrown their hutch or the kids have got fed up with looking after them. Tender and fat through lack of exercise, perfect for the pot. Take a nipper along with you to convince the donor that you want a pet. Get it for nothing and usually a hutch for stoking the boiler. As for paunching them, slit them from @rsole to breakfast time and one big shake straight after killing it. It all drops out apart from the lights.
You're all heart ACE!
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You do have a way with words, ace!! :toothy10:
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NZ whites..... so that was what our Lady Di and Prince Charles were (kids named them). They grew enormous. Watch the neighbours though, ours build his path right next to our rabbit hutch and then complained very loudly from behind the fence about the smell.
NigelB: hope you hare not on our plots
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@ mikeakabigman, what age/ weight would you despatch 'em? Im thinking 12 wks onwards??! perhaps im way off???!!
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Crackin Hearty Meal with strong Flavours,for when your starvin !!!
Raid the hutch and get bizzy !!!!!!!!! :tongue3:
Ingredients
1lb Boned Rabbit
2 cloves Garlic sliced thinly
10 slices of Pancetta
1 1/2 lb of Tomatoes,peeled ,seeded and roughly chopped
3 tbsp of Basil chopped
Ground salt and pepper
2 tbsp olive oil
Vegetables for Roasting
HARD VEGGIES
Small Potatoes
Butternut squash
Parsnips
SOFT VEGGIES
Banana Shallots
Red Onions
Fennel Bulb
6 whole Garlic bulbs
Fresh Thyme
Fresh Rosemary
Balsamic Vinegar
Olive Oil
salt & Pepper
Preheat Oven to 200 degrees
Prep Roasted Vegetables to a uniform size so they roast evenly.
Then Prep Tomatoes,and cook on a medium heat for 10 mins, stir in chopped Basil and season with salt and pepper.
Place Tomatoes in base of Ceramic Dish.
Meantime,prep Rabbit pieces...............
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t22/skatenchips/RabbitwithRoastedveggies003.jpg)
Lay 2 slices of Pancetta on board,then position rabbit in the middle,place 2 thin slices of Garlic and wrap together....Thyme strands can be added whole or leaves added loose.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t22/skatenchips/RabbitwithRoastedveggies004.jpg)
Tuck loose ends under Rabbit.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t22/skatenchips/RabbitwithRoastedveggies006.jpg)
Place Wrapped Rabbit onto Tomatos in dish.
Put into oven top for 30 mins open topped
Place tray of HARD vegetables into middle of oven sprinkle Herbs and olive oil and balsamic vinegar for 30 mins...season toward end of cooking.
after 10 minutes..............
Place tray of SOFT vegetables in bottom of oven sprinkle with herbs and oil and balsamic vinegar for remaining 20 mins.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t22/skatenchips/RabbitwithRoastedveggies001.jpg)
Vegetables should be Roasted Equally but cook to your liking.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t22/skatenchips/RabbitwithRoastedveggies007.jpg)
Pancetta wrapped Rabbit ready to serve.
(http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t22/skatenchips/RabbitwithRoastedveggies010.jpg)
Serve with steamed vegetables and enjoy a thoroughly Rustic and really tasty Roasted Combination.
Enjoy
Gazza
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Have I proposed marriage to you yet Gazza? :tongue3:
Lottie Lou NigelB: hope you hare not on our plots
Sorry. What?
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Anne Williams has done a series of books on backyard farming. I am sure there is one on rabbits. Might be out of print now. But worth a search.
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Wow Gazza that does look good. I can almost smell it.
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My vote for best post ever goes to Gazza!!!!
Looks chuffin' delicious!!
*tounge lops to one side and drools* :laughing7:
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I love to eat rabbit and game e but nobody else in our house seems to so I only really get to it it on the menu in a restaurant
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I've just had my dinner Gazza and now you have gone and made me hungry again. :drunken_smilie:
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Whoops, I think NZ Whites used to be called albinos but don't think it is pc any more.
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@ mikeakabigman, what age/ weight would you despatch 'em? Im thinking 12 wks onwards??! perhaps im way off???!!
Yep, I would despatch them at 10-12 weeks, they are usually at a decent weight by then, and nice and tender, after 12 weeks they start to toughen and then you are limited to stewing or longer slow cooking methods.
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Thanks mikeakabigman :glasses9:
So, thanks to the hi-vis brigade and their ungodly mortal fear of asbestos (long story), today i found myself at a loose end.
Needless to say, my back garden is now playing host to a half finished duo of rabbit hutches sat atop an 2.4m x 0.6m run, which will be completed tomorrow (assuming those blithering HSE idiots are still sniffing around my jobsite and work cannot commence). :icon_cheers:
I also have plans to go to our nearest fur & feather auction this saturday and with any luck, calfornian and NZ white will be on offer. Im thinking of a trio to start with - 2 does and a buck, and let nature take its course.
Thanks for everyones advice in this subject - im now one happy ...er...bunny!!! :tongue3: :toothy10:
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:sunny:
So, last weeks fur&feather market provided me with a lovely, nice sized continental (or flemish - cant be sure) giant doe for a meagre 7 quid - very happy :happy7:, and today im now the proud owner of a stud NZ White buck, and a nice tempered NZ doe.
