How to Brain Tan a Rabbit Hide With Real Brains

[@kbearx]

I just found your channel and am so impressed. I love the depth of information and no-gimmick style. I've recently gotten back into raising rabbits and your videos are giving me lots of inspiration and useful information. Thanks for keeping it real!

[@CheerfuEntropy]

noticed you had a little trouble with where to cut audio after a take. A trick i use is when i want to redo a line, right after a mistake or what have you, i am quiet for a second then clap twice then continue recording. The claps show up as two distinct spikes on the waveform in the editing software so you know to remove the bit just before those spikes

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

Oh that is brilliant, thank you so much!! 😮❤️

[@f84kjsg7]

Damn, I was already in the middle of the video when I noticed this isn't a million+ subs channel. Such a high quality video! Interesting text, crisp images, stunning views, instructive tutorial... I trully hope you are proud! You got yourself a sub in me. I'm positive you you will breach 100k in one or two years, maybe even sooner. If you find the time for it, you should chop some sections of this video to make some shorts and tik toks to bring some people here. A patreon and/or yt supporter could be a good idea too. Damn, I`m still impressed by the quality. Hugs from Brazil!

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

Oh my gosh thank you so much, I am absolutely blown away by your kind words. 😭❤️ you’re going to keep me motivated for months to come. Thank you 🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻🫶🏻

[@Beepbopboop19]

She'll be at that many soon. Have you seen her chicken feed video?! 🤯

[@pammiegalloway4061]

I definitely agree. Pammie from Chicago Illinois

[@corir207]

How my dad would have loved information like this! But 40 years ago there was no youtube - so after getting some hides off to a professional tanner, until we had enough to make my mum a rabbit-fur-coat, all the hides from our meat rabbits got wasted. We could not even find somebody who would buy them at a reasonable price back then. It is great to see you explain everything so clearly.

[@Thathumanoverthere1701]

We're on a farm in Norway with 5&6 yr olds (both c-sections), my husband is a truck driver, and I'm working on a graphic novel🎉.

[@natureboy6410]

My grandparents used to take Sudan grass,sorgum, Field pea seed, cast it over a small chunk of the backyard,cut every 2 or 3 weeks,bale and store one third for winter, and use the rest to feed the rabbits, chickens, ducks, turkey and geese. High in protein and natural sugars.

[@countrysister700]

When you talk about field peas, what variety do you mean? I'm southerner and think black eyed, purple hull, cream peas etc. Thanks!

[@natureboy6410]

@@countrysister700 any small variety works just fine. They are all nitrogen fixtures. I've used Black eyed peas, and basically anything that is small and cheap. Wild field pea is normally used and sold for foder,for wildlife, deer, elk etc.

[@ILuvHorses-ny1sv]

You're amazing. Thank you. Love this! Don't think you said "what you're going to want to do" once...drives me crazy. The chook one is excellent. Such exceptionally well researched. Sorry to hear AI has stolen your job. How stooopid we humans are. No longer live on a farm but think about setting up rabbits and chooks on my 1/4 acre block. You have really inspired me. I have always wanted to tan wild rabbit skins, they are a pest here. Never heard of the brain technique. Thanks again!!!!!

[@phylwilton1966]

I could listen to this yammering story for days!! Sincere, positive, and full of skills and experience... The personal experience and commentary is very useful, especially for someone without useful math skills. Just an amazing run-down of not just skills... But, facts I never would have known or found!!

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

Thank you so very much!!! This really means a lot to me 🫶🏻

[@Uni_baller]

I enjoy watching your content. Reminds me of how much I miss raising rabbits. The Texas summers are hard on them so I can’t wait til we move to MN in 2026…

[@brentmichael1975]

This was a very informative and yet simple process to watch. Thanks a lot. I hope you will have a how to smoke a hide video in the future

[@mirandal1678]

How do you care for it once you make it into a cover for your bed? Will you be able to wash it? What would be some do's and don'ts?

[@rubadoobes]

So well presented! Thank you so much

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

You're very welcome, and thank you so much!

[@myname7914]

I’m binge watching your videos, you’re awesome. My wife and I have a lot in common with you and so it’s good to see what another Homestead family is doing

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

Ahhh thank you so much, it means a lot ❤️

[@GaiasTippingPoint]

Such a helpful video, thank you! Also YES! I was also a professional writer and finding work during lockdown and then now with the rise of AI has been a whole new challenge!!!! Really a bit sad, but these are the times we’re in I guess.

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

Thank you so much, and oof, yes writing is so brutal now. Lockdown was bad, AI seemed worse 😅 I hope that “organic” writing becomes more in demand because I genuinely love writing, but we’ll see. 🫶🏻❤️

[@acidicsquirrel9683]

The depth you bring to your topics is really appreciated. Keep up the good work 👍

[@JesseMann-h3u]

Just wanted to thank you for your videos! They are very well put together and are very much appreciated!

[@crystalchappell7243]

Can you make a video showing the process of making the blanket?

[@MagicBeans.StarlightDreams]

Yes, please!

[@kimberlyrabideau6133]

Yes!!

[@skyhr]

7:58 "Sarah's ramblings" lol

[@thedancingcarnivore]

Thank you for these videos! I'm planning on raising silver fox rabbits for meat & pelts. These videos are SO helpful!

