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Post by lnsybean44 on Jul 13, 2009 16:50:54 GMT -5
A coworker of my mother's runs an ethnic food mart where he raises chickens and rabbits. You go and pick out which ever one you want and he will slaughter it. He told me that he would also quarter them for me to make freezing easier. I am also getting chicken organs from him. what things should I watch out for? How long should I freeze them to kill parasites? Should I skin the rabbits or give the kids rabbit, fur and all? Anything I should remove etc etc... Ive never done it this way before but it will be a really affordable way to get rabbit and since they are for human consumption normally I figure they are fairly safe.
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Post by Heather on Jul 13, 2009 23:30:39 GMT -5
My understanding as far as the chickens go, do not give your ferrets the feathers too (pluck your birds first). Not necessarily because they shouldn't but I've heard of others who did and the resulting mess of pin feathers can be a bit overwhelming As far as the rabbits go...feed them everything, fur, heads, feet, ears. The only thing I don't feed is the stomach and the spleen, and that's because the little bums just pull it out and leave it all over the place anyway. All the rest is eaten. You can freeze I suppose, my guys have never had the opportunity to eat fresh rabbit or chicken but I would think because it's human grade that you won't have to worry about parasites but if it makes you feel more comfortable a couple of weeks freezing should be sufficient. What a fantastic deal, I envy you Your furbabies are so lucky. ciao
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Post by lnsybean44 on Jul 14, 2009 19:36:34 GMT -5
Im thrilled about it. I also have a local butcher that was reccomended to me who might grind meat (bones organs and meat) for me. Even if he cant grind bones he can still grind meat with organs, Kenora seems to like it alot better this way. He has really good meat at amazing prices, so I will still be getting my meat from him. I dont know how I lucked out so well. Thank you for your help. I think as far as the chickens go I may just stick to what I am getting in the store since it is already plucked but the rabbit is a definite.
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Post by lnsybean44 on Jul 15, 2009 14:36:44 GMT -5
So the butcher cant grind my meat for me because their grinders are too big BUT... my grandfather had an industrial strength meat grinder... it can even handle bones... Woot! Its currently sitting in my grandmother's basement so it will just be a matter of digging it out with the help of an uncle and I can grind my own meat for easier feed. They will still get whole chunks a few meals a week but this will be alot easier to set them up with in the mornings before school and such.
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