I grew up on our farm (in Ohio) in the 60's. We "bagged" our rabbits using old bread sacks. (My dad would buy "day old" bread (less than 10 cents a loaf) and use the old bread to feed the chickens, pigs and others.) My brother and I would butcher, er ...ah... "process" the rabbits and could do one in less than 60 seconds.. Yeah, we had lots of practice growing up. Love you guys and your stories! All the best! Blessings!
My father raised rabbits (New Zealand and California Whites) during WWII, for the retail meat sellers. Rabbit pellets were not rationed, so he could do forty or fifty animals a week. He always put the fresh carcasses in ice water overnight as their "resting" period. He said, and my own experience verifies, that that method gives an additional eighth pound per carcass, and results in noticeably more tender flesh. I've seen him take thirty-five rabbits from live to ice water in forty minutes without letting any animal see another being slaughtered. He used a lead pipe to the base of the skull. I learned later to do the drop-and-neck-separation method, which completely eliminates bruising and sucks all of the blood into the elongated neck skin. No bleeding until one pierces just under the jaw, which allows the blood to be collected for dog and cat food. Really appreciate your fine videos, as I am longing to get back on the land!!
We used these bags for our first-ever chicken processing last summer, and loved how well they sealed! Going out for our first rabbit processing today. Thanks for all your videos! Those gloves look awesome! It was tough not burning myself shrink-wrapping the chickens, so I'm going to get a pair of gloves before next time we do a bunch.
Hey. Wanted to thank you for all your vidoes on rabbits. Started building the cages last January, got rabbits in spring and I'm filling the freezer now. Thanks again.
I use Food Saver to vacuum seal everything. The cost per bag is almost double for the size you use (Food Saver gallon bags are 11x16 and @.75 cents per bag if you buy the premade bags). For what I seal to store, which is less than 25% for the freezer, it's still my best option overall. As always a great video. God Bless you and your homestead.
FYI, a step that would make that faster and easier for you, there's a zip tie tightener/cutter that does both steps in one squeeze. There are lots to choose from.
Love! I was wondering about these magic bags so I'm glad I saw this video! And REALLY appreciate the tip about single layer freezing...never heard of that or even thought of that but it makes perfect sense! Thanks you guys!! Much love!
Perfect, i need those too, having chickens and rabbits myself, and used so far rather suboptimal solutions to bag them. I hope i can get them, or similar ones, in Germany, where everyone uses a vacuum sealer for everything. Which makes expensive technology necessary, while your method is significantly more pleasant and certainly cheaper ^^.
Great info. I was wondering where to get these bags, Thanks for sharing. NOTE EVERYONE: Keep hitting the like button, and share, share, share these videos. Help me keep getting these videos out there. It helps others to learn, and it helps Kevin and Sarah.
Hi, I had watched all your videos and enjoy all of them, I learn so much thank you for explaining in such detail that anyone can do if they want too.:)
Great video guys. Never used shrink wrap before. I have always used freezer paper. This looks a lot easier than the way I do it. Going to try this way next and see if I like it.
I've used freezer paper a lot, and still use it for other things...venison roasts, animal fat, turkey legs and thighs...but the shrink bags are so fabulous for whole chickens and whole rabbits. It is so cumbersome to wrap whole chickens in freezer papers, UGG!
How do you keep the back legs from poking through the bag during the shrinking? About 25 % of mine poke through the bag and I use freezer tape to cover them .
What size stock pot do you use for shrink wrapping? Would a 20 quart pot be big enough for 5-6 pound rabbits? Or do I need to get a bigger pot? (Our first litter is ready to go to freezer camp this weekend!)
I love this idea better than a food saver (though I’ve never used a food saver) the less electronic contraptions the better, for a moment I got a little sad, cause I’m one person, then a light bulb went off, I’ll attach a clip to the cabinet, holding rabbit with one hand, clip the straw, then attach pliers to zip tie, slowly pull down and zip tight when straw exits, I’m happy now 👍🏼. Thank u both for showing how it’s done, and a different way for sealing meat for the freezer. I’M THINKING VEGETABLES CAN BE SEALED N THESE BAGS, WHAT DO U THINK????????????????
How long does it take for rigger mortis to relax? We dispatched our first two rabbits and they are too stiff to do this with yet after 3 days. Did we do something wrong? We butchered the same way as you do. We have been soaking them in ice water ever since dispatching. Any tips? Just be patient?
Same thing happened to me. It's been 72 hrs now and rabbit is still stiff. How much longer did it take for you? I'm also wondering if I did something wrong. Thanks for any help!
