Livestock Rabbit dispatcher

bbbuddy

DEPLORABLE ME
I've had a Ballista penetrating captive bolt gun now for 6 years, wanted to share it with you. I view it as the easiest most humane way to kill rabbits or even chickens.
It is a heavy duty stainless steel spring loaded bolt gun, made in Germany, that under high pressure sends a one inch metal rod into the brain. The rabbits are d. e. a. d. without being scared first. You can kill them in their cages, on your lap, a table, or the ground while they are enjoying a small treat. Lights out, calmly.

The price has only gone up 7 dollars in 6 years!

BALLISTA bolt gun link: Bunny Rancher

Video of it in use:
View: https://youtu.be/-KghoHVhm_k
 

Orion Commander

Veteran Member
A friend did the rabbit raising merit badge for Scouts. He could do it all but the dispatching. The method used was hang and club. I doubt this method would be any easier for him. But definitely better for the rabbit.
 

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
We've always done the hang and club method of dispatching rabbits, and I think this bolt gun would work much better for me. I'm not squeamish about butchering, or about chopping heads off of chickens, nor even of putting a bullet in the back of a goat's head. But I hate clubbing cute little bunnies, mainly, I think, because it often had to be repeated once or twice to do the job. (If my ex wasn't available to do it, I used to hold them out at arm's length by the hind feet and have my oldest daughter do the clubbing -- she was jr. high age by then. She still teases me about that.) This bolt gun looks like it would work well. Might have to get a bigger one for doing goats.

Kathleen
 

Faroe

Un-spun
I don't see the point of the hang part. I just hold at the shoulders with bunny on the ground, and club the head.

Quick, and efficient. I still hate it.
 

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
I don't see the point of the hang part. I just hold at the shoulders with bunny on the ground, and club the head.

Quick, and efficient. I still hate it.

The object of hanging is to club them on the neck and break the neck but leave the heart beating for a few minutes so they bleed out better. Your method may be better for bunnies, though I think I would have a hard time holding and clubbing a full-grown rabbit.
 

Faroe

Un-spun
Flemish giants, full grown. I just slice the neck as soon as the head is crushed. Slip knot of bailing twine around the ankles - then I hang until they all go onto the kitchen counter. I would only do three or four at a time. Pulling the hide off is hard on my hands.
 

bbbuddy

DEPLORABLE ME
We've always done the hang and club method of dispatching rabbits, and I think this bolt gun would work much better for me. I'm not squeamish about butchering, or about chopping heads off of chickens, nor even of putting a bullet in the back of a goat's head. But I hate clubbing cute little bunnies, mainly, I think, because it often had to be repeated once or twice to do the job. (If my ex wasn't available to do it, I used to hold them out at arm's length by the hind feet and have my oldest daughter do the clubbing -- she was jr. high age by then. She still teases me about that.) This bolt gun looks like it would work well. Might have to get a bigger one for doing goats.

Kathleen
I wouldn't even try it on goats, the bolt is not long enough, and probably wouldn't even stun them, they're so hard headed. A .22 or .38 is more appropriate.
 

Freeholder

This too shall pass.
I wouldn't even try it on goats, the bolt is not long enough, and probably wouldn't even stun them, they're so hard headed. A .22 or .38 is more appropriate.

I was thinking of the larger ones they use in cattle slaughterhouses, not this little one meant for small animals. Normally I use a bullet in the back of the head for goats (their skull isn't reinforced there, like the forehead is), but with ammunition getting so expensive, I'd rather not use it that way.

Kathleen
 

summerthyme

Administrator
_______________
Flemish giants, full grown. I just slice the neck as soon as the head is crushed. Slip knot of bailing twine around the ankles - then I hang until they all go onto the kitchen counter. I would only do three or four at a time. Pulling the hide off is hard on my hands.
We always held the rabbit on the ground, knocked them unconscious with a single hard blow to the head (a small "souvenir " baseball bat works well), then immediately chop the head off with a sharp hatchet. Only then did we hang them to bleed out. Definitely not one of my favorite chores, but we could do them from start to finish in under 10 minutes.

Summerthyme
 
Last edited:

bbbuddy

DEPLORABLE ME
I'm not a fan of dislocating the neck by any method, plus I don't have the balance for it.
I know you can have your neck broken and still be awake/aware...
 
Top