You can easily skin a rabbit by yourself if you know the basics. It only takes 10-15 seconds to remove the rabbit’s hide. Once you’ve skinned the rabbit, you can prepare it for cooking, smoke it, or make gravy. This article focuses on a few other steps that are essential for making delicious rabbit dishes. Read on to learn more! Also, learn how to check if the rabbit is dead.
Table of Contents
Skinning a rabbit takes 10-15 seconds
The process of skinning a rabbit is quite simple. To skin a rabbit, simply pinch the back skin loose and tear it apart, exposing the meat inside. Then, pull up the skin over the legs, head and tail, pulling off the skin from the lower half like a glove. Next, cut the hind feet and two forepaws. Then, pull the rabbit open, flipping out the entrails and retrieving the heart and liver.
Smoking a rabbit pelt
There are several methods of curing a rabbit pelt. Some people spread the pelt hair-side down on a rack, covering it in a thick layer of non-iodized table or agricultural salt. This process dries the skin to a rich, beautiful hue. Depending on the type of rabbit hide, the process can take anywhere from a few days to several weeks.
Preparing gravy for a rabbit
When preparing gravy for a rabbit, it is important to use your hands as a form of utensil. By doing this, you will be able to avoid contaminating the sauce with bacteria. The next step involves cooking the rabbit in a Dutch oven or large skillet with a generous amount of fat. The meat should be cooked through before adding the sauce and the onion. Then, you can use your hands to mix the ingredients together. Once this is done, you should pour the mixture into the sterilised jam jars.
Checking if a rabbit is dead
When a rabbit collapses and stops breathing, you can try to move it with your bare hands and examine the area where it died. You may notice wet spots or matted areas. If you notice a bloody nose or mouth, take the rabbit to the veterinarian immediately. If you can’t determine the cause, take your rabbit to the nearest pet store or veterinarian. If you can’t find the cause, you can try other methods of checking if a rabbit is dead.
Checking for ear mites
You can check the ears of your rabbit to see if they’re infested with ear mites when you’re skinning it. These mites are typically found in the ears of wild and domestic animals. Psoroptidae and Trombiculidae are the most common. If you suspect your rabbit’s ears are infested with ear mites, you should consult with your veterinarian to remove the infected parts of its ears.
Checking for fractured spines
If your rabbit has been in a serious accident, checking for fractured spines while skinning can save your rabbit’s life. Rabbits have extremely delicate spines and if a spine is broken, they are completely paralyzed on one end and cannot urinate or poo. If you suspect that a rabbit has suffered a spinal injury, take it to a veterinarian right away for x-rays. If the spine is broken, immobilize the animal for several weeks by placing it in a bed of hay. This also serves as a cast.
Precautions for handling a rabbit
Rabbits have delicate spines and should always be handled gently but firmly. It is also important to keep all four feet against the body to reduce stress. Never pick your rabbit up by the ear as this can cause serious injury. Then, only adults should handle the rabbit. In addition, children should never handle rabbits. Always supervise them closely while handling them. If you feel the rabbit is scared or nervous, you should immediately call your veterinarian.