Teg-Rem'smum
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Rabbit SkinsBy going to our local pet food store today we have managed by fair means or foul to secure ourselves a "local bunny" who will be secured as a place for us by some time next week. We will get the skin for the dogs (and the meat for ourselves). Does anyone, John in particular ,know what we should do with the said skin when we get it to make it O.K. for Remi and Tegam to "use". Especially with the dummy to make it more appealing. (I know John uses one which is why I am asking) Thanks. Lynda.
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johnhod
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Hi Lynda
I've been looking on the working HPR site for details of how to treat the skin (if it isn't already treated) but have come up blank so far. I know Bill T (Plum as he's known on here or windembang as he's known on the HPR forum) has posted something about traeting rabbit skins.
If it's already treated all I do is stitch them quite tightly around the dummy. They can then be taken off for drying out or if you want to use the dummy as normal. I know some people super glue the skin onto the dumy and others use Rubber bands to hold them in place. I've never tried the glue but I know when I've used bands they've either snapped or the dog has decided to shake the fur and the dummy has flown out.
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Jim
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Many years ago we did one by tying it out between pegs and rubbing salt it in the skin as it dried. Don't remember if anything else was used, but I think not and it did dry naturally in the open air. It didn't rain 
May be too much salt for the dog though...
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doganjo
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I leave them to dry out overnight on a sheet of paper fur side down and thickly coated with salt on the inside. (I then save the salts for the icy drive in the winter time :-) ) The pelt is still pliable at that point and I then wrap them round a dummy and secure the whole thing in place with numerous red post office rubber bands - which seem to be abundant in Clackmannan for some reason!
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kandjt
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If you want a nice soft and supple skin Bushwear do an easy tan solution, but it comes in a fairly big size.
Keith
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The Plum
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Buy a very small amount (an ounce is more than enough) of Pottassium Permanganate or as it is sometimes called Permanganate of Potash crystals from a chemists. Place them in a small dish or saucer - only a finger pinch of crystals is required ! Add a small amount - a dribble - of water then stir with any old smallish paintbrush. The crystals will dissolve and the water will be a very deep purple colour.
Paint the water onto the inside skin surface with the skin lightly tacked onto a board. Leave for a day under shelter to dry out and that's it ! The skin will be crackly when you bend it but fine for dummies. I have at least one dummy that has lasted 15 years or more after this treatment !
The crystals are not dangerous to dogs or to people . In much weaker solutions these crystals can be used to staunch wounds and works as a kind of antiseptic. I sometimes use a very weak solution (light pink or brown in colour) as a gargle when I have a sore throat.
I believe they can also be used for helping fires to light but sugar can do that at much lesser cost !
Personally I take the time and the bother to stitch my skins right into the canvas of the dummies.
Bill T.
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eddieh
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Thanks on behalf of Lynda (and me) for the replies. Especially the detailed advice from you Bill 
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doganjo
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Yes, me too, Bill. I look forward to Rio (rabbit catching cat) bringing home some more bunnies in the spring and I can try out this method.
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Ghilliegumdrop
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Well one things for sure, we will all know who has been trying Bill's method of curing skins. Just look for the purple fingers 
Permanganate is also useful for stopping bleeding when you cut your dog's nails too short 
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The Plum
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| The Plum wrote: | In much weaker solutions these crystals can be used to staunch wounds and works as a kind of antiseptic.
Bill T. |
Is that the same as stopping toenails from bleeding ?
Howzya doin Jan ?  Don't ask about the film thingies . I asked number one son and got my head bit off !  I'll phone him this time so he cannae attack me !
Bill T.
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Pippa's Pack
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Just for the record, although completely unrelated, a weak solution is also good for treating smelly feet (i.e. teenage boys). Luckily I no longer have any. 
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Pippa's Pack
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Teenage boys that is
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Teg-Rem'smum
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Rabbit SkinsThe afore-mentioned have not yet "materialised". Will be going up there hopefully this weekend to see why. But many thanks for all your replies I am sure we will be able to put them to use very soon now.
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Victoria
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AKA Condy's Crystals!!! marvellous stuff....for pheasant skins and hare skins I use baking soda!!!!! Same principal....tack out skin, (carefully in the case of faisan) rub the soda in well and allow to dry...rubber bands around Breton and around anything they deal with is a worry to me!!
PS....you can also use Condy's for staining cane...that is if you feel the urge to whip up a lovely tray or something of that nature 
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