Killing rabbits

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Killing rabbits
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cab

Joined: 01 Nov 2004
Posts: 32429

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 10:49 am Post subject: Killing rabbits
An overheard conversation last week at the allotment, between two old timers discussing how to kill rabbits. One was of the opinion that necking is quickest, the other was a sound fan of a blow to the head. Both were adamant that their own way was quickest and most humane. Which is best?

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 10:54 am Post subject:
I go for breaking their necks (or used to when I went ferreting). Hitting a struggling animal is a bit unreliable in my experience.

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 11:28 am Post subject:
How do you break the neck, do you pull it, or twist or bend it or all three? Did somebody show you how to or did you work it out for yourself? I think the neck sounds most logical to me for the reason Sean gave but you know I don't have a vast experience

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 11:30 am Post subject:
Hold the back legs in one hand, make a V with the first two fingers of the other hand which goes behind the head. Stretch and turn the head end hand through 90 degrees.

boff

Joined: 23 Mar 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Still alive and kicking

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 11:32 am Post subject:
I'm with Sean on this - necking them takes away the risk of trying to hit a struggler.

Jonnyboy

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

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 11:33 am Post subject:
Never even occured to me to hit one on the head. I saw someone swing one into a tree once but that was because he hadn't been shown how to neck it.

boff

Joined: 23 Mar 2005
Posts: 354
Location: Still alive and kicking

Posted: Mon Jul 25, 05 11:37 am Post subject:

Jonnyboy wrote:

I saw someone swing one into a tree once

Argh!!!

crackapple

Joined: 19 Jun 2005
Posts: 204
Location: teeside

Posted: Thu Jul 28, 05 11:25 am Post subject:
both ways work, but to calm a struggler, rub the implement you are using down its back against the grain of the fur. the bunny should soon calm down ready for the chop.

Lloyd

Joined: 24 Jan 2005
Posts: 2699

Posted: Fri Jul 29, 05 11:33 pm Post subject:
I used to give a sharp chop to the back of the neck whilst holding the hind feet, but then my MIL bought me a priest, and I've used that when needed ever since.

snootycat

Joined: 17 May 2005
Posts: 9

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 05 8:24 am Post subject:
Which ever method is used I hope that anyone who has done this before gets someone who is experienced to show them how to do it properly.

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Jul 30, 05 12:47 pm Post subject:

snootycat wrote:

Which ever method is used I hope that anyone who has done this before gets someone who is experienced to show them how to do it properly.

Good point, I've watched people do it and still would worry the first time I did it but there has to be a first time. It wwas interesting to see the trainees in the abatoir in the recent TV prog taking quite a few goes at finding the correct way to slaughter an animal.

timberdog

Joined: 16 Jun 2005
Posts: 149

Posted: Sun Jul 31, 05 7:36 am Post subject: rabs
use two finger method and ark across your shoulder blades and pull!!

uk-ken

Joined: 19 Jul 2005
Posts: 8
Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire

Posted: Sun Aug 07, 05 8:37 am Post subject: Chinning Rabbits

Hello All

I was shown by an old gamekeeper years ago how to despatch rabbits quickly. The methods described are good but require a certain amount of strength and some technique. Chinning is very easy (not making light of killing an animal) and only reasonable force is required.

Hold the rabbit around its neck from behind with your left hand; put your right hand under the rabbit�s bottom jaw making contact with its neck. With a swift push up and back with the right hand the rabbit is killed with no damage to the meat.

Regards, Ken

Tittch

Joined: 17 Feb 2006
Posts: 1768
Location: Chichester

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 06 5:47 pm Post subject:
There's the tread on the head and pull the hind legs method too which is supposed to be very quick, but personally I prefer my rabbits pre-killed, skinned and gutted. You can't call me a Grundy...

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Sat Feb 18, 06 6:31 pm Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

snootycat wrote:

Which ever method is used I hope that anyone who has done this before gets someone who is experienced to show them how to do it properly.

Good point, I've watched people do it and still would worry the first time I did it but there has to be a first time.

It's good to see this post come back up as I have managed to watch a few people do the deed and then have a go myself. I did the grab the back legs with one hand and the head/neck with the other then pull and push the head back to snap the neck. I'm not completely weedy but it took a fair bit of strength to do.

I also find the rabbits who have had their necks wrung have a fair bit of blood around the neck/front legs area that shot rabbits don't.

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