Transcript:
Raising Backyard Meat Rabbits – Butchering Process Transcript
Resources:
Soldier Fly bin of your own: See my article here: http://bloomwhereyourplanted.com/black-soldier-flies-the-most-sustainable-addition-to-my-homestead/
Step by step butchering process
After dispatching rabbit:
-Hang rabbit by back legs with a taut line hitch
-pinch back of head and ears & cut side of throat to allow to bleed out
-pinch hide around ankles and make shallow cuts around each leg
-Pull down hide, cutting as needed, off each leg
-Cut hide in front of legs(groin section)
-Pull tail to back & cut off tail
-Move down & cut off head
-Pull down pelt-cut any connective tissue needed
-Pull down hard on pelt until it reaches the end of legs
-Cut off legs with pruners
-Make a cut at top of body of rabbit at groin
-Spread fingers to hold skin away from gut, cut down muscle spreading fingers, so intestines are not cut.
-Come up to top & pinch & cut off bladder sack
-Pinch end of intestines & pull down
-Remove kidneys (save for dog)
-Let intestines fall down & out into bucket below
-Remove liver & examine for health (save for cooking or for dog)
-Remove bile sac from liver
-Puncture diaphragm & remove
-Cut down through rib cage w/scissors
-Remove lungs & heart (save for cooking or for dog food)
-Come up & crack pelvis open
-Cut pelvis open with shears
-Cut on either side of rectum with knife & remove end of intestines
-Final rinse off of meat
-Cut off legs below rope
-Put in ice chest full of ice cold water (you might need 2 ice chests depending on how many rabbits you are harvesting, plan ahead)
-Let meat rest at least 8 hrs or overnight adding ice as needed
– Congratulations! You did it! You learned/showed your family where the meat on your plate comes from. Give yourself a huge pat on the back and a high five with whoever helped you with the harvesting process!
Homework:
1. Mark date of 1st harvest on calendar-(8-12 wks old or 5 lb weight) and reach out to your homesteading community/family for help or support on that 1st harvest date.
2. Locate or build a good place to hang the rabbit for the harvesting process.
3. Practice knots/set up taut line hitch for hanging up rabbit when the time comes.
Notes: