Rabbit hunting/eating

[tootles]

Not really quite sure where to post this one.

My dog has taken to catching rabbits. She kills them cleanly and then brings them home (warm and fluffy). The first few I have just left and she has eaten them herself, but this morning she brought home a huge one. It seems a waste to leave them for the dog.....

My concern is that they may be slow (and caught) because they are ill. I can't find a reference to mixamytosis is this neck of the woods, the rabbits all look fine and the dog has eaten a few and not become ill.

This latest offering is currently strung up at the end of the washing line, so what should I do, eat it or not???

If we like and can stomach the whole thing, then I might breed for food, one more step towards self sufficiency!

[greenfingers007]

Hi Tootles,

Having grown up in the sticks of shropshire we used to Rabit hunting for food very often, we used to shoot them, with regards mixamytosis I think they look pretty bad and you would be able to tell if they had it (however I am no expert sorry). with regards to breeding for self suficiancy go on, you have got me dead jealous I would love to do that but OH would put me in the pen and have the rabits inside the house, you could also go into selling lucky rabit feet and ears the possiblilities are endless.

I would certainly be tempted to make a nice pie out of a couple of them.

Enjoy.

[di]

Rabbits my little girls favourite meat!!As we keep chooks she's actually more squeamish about eating chicken!!
If the rabbit your dog caught had mixy I'm sure you'd be able to tell around the eyes,they go all dischargey(sc&word check!!).Apparently the disease is not passed on through eating,but must admit wouldn't fancy eating one myself if I knew it had it!!
I usually stew ours,but you can basically treat as any other meat(our mates barbeque them!).Although if the one you have is on the larger size then it's probably quite old so would benefit from a slow cook.
Take the plunge!!& enjoy!

[tootles]

You know I spent 25Euros on a new pair of slippers yesterday. I think my next ones shall be rabbit fur lined.
Maybe I am getting carried away - perhaps I should skin and gut the thing first....

[Birdie Wife]

You won't get Myxy from eating diseased rabbit, unless you eat the brain, spinal cord or gonads - raw. Hope that puts you at ease!

[kirsty b]

I'm not sure I'd want to eat them cooked!!

My lot love rabbit, we tried HFW's bunny burgers last winter and they went down well with all the kids and a few of their mates who happened to be about.

[di]

I'm not sure I'd want to eat them cooked!!

My lot love rabbit, we tried HFW's bunny burgers last winter and they went down well with all the kids and a few of their mates who happened to be about.

Kirsty I'm sure raw would be worse!!

[tootles]

Well, I have gutted and skinned it and am feeling very pleased with myself.
I have found a method for preserving the skin with salt (any comments?)

God I hope I like rabbit!

[lynda66]

rabbit is lovely, wish my lazy hound would go and catch me rabbit for tea ....... enjoy it

[Birdie Wife]

Well, I have gutted and skinned it and am feeling very pleased with myself.
I have found a method for preserving the skin with salt (any comments?)

God I hope I like rabbit!

You can cure the hide with salt but if you want to tan it to preserve it, you need to carefully scrape the skin to get rid of evert last scrap of fat before salting and then preserve it with (I think) alum. I'll ask my husband, he does a bit of home tanning.

[Hilary B]

Salt alone is not a long-lasting preservation method (but good for keeping a skin useable until you have enough to make a decent batch for curing properly). If you go into rabbit-meat production for your own use, you might want to preserve the skins more thoroughly. I have a link (somewhere) for a company that sells all the necessary ingredients for curing skins from rabbit to deer in size. The cure they sell leads to a washable result (eg washable sheepskin rugs). Let me know if you want the link.

[kirsty b]

Kirsty I'm sure raw would be worse!!

Cor, I reckon. Raw or cooked gonads/brain/spinal cord? Ick! No ta