I have been thinking about getting into raising rabbit but for me taste would be the major requirement I have eaten Cotton tails, snowshoes and jack rabbits. I prefer the cottontails a close 2nd would be snowshoes. Jackrabbits don’t really care for. how does your rabbits taste compared to these? Cottontails chicken like, snowshoes chicken like with hints of elk, Jackrabbits elk like with hints of mule deer. Is what I am use to eating. Also how did you get your breeding stock? I am in Montana USA.
How long would you let them stay in freezer? If a person was to do a bunch of chicken instead of rabbit would you say they would be freezer burn free for up to a year? Also CONGRATULATIONS on hitting 5000.
I saw someone use stickers once (for chickens)...no straw necessary. They poked a hole into the bag then immediately placed a sticker over the hole once out of the water (quickly dry and stick). I'm thinking you could have the stickers pre-printed with the date so that you can rotate them properly in the freezer. Just an idea. Have you seen this method? I believe it was Justin Rhodes doing his chickens.
I bought some shrink wrap bags and they didn't work 😔 I used zip lock freezer bags and they did a better job just by squeezing the air out by hand. Could have save the 50 bucks and bought 3 times as many ziplocks 😒
if you leave the bag slightly open and almost submerge it in water it forces the air out better then by hand. i do this when I portion out meat for the freezer. once the air is gone close the ziplock
Seems like vacuum machine would be faster and better way??? They are only couple hundred bucks and you can buy used ones I’ve seen on Craigslist as cheep as fifty bucks!!!
Hi there, you are a nice Christian couple with 2 good kids. Pardon me, but I felt led to tell you guys that pig, rabbit, tortoise are ubclean animal, as in Lev. 11. Shalom n God bless n keep, guide u all.
Here is the link to Texas Poultry Shrink Bags. www.texaspoultryshrinkbags.com/
Thnak you! What measure of shrinking bags are you using un the video please?
How do you scan the rabbit and everything
How do you start processing your own meat cows yet
Years later and this video is still helping people. Thank you!
I grew up on our farm (in Ohio) in the 60's. We "bagged" our rabbits using old bread sacks. (My dad would buy "day old" bread (less than 10 cents a loaf) and use the old bread to feed the chickens, pigs and others.) My brother and I would butcher, er ...ah... "process" the rabbits and could do one in less than 60 seconds.. Yeah, we had lots of practice growing up. Love you guys and your stories! All the best! Blessings!
My father raised rabbits (New Zealand and California Whites) during WWII, for the retail meat sellers. Rabbit pellets were not rationed, so he could do forty or fifty animals a week. He always put the fresh carcasses in ice water overnight as their "resting" period. He said, and my own experience verifies, that that method gives an additional eighth pound per carcass, and results in noticeably more tender flesh. I've seen him take thirty-five rabbits from live to ice water in forty minutes without letting any animal see another being slaughtered. He used a lead pipe to the base of the skull. I learned later to do the drop-and-neck-separation method, which completely eliminates bruising and sucks all of the blood into the elongated neck skin. No bleeding until one pierces just under the jaw, which allows the blood to be collected for dog and cat food. Really appreciate your fine videos, as I am longing to get back on the land!!
We used these bags for our first-ever chicken processing last summer, and loved how well they sealed! Going out for our first rabbit processing today. Thanks for all your videos!
Those gloves look awesome! It was tough not burning myself shrink-wrapping the chickens, so I'm going to get a pair of gloves before next time we do a bunch.
What size stock pot do you use for shrink wrapping? Would a 20 quart pot be big enough for bunnies?
Hey. Wanted to thank you for all your vidoes on rabbits. Started building the cages last January, got rabbits in spring and I'm filling the freezer now. Thanks again.
Really appreciate watching your videos on rabbits.
I really enjoy watching your videos. You guys make an adorable couple.
Thank you for a great demonstration video. I would write a date on the bag for eating the oldest harvested meat before the more recent.
Thanks for sharing this way of backing up the rabbits and chickens now I understand and it seems simple and easy thank you very much
I use Food Saver to vacuum seal everything. The cost per bag is almost double for the size you use (Food Saver gallon bags are 11x16 and @.75 cents per bag if you buy the premade bags). For what I seal to store, which is less than 25% for the freezer, it's still my best option overall. As always a great video. God Bless you and your homestead.
Those are some great gloves! My husband is now watching everything about rabbits. Awesome tips :)
FYI, a step that would make that faster and easier for you, there's a zip tie tightener/cutter that does both steps in one squeeze. There are lots to choose from.
Just started watching your channel yesterday love the rabbit videos
Love! I was wondering about these magic bags so I'm glad I saw this video! And REALLY appreciate the tip about single layer freezing...never heard of that or even thought of that but it makes perfect sense! Thanks you guys!! Much love!
