Rabbit skins - Tanning
A large percent of the reason I keep rabbits is for their fur. I keep three varieties for this reason. Of course, their meat is wonderful and their urine and poop are important in our garden.
When I harvest rabbits, I make sure the skins are promptly frozen so that I can tan them later. I've been tanning them for 4-5 years now. I process 8 or so at a time and dry a few at a time and work them over, breaking the skins and try to make them soft. I have arthritis in my hands and it hurts, but I can't let this part of these beautiful animals go to waste. I am also looking for a few ideas to use them to possibly make a little money to pay for the feed, etc.
Here's a dilemma I have though. The usual method that people describe as tanning doesn't seem to me to be actual tanning. This is the alum and salt method. After the process, the wet hides, if left to dry without breaking and working them over, would be hard as sinew. Ok, so we break the skins. BUT what happens if they get wet again? They would dry hard. I think truly tanned skins stay soft even if they get wet.
I haven't done my due diligence with soaking a hide I have finished. I will do that this year, however, I wonder what anyone in this community knows about this?? I don't like to use chemicals and alum is about as far as I want to go with it. I wonder if putting mink oil on the soft skins would prevent them from going hard if they were subjected to water again?
Comments
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@solarnoon.aspen Crowsnest Wildcraft is holding a tanning workshop in March if this is close to you. https://www.facebook.com/crowsnestwildcraft/?eid=ARDg8AVDRTM8MO2EAISGq7W60KDCBfSDE4vxH9TVqTnuOwwMLH6xfQbtpOKHSQpQ7ntD1q-uJj5dxjKJ
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@solarnoon.aspen have you tried the old Indian method of tanning using the brains and then smoking the processed hide to tan it? If this is something you haven’t tried yet, Will see what I can find for you and send you the link. Good luck and let us know how you make out.
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Wow, that is only a few minutes up the road!! However, I see that the workshop will not take place. I surely would have tried to go.
Thanks for the link.
No I have only read of it. The link that is in the comment above yours would have taught that method. However it has been cancelled. I will continue to look for another way to learn it.
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@solarnoon.aspen That is too bad the class has been cancelled! She (Mara) was in my area last year teaching a sheep tanning workshop. It will be something to follow to see if she puts on another class soon. This is another link that advertises classes with her as the instructor (but nothing currently upcoming). https://www.eatwild.ca/hide-tanning-workshop/ I will let you know of any others I hear about. Sometimes you can find an Indigenous elder that is willing to share knowledge and let you apprentice with them. I learned on a herbal walk with an elder here that Douglas Fir cones are the prime choice for the smoking fire.
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thanks for following up. I will see if there is anything in the next few months. I guess I could always watch a dozen utubes and experiment...... :)
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