Rabbits for Fur and Removing the rabbit’s pelt

Rabbits for Fur

Most rabbits can be harvested for their fur, as well as for meat, but some rabbits are particularly raised for their pelts. 

The Angora rabbit is the best-known rabbit

raised for its coat, but the Rex is also known for producing a desirable fur. 

In many cases, rabbit fur is a byproduct of the rabbit meat industry, but the rabbits killed for meat are often young and their fur is not desirable commercially. 

The highest quality furs come from rabbits that are more than five months old.

The fur is thicker, and the pelts are of better quality for clothing.

Removing the rabbit’s pelt

If you would like to harvest your rabbit’s pelt, while the carcass is hanging by one of its hind legs, you should make a cut around the hock joint to release the skin from the body.

The hock joint is the rear knee joint of the animal’s leg.

 Do this for both rear legs. 

You can use the same knife you are using to cut the rabbit, or you can use a skinning knife. 

Next, cut the skin between these hock joints on the lower part of the body. 

Remove the tail and pull the skin down over the body toward the animal’s head.

The skin of young rabbits is loose and easy to remove.

 It is a little more difficult to remove the skin from older rabbits, but if you work carefully, you can remove it without much trouble. 

Be careful to avoid cutting or tearing the skin, as this will lessen its value.

Once the skin is removed from the rabbit, turn it inside out while it is still warm and soft.

Place the skin on a wire hanger or stretcher with the leg casings on one side of the hanger. You can make a shaper or hanger from a piece of No. 

9 gauge galvanized wire.

A shaper helps extend or expand the pelt to its full size without stretching it out of shape. 

You can fasten the rear legs to the wire with a clothespin or another fastener to hold them in place. Hang the pelt in a well- ventilated place so it can dry, but do not place it in direct sunlight. 

Once the skin is dry, you can remove the hanger.