Hi all, hope someone can help me out with this daft question!
A couple of weeks ago my brother found an injured rabbit on the road, it had a broken leg and he rushed it round to me in the hope I might be able to fix it
Anyway, it was DOA and I stuck it in a black bag in the freezer meaning to take it into work for cremation.
It then occured to me that I buy rabbits for Obi at a ridiculous price in the market, so why not feed him this one?
Trouble is, I've no idea what to do with it? Skin it ? Gut it? (yuk!)
It looked healthy (aside from the broken leg and being dead of course ) and I assume fleas and parasites would be killed from two weeks in the freezer?
Any advice appreciated
XXX

Oh and while I'm on the subject, is it ok to feed whole day old chicks occasionally? I wouldn't buy them especially but we've got a freezer compartment full of them as we used to have an owl!
XX

Day old chicks are ok

Rabbit don't know as this one has been frozen whole including guts which are normally removed before freezing. That might cause problems when defrosting ie stomach gases etc Not so worried about the skin though 'cause if mine get a rabbit with skin on they scoff the lot and leave the guts.

Fleas will be well dead

If you didn't gut it before it was frozen then do it before it defrosts cos it'll stink the place out especially if you accidently go through the gut sac Turn the rabbit over and make an incision just behind the rib cage and cut down towards the rear end of the rabbit along the stomach line, about 3" should be enough, then you can either give a good hard shake and the in-*test*-('")ines will drop out or get your hand in there and pull it all away. The heart and liver will be up inside the rib cage so leave these in place, you'll also see the kidneys once all the guts are out. Then depending on the size of the rabbit just cut into 2 or 3 pieces and serve Keep the pelt on for roughage and feed the head as well or chop it off
Always gut rabbits before freezing if you get the chance of a freebie again

Sandy

i was interested in seeing how this was done, and i couldnt do that so poor oli will never get the pleasure of rabbits and pelt! Did buy him some all ready prepared rabbit from the butcher (who cut it into small chunks as well) Cheating i know but t least i will hold on to my guts!!!!!
Just dont tell Oli what he's missing!!

Great thanks
Feeling fairly gung-ho at the minute so will give it a go now
XX

Gung ho eh! You wanna try gutting out 100 at a time Lightweight!

And Peter complains about doing 14

I persuaded my provider to gut them for me before delivering them

And on Sandy's advice, mines are also fed with fur and head. I just put the bunnies in the garden, send the dogs out - and don't look

Oh dear, what a disaster
Even though said bunny was only partially defrosted, it was still quite revolting, but I managed to get most of the insides out
Unfortunately though, after this labour of love, which included chopping it into three bits, Obi was terrified of it!!
He gave the bit I offered a quick sniff, looked at me, I imagine, in horror and disbelief and shot outside, shaking, ears back, the whole 'my mum is a serial killer' works!
Every time I tried to give it to him he ran away
It might be because he's been told off a few times for getting a bit close for comfort to the Guinea pigs??
Either that or he is very empathetic and now he realises where his food comes from he wants to become an ethical vegetarian
So much for purist prey model feeding, what a big baby
So, to skin it I suppose I just use scissors to loosen it and then pull the skin and fur off?
Crikey what a saga
XX

I personally think a video demonstration from Paul is in order here, but would understand that some people would find it horrifying, after Paul's visual demo I now just crack on with it and don't get at all squeamish about the preparation of dead things.
Thanks Paul, you conkered my fear of rabbit prep much to Ruf and Titch's happiness.