Author Topic: Raising rabbits for food (Read 10366 times)

zahc · « **on:** November 07, 2011, 11:11:35 PM »

Since I moved to the city, I never hunt or even fish anymore, and my bloodlust and carnivorous instinct has been left unsatisfied. There are lots of squirrels to poach, but I'm a law abiding man. Does anyone raise rabbits for meat? I used to hunt rabbits so I know they taste good and have several traditional dishes with them. My grandpa on my mother's side used to raise rabbits for meat. I'm just not sure if its worth the investment or not.

AJ Dual · « **Reply #1 on:** November 07, 2011, 11:14:32 PM »

I have nothing to add. And I apologize the very first response is OT.

What I do have to say is it's AMAZING how SPOILED I've been by LCD displays. I'm currently on one of our hand-me-down/salvage PC's my daughters use, that actually has a 17" CRT monitor.

I initially read the thread as "Raising babies for food".

Jim147 · « **Reply #2 on:** November 07, 2011, 11:29:59 PM »

Must be something we're drinking. I thought I read the same thing.

jim

MillCreek · « **Reply #3 on:** November 07, 2011, 11:42:36 PM »

As with so much else, Michael Moore has all the answers. Look up the bunny lady of Flint (Rhonda Britton) and watch 'Pets or Meat', a short sequel to 'Roger and Me'.

RoadKingLarry · « **Reply #4 on:** November 07, 2011, 11:43:46 PM »

Wild rabbit and domestic rabbit are very different table fare. I like wild rabbit but don't much care for domestic. Sort of like the difference between wild venison and beef.
But, rabbits are a very efficient source of protien to raise on a small scale.

charby · « **Reply #5 on:** November 07, 2011, 11:55:44 PM »

I love to eat domesticated rabbit, I use it like chicken in dishes. I wish I could find a local source of Californian rabbits.

roo_ster · « **Reply #6 on:** November 08, 2011, 12:07:04 AM »

Just don't give them to your kids for Easter, make them care for them, and then slaughter and serve them up for dinner. My step-mom still hasn't forgotten that parenting FAIL perpetrated by her dad.

French G. · « **Reply #7 on:** November 08, 2011, 12:19:44 AM »

Well that's pretty F'd up! My 4 year old is still trying to come to grips with death, I can see the wheels turning. She knows beef comes from cows and pre-school has socialized her to know to shoot bucks, and we caught a couple of fish at the hatchery she got to see get cleaned. However, I think she sees death as a temporary thing which on a plane way above her or me it may be, but in the here and now she's conflicted. Wanted to put the fish back, but made me keep them when I started to. Possession outweighs 4 yr old version of compassion for now. I'm trying to take it easy on her and let her figure these things out on her own schedule.

RoadKingLarry · « **Reply #8 on:** November 08, 2011, 02:27:33 AM »

My 4 yo grand daughter knows that pigs are made of bacon and ham.

CNYCacher · « **Reply #9 on:** November 08, 2011, 02:33:36 AM »

Quote from: Jim147 on November 07, 2011, 11:29:59 PM

Must be something we're drinking. I thought I read the same thing.

Me too, and I thought it sounded like a modest proposal.

MrsSmith · « **Reply #10 on:** November 08, 2011, 03:03:43 AM »

A book I recently received from a friend, "The Encyclopedia of Country Living" 10th Edition, by Carla Emery, addresses raising rabbits for food on pgs 831 - 844, everything from acquiring stock to breeding to butchering to recipes and anything you can think of in between.

This is an excellent book for MANY things.

I have to say though, it doesn't address raising babies for food.

roo_ster · « **Reply #11 on:** November 08, 2011, 07:34:56 AM »

Quote from: MrsSmith on November 08, 2011, 03:03:43 AM

A book I recently received from a friend, "The Encyclopedia of Country Living" 10th Edition, by Carla Emery, addresses raising rabbits for food on pgs 831 - 844, everything from acquiring stock to breeding to butchering to recipes and anything you can think of in between.

This is an excellent book for MANY things.

I have to say though, it doesn't address raising babies for food.

It's in the Scottish edition.

RoadKingLarry · « **Reply #12 on:** November 08, 2011, 07:49:08 AM »

Quote from: roo_ster on November 08, 2011, 07:34:56 AM

It's in the ~~Scottish~~ Republican edition.

FTFY

MillCreek · « **Reply #13 on:** November 08, 2011, 08:27:45 AM »

Quote from: roo_ster on November 08, 2011, 07:34:56 AM

It's in the Scottish edition.

Accuracy compels me to point out that Jonathan Swift's Modest Proposal was set in Ireland.

AJ Dual · « **Reply #14 on:** November 08, 2011, 08:37:20 AM »

I remember reading some sort of survival info that if your protein intake consists mainly of wild rabbit, you might still suffer malnutrition of some sort?

Too little fat or something?

Ah. NVM, here it is. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rabbit_starvation

Might not apply to domesticated rabbit, they may have a higher fat content. So if you're stuck in the wild, be sure to eat some cattail roots or whatever for those carbs too.

zahc · « **Reply #15 on:** November 08, 2011, 08:43:04 AM »

What started all this is chickens. Although I live in town, my neighbor has several chickens in their back yard. They don't bother me but my wife wants chickens of her own now after watching the neighbor's chickens. The benefit of chickens is that you might get eggs, but I would have to turn over my whole back yard to the chickens and let them roam. By contrast rabbits can be kept in a cage with a relatively small footprint.

lee n. field · « **Reply #16 on:** November 08, 2011, 08:51:28 AM »

Quote from: AJ Dual on November 07, 2011, 11:14:32 PM

I initially read the thread as "Raising babies for food".

Go see an optometrist.

CNYCacher · « **Reply #17 on:** November 08, 2011, 08:53:57 AM »

Quote from: zahc on November 08, 2011, 08:43:04 AM

What started all this is chickens. Although I live in town, my neighbor has several chickens in their back yard. They don't bother me but my wife wants chickens of her own now after watching the neighbor's chickens. The benefit of chickens is that you might get eggs, but I would have to turn over my whole back yard to the chickens and let them roam. By contrast rabbits can be kept in a cage with a relatively small footprint.

What about making a chicken tractor?

Perd Hapley · « **Reply #18 on:** November 08, 2011, 09:00:44 AM »

Quote from: zahc on November 08, 2011, 08:43:04 AM

What started all this is chickens.

Sig line material.

Tallpine · « **Reply #19 on:** November 08, 2011, 09:39:03 AM »

Quote from: zahc on November 08, 2011, 08:43:04 AM

What started all this is chickens. Although I live in town, my neighbor has several chickens in their back yard. They don't bother me but my wife wants chickens of her own now after watching the neighbor's chickens. The benefit of chickens is that you might get eggs, but I would have to turn over my whole back yard to the chickens and let them roam. By contrast rabbits can be kept in a cage with a relatively small footprint.

The chickens will pretty much tear up your yard. Ours free range during the day on 40 acres and the area out past the coop is scratched down to the dirt. But they have left the lawn in peace. The good side is lots of eggs and no grasshoppers around the house.

As far as small meat animals, how are you going to slaughter them (in town) ?

I'm fine with shooting something but not very good about chopping off heads and bludgeoning, etc :(

The young roosters that we have butchered were very good though, and I don't even care that much for chicken.