Hey, the Rabbit cookbooks arrived today! Quick turnaround, thanks, andcsigned too. ❤
Perfect, i need those too, having chickens and rabbits myself, and used so far rather suboptimal solutions to bag them. I hope i can get them, or similar ones, in Germany, where everyone uses a vacuum sealer for everything. Which makes expensive technology necessary, while your method is significantly more pleasant and certainly cheaper ^^.
Great info. I was wondering where to get these bags, Thanks for sharing. NOTE EVERYONE: Keep hitting the like button, and share, share, share these videos. Help me keep getting these videos out there. It helps others to learn, and it helps Kevin and Sarah.
www.texaspoultryshrinkbags.com/
Hi, I had watched all your videos and enjoy all of them, I learn so much thank you for explaining in such detail that anyone can do if they want too.:)
Thanks for another great video. Can’t wait to process our first rabbits. Our first litter is due 1/1/18! Thanks again, and God bless!!!
Excited for you!
I just ordered your Rabbit cookbook. Thank you so much
Great video guys. Never used shrink wrap before. I have always used freezer paper. This looks a lot easier than the way I do it. Going to try this way next and see if I like it.
I've used freezer paper a lot, and still use it for other things...venison roasts, animal fat, turkey legs and thighs...but the shrink bags are so fabulous for whole chickens and whole rabbits. It is so cumbersome to wrap whole chickens in freezer papers, UGG!
Any specific reasons you use these bags instead of vacuum seal bags? Thanks for sharing.
See my trick above.
How do you keep the back legs from poking through the bag during the shrinking? About 25 % of mine poke through the bag and I use freezer tape to cover them .
Same prob here. Decided to break my last batch down further and vac seal until I can figure out a way to not puncture bags. 🤔
Sweet. That looks nice and simple.
What size stock pot do you use for shrink wrapping? Would a 20 quart pot be big enough for 5-6 pound rabbits? Or do I need to get a bigger pot? (Our first litter is ready to go to freezer camp this weekend!)
Thankyou for all these videos. You guys are awesome so much great advice.
I love this idea better than a food saver (though I’ve never used a food saver) the less electronic contraptions the better, for a moment I got a little sad, cause I’m one person, then a light bulb went off, I’ll attach a clip to the cabinet, holding rabbit with one hand, clip the straw, then attach pliers to zip tie, slowly pull down and zip tight when straw exits, I’m happy now 👍🏼. Thank u both for showing how it’s done, and a different way for sealing meat for the freezer. I’M THINKING VEGETABLES CAN BE SEALED N THESE BAGS, WHAT DO U THINK????????????????
QUESTION. At normal bags the bones of my rabbits make holes in plastic. Does this also happen with this bags? Thank you for your learning video's!
thanks for the great information on Using Shrink Bags for Rabbit Meat
Great info! Y’all are such a blessing! 🙂
Very good video! Thank you
Great tutorial guys! Thanks for sharing and Blessings.
Do you also sell the pelts from the rabbits? I don't know if you made a video on how you prepare the pelts?
Have yall thought about one of those vacuum seal chambers ? Bags are super cheap or you can use any bag and it's quick.
How long does it take for rigger mortis to relax? We dispatched our first two rabbits and they are too stiff to do this with yet after 3 days. Did we do something wrong? We butchered the same way as you do. We have been soaking them in ice water ever since dispatching. Any tips? Just be patient?
Same thing happened to me. It's been 72 hrs now and rabbit is still stiff. How much longer did it take for you? I'm also wondering if I did something wrong. Thanks for any help!
I relax mine in a chilled salt water brine for 48hrs before packing for freezer. Both tenderizes and draws out more blood.
@@chefita2007 ya, that didn't work for us. They remained in rigger mortis for a good week. I was not prepared for that at all.
Our first batch of rabbits are coming close to process date, what size bags are you using? we are going for the 5lb size like you talked about.
supposing can do same thing after you cut up the rabbit into servings?
Thank you I learned something tonight
A trick to vacuum sealing is to dunk the filled bag in a pot of water and let the water pressure force the air out.
Pretty neat how that works!
I have been thinking about getting into raising rabbit but for me taste would be the major requirement I have eaten Cotton tails, snowshoes and jack rabbits. I prefer the cottontails a close 2nd would be snowshoes. Jackrabbits don’t really care for. how does your rabbits taste compared to these? Cottontails chicken like, snowshoes chicken like with hints of elk, Jackrabbits elk like with hints of mule deer. Is what I am use to eating.
Also how did you get your breeding stock? I am in Montana USA.
How long would you let them stay in freezer? If a person was to do a bunch of chicken instead of rabbit would you say they would be freezer burn free for up to a year? Also CONGRATULATIONS on hitting 5000.
