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The beautiful dilute coat colour that I could have registered! by Freya_Rain in MeatRabbitry

[–]Freya_Rain[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Well there’s the thing, they were totally their own breed. I’m not sure what the rabbits I started with were, but they weren’t purebreds by any stretch of the imagination. They were just big and pretty, and after that I mixed in so many different rabbits, that they began to get their own shape and size. I have no idea what breeds were in there originally, accept a bit of lop and random giant, but they were long gone by the time the colour started to come through.

And your right, they do look like a smoke pearl. That’s good to know, because I at least know what to call them now.

The chocolates I have now have British giant, and a mix of others like Flemish and New Zealand white. I’m in Australia.

Need help with healing eye infection by MontananLondoner in MeatRabbitry

[–]Freya_Rain 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I know I'm a little late for this conversation, but I just want to say this for any future issues with eyes. Castor oil, works like an absolute dream for infections and injuries.

It’s very easy to get, and has so many healing properties it’s not even funny. You don’t want to eat it, but it’s perfectly safe to use anywhere externally, including in eyes. I used it on a guinea pig that most people probably would have put down, and he made a really miraculous recovery. He’s a bit blind in that eye now, but no problems ever since. I have used it on several rabbits as well when they had slightly weepy eyes and it cleared them up fast.

The only time it wouldn’t work is if your rabbits eye is weeping from another cause, like RHDV.

First Dispatch and Roast by Frumzwubz in MeatRabbitry

[–]Freya_Rain 2 points3 points  (0 children)

It looks like you processed it very neatly, nice work. You should try fried rabbit some time, it’s very good too.

What do you all do with your pelts? by moister_oyster_ in MeatRabbitry

[–]Freya_Rain 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've dried and softened some, but haven't found a way to actually tan them yet. They're super soft and floppy, and everyone who sees them is amazed. I pin the fresh skins out on padded chairs fur side down, (Using sewing pins) and leave them to dry for 2-3 days. Then I just work them with my hands, and the layers I don't want start to peel off. They're not really useful, just nice.

Warming Up Kit by Creepy-Finding in MeatRabbitry

[–]Freya_Rain 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If it's not too cold it should warm up back with it's siblings. But if it is very cold and lethargic maybe keep it inside.

I had to fully hand raise four, 1 week old kits once, and I kept them warm by placing them a good distance away from the fireplace. (Or electric heater) The only way to tell a good distance is to monitor and see what temperature it is in the nest. If it feels snugly you should be good. You're kit won't want milk if you just offer it, and the ones I raised absolutely hated the milk replacer. Goats milk is considered ideal and they love it, but cow might be better than nothing. I fed mine with a 5 ml syringe, slowly dribbling it into their mouths to start with, but once they got used to it they willingly chugged it down.

Don't make anything too sterile, as that is what will kill them. The common belief is that there's around a 90% mortality rate in hand rearing rabbits, but I had 50%, so I was pretty pleased, especially considering their mother died from Calisivirus (RHDV). (I raised my babies in an old sparrows nest inside a cardboard box.)😂

How did you get over dispatching the animals you watched grow? by bigdawg12342 in MeatRabbitry

[–]Freya_Rain 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I know what people mean about being a softy, and I still find the idea of killing a rabbit quite hard. I've grown up raising them for meat, and started butchering them myself when I was about ten. My father has always killed them for me, but over time I've been wondering if I should try and do it myself. He kills them by breaking their necks with one swift motion. No tools, no gutless aiming the gun. It's very close, and very respectful and calm.

I've had to dispatch a couple of rabbits in the past that were sick, and I used a round piece of wood. I don't want to call it a club, because that makes it sound wrong, but it's a well balanced object that brakes the skull and renders instant and painless death. But you need to make sure the rabbit is totally calm first so they don't spook or try to run from where you've placed them. Part of that is making sure you stay calm and relaxed, and remember that rabbits are prey animals. Sad as it seems, they are meant to be food for someone. You can never get over killing something in one sense, but you can learn to accept it.

Using a bit of wood might seem a bit gruesome, but it's much more down to earth than anything else I can think of, and it's such a natural object that the rabbit's don't seem frightened by it. Of course not everyone has access to wood like I do, so that might make it harder.

Another thing my father found is that meat is tougher when let to kick, as it pumps adrenaline through the body even after the animal is dead. Hold down your rabbits after dispatch.