| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Love-in-a-Mist |
Posted - Jun 16 2007 : 3:09:35 PM
I have been dreading this day since last Fall when we decided to raise rabbits. Everytime anyone brought it up, I just blocked it out. My husband told me "You will help." I would ignore him and get attached to each and every baby. But today, I had to suck it up and grab a knife. Today was rabbit butcher day.
I didn't watch the actual act or the head removal, but I had to skin them and remove the guts.
All I can say is rabbit butcher day, is definitly not my favorite day on the farm. But I made it through and we have a freezer full of meat to show for it.
http://love-in-a-mist-shannon.blogspot.com/ |
| 14 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Mag |
Posted - Jun 19 2007 : 5:33:42 PM
Alee~I really like your signature line...it's amazing the things mothers can do 1 handed, isn't it. By the way you would like rabbit. I don't eat meat any longer but when I did, rabbit was one of the best tasting and most tender meats I have ever eaten. We used to crockpot it and it would fall off the bone! My 1st husband was an outdoorsman so he would hunt rabbit in season. Sometimes we would roast it in the oven and he would take the front legs and kind of fold them over like a chicken wing. Well, we had some friends over for supper and the wife really liked those "rabbit wings"~hehe
cheers,
mag
But I would have a hard time butchering them, way to sentamental! Hubby does all the culling that needs done and I think he could butcher if he knew how.
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| Alee |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 8:13:26 PM
You ladies are really making me want to try rabbit!
Alee
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| MariaAZ |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 2:33:37 PM
When we raised show rabbits (Mini Rex), an couple of acquaintances butchered our culls in return for a few carcasses and all the pelts. Although I didn't do the actual slaughtering, I did everything else after they taught me how to butcher.
Then one day one of our home-grown bucks decided to turn mean. That day I slaughtered my first (and so far only) bunny and we had a pretty darned good dinner.
I'd like to raise rabbits again for meat, and also a few chickens. If I could find someone slaughter & butcher for $2 each I'd consider it money well spent. But I am not thinking of raising a whole lot of meat; if there were more than a dozen or so to process, I'd seriously consider doing it myself.
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 2:07:34 PM
I think it's now time for either a stiff drink or your favorite ice cream sundae, whichever is your favorite "reward"! You earned it this week!
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| Alee |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 11:31:14 AM
Wow! I am really impressed with you! I am in one way really looking forward to having a farm where I can raise my own meat, but I know butcher day (week) will be really hard work. I know the taste and peace of mind will be worth it though!
Alee
The amazing one handed typist! One hand for tying, one hand to hold Nora! |
| UrbanChick |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 10:08:58 AM
All of you guys are doing better then me. Ever since we got chickens for eggs we haven't really had chicken for dinner. My husband can't seem to get the image of our girls out of his head when I have a roasted chicken or chicken breast on his plate. So we've been doing meat, fish and pork. HA! Hate to find out what I'll end up cooking when we finnaly get a farm of our own and raise our own meat.
"Courage dosen't always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying: I will try again tomorrow." |
| EmmJay |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 09:58:35 AM
Mag, we raise and butcher chickens, turkeys, and cow here. I forced myself to help and this will be the third time. Each year, I will go a little further than the previous year.
The first year, we had alot of missing pieces, but every year gets better, and now we sell to friends. Our friends can't believe the difference, and it gives us ours for free. I picture my freezer and it helps at butchering time.
MJ
"Thank GOD I'm a country girl"
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| Tracey |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 09:54:32 AM
You're a stronger woman than I, that's for sure! Thankfully, City Boy is citified enough not to want to butcher our own. I don't think I could do it; certainly not bunnies. Our local butchers don't do chicken, so we aren't raising those for meat. We've got the Screamer to deal with later this summer, and I'm not wanting to face that, even though we won't do it ourselves. Pigs are just too personable! It'd be like butchering one of the dogs 
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| Love-in-a-Mist |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 08:31:31 AM
We've actually butchered our own turkey's, chicken's and lamb's. The lambs we butchered last summer I didn't eat until this winter, lol. They were hard because I bottle fed them. Friends helped my DH butcher those, though. But, rabbits have been the worst so far, they are SO CUTE!
Our chickens we've eaten have always been past their prime, so they weren't the best tasting. But I'm sure if you did eat them young they would be worth it. Also if you let them be "free range" or build one of those moving chicken houses, you could cut down on feed and it would really be worth it. We learned how to butcher from trial and error and books. There are lot's of good books with pictures out there.
The best money saving, "safe" meat that we do is elk and deer. We process them in our own kitchen. Using my kitchen aid mixer, we make hamburger and sausage. One elk will last us close to a year. At first the gamey taste was not my favorite, but now I can barely stomach hamburger from the store. It is sooo greasy and stinks!
Just so you know I tried some rabbit last night and it tasted like the best tasting chicken I have ever had. I will try your recipe, Kristine, it sounds really good.
http://love-in-a-mist-shannon.blogspot.com/ |
| Horseyrider |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 08:17:45 AM
I really despise most supermarket chicken for that very reason. It tastes HORRIBLE. I found a real old time butchershop about an hour from home, and I place orders there for beef, pork, and chicken in bundles. It's more economical for us than sides or quarters, and we don't raise our own chickens anymore. *sniff*
But when we did, I had the same feelings as you. I'd bought fifty Rhode Island Reds and Barred Rocks, and knew I couldn't have that many pet layers. I had to butcher. The first two I did, I sobbed and cried and prayed that God would take their souls quickly out of my clumsy hands. It was awful. But as time got on and I got better at it, it wasn't so bad. It was sure time consuming though.
I still prayed over each and every little hen. I think the Indians had it right; you give thanks because that animal has given it's life for your nourishment, and that's something to be handled with humility and an respect.
I did end up taking them to a service eventually, especially if there were more than a few that needed to be processed. As I killed them, blanched them, plucked them and eviscerated them, I could tell you it wouldn't have been worth taking $2 to do it. It was hot, smelly work. |
| Mag |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 06:19:37 AM
Shannon~
Is this your 1st time at butchering on your place? We have recently bought broiler hens and are taking them to a farmer that butchers them out for $2 per bird but I would like to do this ourselves. The problem is my hubby thinks he would botch it so bad that we would end up with chicken nuggets~hehe
I know rabbits are totally different than chickens but was wondering if anyone does butcher their own chickens and if it is worth the money saved.
The thought that you are giving your family safe meat on the table is worth any price! I read an article in our paper that said the AHA puts it's stamp of approval on chicken that has been injected with salt water to make is appear more plump. This increases the sodium in the chicken from 75mg naturally to 360mg! That is quite a jump. I know people eat chicken thinking that it is better for you than beef but not with that much sodium! Amazing!
Be brave Shannon! Just think next butchering day is a whole year away!
cheers,
mag |
| windypines |
Posted - Jun 17 2007 : 03:53:10 AM
I always find that day hard too. I do not watch that butchering,(chickens, and beef) the boys do that. But have to work at cleaning and cutting up. I can handle that, just try not to think about it. But when the job is done, the meat is so well worth it. Knowing they were raised with love, and not feed anything to make them grow faster, is peace of mind. Michele |
| Ca-Reds |
Posted - Jun 16 2007 : 11:37:27 PM
Shannon,
Great Job! My Husband and I resently bought Sheep for the same thing, safe meat. Butcher day is far off, but i don't know how well I'll fare on the day... I'll let you know. Kristy |
| herbquilter |
Posted - Jun 16 2007 : 5:16:46 PM
Shannon,
Congradulations. I know it's hard & personally never been able to chop off the heads, but how awesome it is to have your own "SAFE" meat in the freezer or on the table.
My mom used to bake the rabbit in a oblong pan with a mixture of apricot jam & onion soup mix. It was delicious. I would add a little mustard. So yummy!
Blessings,
Kristine ~ Mother of Many & Herbalist
www.herbalmomma.com
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