Oh, yes! At least a year. We raise a year's worth of chickens and keep them in the freezer.
In s different video she said rabbit can freeze "6 no to 1 year. Over a year if your lucky"
I love to watch your video's.
I wonder about all the plastics u use.
Do you use BPA free plastics?
Do you find this as.efficient as Vacuum Sealing with Food Saver (or similar) Bags? Thank You.
I wish you would try Food Saver. It would save you so much time. Love your videos
Love your channel
The beard looks so good in this video
Yep! Hunting season is over so it was time for trim. God Bless! Kevin
Thanks, this is great!
What size pot are using to dip the rabbits in and what is the price per bag thank you
Do the leg bones puncture the bag?
I saw someone use stickers once (for chickens)...no straw necessary. They poked a hole into the bag then immediately placed a sticker over the hole once out of the water (quickly dry and stick). I'm thinking you could have the stickers pre-printed with the date so that you can rotate them properly in the freezer. Just an idea. Have you seen this method? I believe it was Justin Rhodes doing his chickens.
Hmm. We'll look into that. We put a label on each chicken because we sell quite a few of them.
Do u have a link to the glove?
Very appreciative of these videos. Do you have one about Rabbit housing during Winter?
caren uithol go to there homepage and select the 'raiseing meat rabbits' plalist. they address it in the video were he is making new tractors.
That's a great tip guys👍👍 keep up the awesome work!
good idea thanks
Great
what do you sell them for.
Very interesting thanks guys
Are the bags biodegradable. If not how do you dispose of them.
Twist, zip, dip. (-: very simple.
Are the bastante food save? What about phathalares and bisphenol a?
Read: Food safe? Phathalates,
Thank you.
Good video
you do date them, don't you? and how long good for in freezer/refridgerator?
I use my sucky outee machine and that takes the air out easily
And I can use the bags a 2nd time 😊
Would you reccomend using shrink wrap for other meats?
I would recommend them for any larger cut of meat that is cumbersome trying to wrap in freezer paper.
The reason I was asking was do you think they would be comparobel to the vacuum sealer bags?
wow! I have learned so much. I having gone thru all your video, but do you have one showing all the steps from start to finish?
Yes, we have a series of videos on how to raise rabbits for meat. ua-cam.com/video/_fjLf95DpO0/v-deo.html
Those are the biggest gloves I've ever seen!! Lol
When you put your rabbit in the refrigerator, do you cover it with water?
Do you shrink wrap them just after processing, before you put them in the refrigerator for 1-3 days?
I meant to say CAN you shrink wrap them just after processing before refrigeration for the 1-3 days
Do you west youw wabbit in a westinghouse?
Do you ever have to worry about the tiny sharp bones of the back legs breaking through the plastic bags?
The thickness of these shrink bags is pretty awesome. We've only had 1 break through.
I bought some shrink wrap bags and they didn't work 😔
I used zip lock freezer bags and they did a better job just by squeezing the air out by hand.
Could have save the 50 bucks and bought 3 times as many ziplocks 😒
Sorry to hear that. We use hundred of them a year and have never had one fail. -Kevin
Living Traditions Homestead better luck next time lol
if you leave the bag slightly open and almost submerge it in water it forces the air out better then by hand. i do this when I portion out meat for the freezer. once the air is gone close the ziplock
We use vacume bags for ours but how do you get the rabbit to position like that we have problems with the legs going threw the bag
We hold the rabbit by all for legs with one hand and put it in the bag "back first."
Do you sell & ship ??
Hi, where can I get the gloves? Thanks in advance
ebay or amazon
Can you keep them longer in the freezer with this method
Yes, the plastic is nice and thick. We've had chickens in the freezer for over a year without freezer burn.
Seems like vacuum machine would be faster and better way??? They are only couple hundred bucks and you can buy used ones I’ve seen on Craigslist as cheep as fifty bucks!!!
We have a nice food saver brand vacuum sealer but it doesn't do nearly as well as the shrink bags.
Same for chicken.
At what age do you slaughter your rabbits??
I saw a guy use milk jugs to hold his rabbit carcasses. Good times.
Why not just vacuum pack with a food saver?
😁
🙏🤗❤️
How old are the rabbits when you kill them for the freezer? 6 months? year old? 2 years old? HUMMM
Around 12 weeks.
"I burned myself doing this..."
Sounds to me like the best reason not to do it. I'll stick to my FoodSaver vacuum sealer.
You don't care for vacuum seal bags
Hi there, you are a nice Christian couple with 2 good kids.
Pardon me, but I felt led to tell you guys that pig, rabbit, tortoise are ubclean animal, as in Lev. 11.
Shalom n God bless n keep, guide u all.
why follow the laws of the torah ?
Acts 10:9-16 addresses this.