I got an order of raw pet food that I needed to fill. 10 lbs worth of duck, and 10 lbs worth of rabbit (one whole prey). Magicians kits were just shy of 11 weeks old, and ready to process. They wouldn’t reach the 5 lb mark in 12 weeks like most  rabbits, as Magician is so small herself.

Total weight of the four cleaned rabbits = 14.2 lbs (smallest 3 lbs, 5 oz, largest 3 lbs, 13 oz).

Total weight of the cleaned and processed carcass = 7,7 lbs (1 lb 13 oz, 2 lb 1 oz).

This is a dress out percentage of  54%! I am pretty thrilled with that efficiency. Even though they don’t gain like New Zealand rabbits, she hasn’t lost a kit, and they don’t eat like them either. So, as long as I have cage space, it doesn’t impact my bottom line.

The whole prey rabbit is 3 lbs and 12 oz.

Out of my juvenile ducks (4 months old), five of them were males and four were females. I don’t need that many males (and they end up harassing the poor hens), so I processed four of them, and they ended up with a weight averaging around 2.5 lbs each.

I really need to get me a duck plucker, as I can processes four rabbits in the time of one duck.

Now to move on to quail cage construction, so they can get out of my bedroom.