All hutches are set up, bales of hay/ straw and bags of feed at the ready, tonnes of info absorbed and hey presto - a working rabbitry!! :toothy10: :toothy10: :toothy10:
Will be putting the giant in with the stud in the next fortnight or so, after they've all settled and adjusted to new home etc. All being well, there'll be rabbit meat on the menu in time for barbecue season!! :icon_cheers: :tongue3:
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Best of luck, I'm looking forward to reading about your progress with this project. Once I've got my new lotty plot under control, I may start up with Rabbits again, at the moment I'm working to control the wild ones LOL
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By 'eck Hi_Hoe, you don't mess about....
I'm only partly through the construction of somewhere to put the rabbit cages down on the plot.
After much thought, I have decided to build an extension to the teepee (:-D) to accommodate them, and at the same time relocate the small loose-brick built wood-burning fire from outside to inside where it can help to prevent their water from freezing etc.
Due to my illness I won't always be able to make it to the allotment, so I have to put some thought into a system that won't be bothered by short absences of a day or so.
Its coming though. Slowly. :icon_cheers)
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By 'eck Hi_Hoe, you don't mess about....
Thanks!!!
Im a very pragmatic person, and we only live once so my outlook is pretty much f**k it, lets crack on today and tommorow will sort itself out!!! :toothy10:
Anyways, my two does seem to be getting used to me and theryre really endearing, but the stud is a right bastard!! Perhaps he'll get used to being handled over time?! :dontknow:
Ive been reading t'interweb site and watching utube vids on rabbit culling/ butchering whioch has given me plenty of ideas, and im very much ready mentally for the task. After all, at least my bunnies will have a decent life before getting slaughtered as opposed to the conditions most of our shop bought meat will have had, which kinda makes me feel ok with it. Im not saying the first time at bunny-murder will be a breeze obviously, but I intend to treat each animal with the utmost respect it will deserve, both in life and after.
Ill keep u all posted as and when!!
x
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For anyone thinking of keeping rabbits for the pot (or even of dealing with wild rabbits), I can highly recommend the training courses run by Alison Wilson http://www.bigwhiterabbits.co.uk/about-me/ (http://www.bigwhiterabbits.co.uk/about-me/)
She's based in Hampshire, but also runs courses in Preston from time to time.
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update - Lost the stud buck on friday night. My friend found him keeled over in the bottom of the hutch saturday morning, with the giant doe running around him?? :BangHead: We do hope that the ol' chap had it away with her before clopping his pogs....
Me thinks a slight tweek on the hutch is in order - stop the doe re-entering!! You live and learn.... :tongue3:
Anyways, my friend kindly offered to pick up a replacement at the fur&feather which she did - a lovely NZ young buck, and a doe which is "potentially in kindle" - we'll wait to see!....
So thanks to her, the rabbitry is still functioning and perhaps there'll be bunny-murder sooner than i'd anticipated :toothy10:
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update :sunny:
Not really convinced that my 'in kindle' doe i preggo at all :dontknow: and she's not exhibiting any of the signs i should be looking for.
oh well!!
So this morning i put the giant in with the young buck and he seemed more than eager to meet her, wink wink!! Im leaving her in with him for a couple of days to really make sure nature has taken its course, and touch wood, we'll have nice a cross bred litter soon enough- mmm- perfect for the pot!! :toothy10: :toothy10:
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Last road kill we had was venison butchered on the kitchen floor... daughter found it dead beside the road over the tops in N.Yorks. Nice to know that not all of life's little skills go to waste :tongue3:
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I was once camping in Glencoe when someone ran over a sheep. I feasted for days!
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Waste not want not.. Still have last joint of said venison in freezer waiting for company... :toothy10: Mind you I'm afraid the skin went to the tip. I'd had enough DIY by the time we'd finished :drunken_smilie:
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*update*
Kits born tuesday night!! :icon_cheers: :blob7: :blob7:
Cant tell how many yet as i dont want to disturb the nest but RESULT!! Food is born!!
Yay for me.......
:icon_cheers:
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*update*
Ok, so today if find theyre all dead, no matter tho.......
:BangHead: :BangHead:
Lessons learnt,
*dusts off, shakes down, carries on!*
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Yay... :icon_cheers:
New bunnies born and seem to be doing well! :happy7:
I count that as a success!
I'll let you all know how they taste!! :toothy10:
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Well done Hi_Hoe.
I'm still at the 'building an extension to the tent' stage just now.
See, I had an idea. :drunken_smilie: My ideas take forever to come to fruition.
Its turning heads down the lotty already though. Should look good, and be in rabbit production, before the end of the year. I hope.
Good luck with them. I'm sure they'll taste fantastic!
:glasses9:
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Thanks Nigel! Hope your extension comes on well! I have to report, though, that my litter of kits has declined. Theres one left out of seven - it appears the mother had trampled four of them, and my guess is that the other two have succumbed to the cold, so not the great result i'd hoped for. Lessons are being learnt, hto! :toothy10: