hanging rabbits

Latest Articles

hanging rabbits
Page 1, 2, 3 Next

Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot

Author

Message

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 1:25 pm Post subject: hanging rabbits
just been given a paunched rabbit and two pigeons. How long should I hang them for? I seem to remembe my parents used to hang rabbits for around 5 days...but pigeons I have no idea about. cheers James

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 1:26 pm Post subject:
I don't hang rabbits at all. Or pigeons for that matter unless they look very old.

gil
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 08 Jun 2005
Posts: 18416

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 1:29 pm Post subject:
I wouldn't hang the rabbit either. Fresher the better. Pigeon - dunno. 24hrs springs to mind, though that tends to be how long it takes me to decide I can't be bothered plucking them whole.

Blue Sky

Joined: 30 Jan 2005
Posts: 7658
Location: France

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 1:30 pm Post subject:
Over night at most here and sometimes not even at all. We breed them for meat. It may be different with wild ones. Pricey will know.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 1:38 pm Post subject:
I dont hang either.

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 1:43 pm Post subject:
hmm sounds like a concensus. I'll skin & freeze em tonight then do the pigeons not bennifit from a quick hang to loosen the feathers?

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 1:46 pm Post subject:
Pigeon is probably easier to pluck than any other bird - the feathers really come out easily. Still not sure if it is worth the effort of plucking the whole bird though unless you really want stock.

James

Joined: 11 Jan 2006
Posts: 2866
Location: York

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 2:16 pm Post subject:

judith wrote:

Pigeon is probably easier to pluck than any other bird - the feathers really come out easily. Still not sure if it is worth the effort of plucking the whole bird though unless you really want stock.

Could you explain what you mean judith?
do you mean plucking just the breast if I'm going to fillet out the breast meat? (I presume thats were most of the meat is?)

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 2:21 pm Post subject:

If you just pluck out the breast then you can take out the breast meat quite easily, although some recipes benefit from having the whole bird. If I'm stewing pigeons then I like the whole bird. Otherwise, I just gut it for the liver and take the breasts off.

Pigeons get a bit gamier after a few days hanging. Doesn't seem to do them any harm. But be careful - feel the throat and crop end, if its stuffed full of food then deal with it fresh.

As for bunnies, they do get a bit gamier hung, but theres not a lot of advantage to it. Hanging for a few days if you've got a lot to do doesn't seem to do any harm.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 2:25 pm Post subject:

James wrote:

do you mean plucking just the breast if I'm going to fillet out the breast meat? (I presume thats were most of the meat is?)

Yep exactly. It shouldn't take more than a couple of minutes to do.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 3:50 pm Post subject:
Rabbits aren't game as such and should be either eaten quickly or frozen. Get the guts out of your rabbits ASAP or the meat maybe tainted. When we catch rabbits we kill them and then use a little pressure on the belly inorder to empty their bladder.

pricey

Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Posts: 6444

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 4:26 pm Post subject:
They are normally in my belly or in the freezer within 24 hours, don't hang Rabbit, as Bodger said they Ain't strictly game. When I shoot the pigions, straight away i cut the skin at the neck, go down the Breast exposing the meat and take of the 2 Breasts, reast for the bin, I have enough stock from other meats.

Jonnyboy

Joined: 29 Oct 2004
Posts: 23956
Location: under some rain.

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 7:10 pm Post subject:
What pricey said, you don't even have to pluck the breasts.

Bodger

Joined: 23 May 2006
Posts: 13524

Posted: Tue May 29, 07 9:34 pm Post subject:
All birds pluck easiest when still warm. I'm thinking it but daren't say it !

cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Wed May 30, 07 8:00 am Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

What pricey said, you don't even have to pluck the breasts.

Do you not end up with bits of feather all over the meat if you don't? Although that would wash off...

	Downsizer Forum Index -> Shooting and Trapping for the Pot	All times are GMT Page 1, 2, 3 Next
Page 1 of 3

View Latest Posts