Advise needed on necking a rabbit

[julie35 0]

I need advise on how to neck a rabbit, quickly and humanely. Never done it before and the internet is full of confusing advise so I thought '' if anyone knows, it will be people with working terrierrs''

I have 4 terriers of my own, all bitches and they are all rescue's so they aren't true working dogs. But 2 of them, my Patterdale x JR and my Border x Lakeland just LOVE rabbits, unfortunately they are far more interested in chasing them and don't try to kill them (dead rabbits = don't run = no fun). They have on occasion slightly mained the rabbits when they've caught them (fur detatched from skin) and until today, the rabbits have always died of shock. However, today they got one cornered and because it was too weak from myxi to get away quick enough, the dogs tormented it to try and make it run. Needless to say the poor thing was screaming it's head of and I had to step in.

Had I known how to neck it properly I would have done so straight away and put it out of it's misery but I wasn't sure how to and the thought of doing it wrong and causing it more suffering had me carrying it all the way to the nearest farm for the farmer to do the deed. I was going to ask him if I could watch but he seemed really annoyed with me (rightly so, considering I was standing there with a pack of terriers who should be able to do the job!) so I just thanked him and made a quick exit (head hung low in shame).

Seeing as I have no intention of stopping my dogs from chasing rabbits and seeing that there's loads around here with myxi at the moment, I will definately be faced with the same situation again. So I need advise on how to finnish off a rabbit, quickly and easy.

I've read about the method in which you hold the back legs and head, then pull and twist but apparently this takes quite a bit of strength and can go wrong. Also there's a method called chining, which is supposed to be easier and less likely to go wrong.

Please advise, and if anyone lives in the Pendle area who would like to show me how to do it well, that would be even better.

Thanks

[OldNog 432]

hold your nose and swallow in one big gulp

 

usually easier with a pint though

Edited August 29, 2009 by OldNog

[Guest buster321c]

[Guest fence_hopper]

get a mate to hold it in the air give it a good punch straight in the skull make sure you hit it hard enough instent death. or as you say chinning them put your thumb and finger round its neck put your palm of your hand under its chin push backwards thats the easiest way

Edited August 29, 2009 by fence_hopper

[mattydski 560]

I taught my children to stand on the head and pull up with the back legs, very quickly and very swiftly.

They can manage it, so you should give it a try. Just remember that they sometime twitch, even when they are dead. So don't beat yourself up about it too soon.

 

Have courage in your conviction and just go for it.

[ssssh1forthepot 0]

If your not very strong just grab the back legs and put it over your knee on its back while grabbing the head and pull its neck over your knee with a quick snapping kind of action you will feel it kind of click, it will still twitch tho like the previous post said but once the necks broke its dead.

[bigdan 11]

bite its head off

[lilpip1234 62]

bite its head off

 

yea im with this one haha, nah i hold back legs with one hand with my otre hand at the base of its head were neck and head meet then just pull with a slight twist of my head holding hand

[julie35 0]

I taught my children to stand on the head and pull up with the back legs, very quickly and very swiftly.

They can manage it, so you should give it a try. Just remember that they sometime twitch, even when they are dead. So don't beat yourself up about it too soon.

 

Have courage in your conviction and just go for it.

 

Sounds like a good method as they do tend to wriggle a fair bit but not much chance of that when the head is under foot! Will definately try this next time. Thanks

[yoggerman 5]

bite its head off

here ya go

[Guest hyperion]

get some dead (shot) rabbits to practice on! really doesnt take much strength one you get it right!

 

the way i do it is..........

hold the back legs in your right hand

 

put your left hand round the neck just behind the skull so your thumb is on the side facing your body and your fingers are all on the other side

 

hold your left arm straight down between your knees with your wrist straight

 

pull up with your right arm and at the same time rotate your elbow and wrist to the left so that your left hand forces the rabbits neck into a right angle to its body

 

you should feel and or hear the neck dislocate with a crunch!

 

you might pull a few heads off to start with but it doesnt take long to get the nack of it and if you practice on dead uns your not goin to hurt any thing!

 

cheers

hyperion

[jac 12]

hold it up by the back legs, so the ears fall down, give it a good hard whack with the side of your hand on the very back if the skull, were the skull is meeting the neck. kills instantly. And i find it quicker than neacking.

[Guest hyperion]

hold it up by the back legs, so the ears fall down, give it a good hard whack with the side of your hand on the very back if the skull, were the skull is meeting the neck. kills instantly. And i find it quicker than neacking.

 

have you seen the video of the old boy in the ferreting section?

 

CHOP "whaddya say?"

 

90 years old and so fast you hardly see his hand move! awsome!

 

cheers

hyperion

[julie35 0]

you might pull a few heads off to start with but it doesnt take long to get the nack of it and if you practice on dead uns your not goin to hurt any thing!

 

cheers

hyperion

 

Yeah, I was wondering if their heads came off if I pulled too hard! And seeing as I'll will be a little heavy handed first time just to make sure I killed it, I guess I'll probably end up with it's head in my hand!

 

The chop method sounds good but how do I know if I've actually killed it or just stunned it? Maybe best to neck it afterwards just to be on the safe side!

 

Any suggestions on how to train the dogs to actually kill the rabbits, then I wouldn't have to face pulling their heads off in the first place!

[Guest hyperion]

you might pull a few heads off to start with but it doesnt take long to get the nack of it and if you practice on dead uns your not goin to hurt any thing!

 

cheers

hyperion

 

Yeah, I was wondering if their heads came off if I pulled too hard! And seeing as I'll will be a little heavy handed first time just to make sure I killed it, I guess I'll probably end up with it's head in my hand!

 

The chop method sounds good but how do I know if I've actually killed it or just stunned it? Maybe best to neck it afterwards just to be on the safe side!

 

Any suggestions on how to train the dogs to actually kill the rabbits, then I wouldn't have to face pulling their heads off in the first place!

 

lol! the dogs either will or wont kill them and to be honest if the dogs do it you wont have much usable rabbit left!

 

i never could get the chop right but like i said get some dead rabbits to practice both methods on and you will soon know if your doing it right!

 

and if you do pull its head off it might be messy but at least you know its dead!

 

if your in any doubt the just get a lump of black thorn and make a priest, a couple of good rapps on the head should see any bunny off!

 

cheers

hyperion