Butchered my first NZ's today, not so good experience

[daniel-delarosa]

They were a little older than normal since they were thought to be does for the longest time. They dressed out at 2.5 pounds a piece. I did the broom stick across the neck on the ground dispatch method. I wont do that again! Got down to the last one and he started freaking out, Im guessing from all the blood from the others. Anyways, he was thrashing, I was affraid, and he ended up breaking his legs in my hand and started screaming! I quickly grabbed him by the neck and snapped it chicken style. I felt horrible! Definitely gonna get a pellet gun for the next go around!

 

[carolinagirl]

shooting a rabbit can be pretty dangerous. I think I'd use the neck board method. It's pretty fool-proof. It's basically a board with a notch cut in it large enough to slide the rabbit's neck in. Fix the board to the top of a fence post so the board is horizontal. Then just slip the rabbit's neck into the board and sharply pull down on his body, which dislocates his neck instantly. It's very humane and really easy.

 

[Snowfie]

I'm so sorry to hear you had such a traumatic experience. I've heard some good things about the rabbit winger, or the kill board mentioned earlier. Broom sticking definitely requires more technique. It is not foolproof.

 

[DKRabbitry]

My husband uses the broomstick method. It works really well for him. Not me though. I can not do the hand-on, rely on my strength type ways to kill them. I use the tried and true .22
Yes, there are risks to using a firearm, but I am much more comfortable doing it that way and knowing one shot to the head and the rabbit will be dead right then. I tried the broomstick once, and thankfully had the .22 there as backup. I didn't pull up with enough force and ended up just crushing the poor rabbit's throat.

 

[Citylife]

I use the wringer and it gets the job done just fine. But, I do have a bad back and once its tired I dont always have enough umpf for the pull......
so you do learn your limitations with any method. Dispatching one with a gun can most definately be dangerous.
I am also, sorry you had to experiance that. I had one last week break her foot freaking out over the nest box being near her cage. Had never had
one act like that before. Freak things can take their toll on us.
Keep on going ..... your rabbits still have a better life then most of the food animals out there.

The lady with 2 rescued cockers, a rescued rotty, german shepherd, fostering an american bulldog, 5 city chickens (who hang out with the dogs) 6 meat rabbits, their kits and a snake

 

[hoodat]

My husband uses the broomstick method. It works really well for him. Not me though. I can not do the hand-on, rely on my strength type ways to kill them. I use the tried and true .22
Yes, there are risks to using a firearm, but I am much more comfortable doing it that way and knowing one shot to the head and the rabbit will be dead right then. I tried the broomstick once, and thankfully had the .22 there as backup. I didn't pull up with enough force and ended up just crushing the poor rabbit's throat.

It's a lot safer to use a pellet gun. Seldom, if ever, will a pellet go all the way through. I used to use the CO2 pistol type but they are a PITA. Unless you are killing several rabbits at once you don't use the entire cartridge and they are not supposed to be stored charged. It ruins the seals. CO2 is not cheap either. The only advantage is that you have another shot immediately available if you don't get a clean kill. I use the pump up rifle now. You just have to be careful to place your shot right. Have a bonker like a length of pipe or rebar within reach in case something goes wrong with the shot.

 

[lexibot]

Grab them by the back feet and hang them upside-down while supporting their back, when they settle down, I use a 18 in long 1 by 4 piece of wood wack em on the back on the head and when the eyes roll back while the body is "stroking", cut it's head off, then drain the blood. I havent had an issue.

 

[mama24]

I clubbed mine the last time after seeing a YouTube video someone posted. Whack them right behind the ears and they are dead and bleed out through the nose just from the whack.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I always use a .22... never had an issue.

 

[sawfish99]

I use a rabbit wringer. While I have a lot of other options, for me, the value in having a dedicated, ready to use processing area is worth it. I also bought the hanger for dressing the rabbits.

I was surprised that they were bigger than normal and dressed at 2.5 lbs. What do you normally target for a dressed weight?