[@cynthiag3065]

Great info! I am so glad I found your channel. You have the best homestead content on U Tube. I look forward to your next video. Thank you for sharing.😊

[@Ekdrink]

Boy were you right about buying now or never back in 2020 lmfao

[@jmssun]

Most people watching this video can only brain tan their imaginary rabbit hides 😂

[@mykindpharm]

Your property sounds amazing except for the north facing… but I have grow lights in my house to help me get along with the shorter days for the long winters in Idaho

[@stormraven4183]

I have a feeling you and I have a lot in common 😂 Great videos for a newbie. Your patter is a bit rushed. Try being more conversational. Otherwise, you have compelling subject matter, good framing, and a good hook with your geek-tastic math.

[@steffybael1245]

I LOVE YOUR VIDEO STYLE BY THE WAY!

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

Thank you! 😁

[@Iamam313]

GREAT CHANNEL!!! I cannot believe how through you are with everything, you are gathering info and presenting it just like I am used to doing it myself when researching stuff, I love it! I just wanted to ask because I am not sure but the alum your using is potassium alum right? also just as an observation, it would help a lot I think if you described the process of working the hide as you do it, like what's what and why you are doing each stage etc. As a complete beginner in tanning I don't know anything and I have so many questions at every step :D but you are by far the best teacher I've come across as of yet on this. I would love to see a video of you using the brains on the pelt, also I heard urine can soften leather as part of the curing process? what other materials can we use for curing leather and pelts I wonder? besides brains fat and maybe urine?

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

I use Aluminum Sulfate, specifically the Hi-Yield brand because I can get it local and it has the best price. I used the brains in the part 2 video, I’ll see if I can get that linked in here so people don’t have to go looking for it. Thank you so much for being here and checking out the videos, I appreciate you!

[@brittany6229]

Thank you so much for putting this together!

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

Thank you so much! ❤

[@alienrobotcommando]

The title! 😂 And people think Hannibal was bad.c😂

[@BigChurch-c4k]

God bless you and your family. Thank you for the wonderful video.

[@orlandoflorez205]

Thank you for sharing I envy your life style if there is a catastrophic event you are well prepared

[@daphnerobert-hamilton3066]

Good job. Learning a lot. Thanks for the breakdown. Im learning all that I can about raising meat rabbits and like your choice of breed. We might start within the next two years. Still trying to convince hubby. Where do you store all the hay & alfalfa?

[@klover_leaf]

Fun fact New Zealand can be colored! You can get white and for sure they're the most developed. But we've got Red (the OG New Zealand), Blue, Black, and broken! I personally breed blue, black, and broken. Blues are the newest color. We're working really hard and finally seeing blues take Best of Breed on arba tables!

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

I didn’t know this, that is so fascinating!! 😍😍

[@klover_leaf]

@CedarHillsHomestead Red NZ came first! Belgian Hare were actually the number one breed used to create them. Unfortunately, the reds are VERY few and far between now 😞. When the fur trade was booming, whites were more sought after for their easily dyed pelts.

[@SavvyGirl515]

Oh my goodness! Yes this! I have blue and black NZ doe sisters Looking for a red buck to breed reds!! ❤❤❤ as my girls have lots of red in their lineage.

[@gailday7566]

You are doing a great job!

[@day2daylife561]

i am also growing Am Chins thank you for the videos

[@Dazza_Doo]

There have been an ideal place to build underground, Take advantage of that thermal mass. Even if you're able just to run some tubing into the ground pump that air back into the house it's gonna be a little bit better for you. A thermal rocket stove can also do wonders. Keep safe

[@ms_kitty9099]

Will this method also work for bigger pelts? like bear for example.

[@geraldc5165]

You need a fleshing scraper. It makes it a two minute job.

[@glennkrone8337]

Thanks for the great video! could you please send the exact grams/pounds of the alun and salt used ty!

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

It’s 1 cup salt (1/2 pound) and 1 cup common alum (1/2 pound) 😁

[@off-labelbotanist5355]

There really is quite a lot of fascia coming off of the hide. I would be afraid of tearing it removing so much material but I guess it's fine and that's what practice hides are for

[@stevemacdonald2303]

Yep you are doing it right

[@therealemo9045]

I only came for the "How to get the brain" section, because yes, there are no resources on how to do this.

[@eduardoraulguzman7712]

Hola , tendrías que tener un fulón chico y una cuchilla de curtidor porque eso te facilitaría mucho el trabajo......saludos desde Argentina y muy buen video...............

[@MeadowRoseHuckleberry]

So informative, thank you! To recap you put the pelts in the solution for 5-7 days then remove the excess tissues then back in for another 1-2 days?

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

7 days is usually recommended before the first scraping but I’ve found that 5 is nice because you can take off the easy stuff, wait 2 days, and then the hard stuff is now easy. Most people who wait the full 7 days just do it all at once with no coming back a second time, they just kinda scrape the tough stuff off with a knife in one session. I say try both and see which is best for you. I have heard that as long as your pelts are fully submerged and your brine is correct, you can leave the pelts in as long as you want with no damage. With that said, I have not gone further than 7 days so I am not as confident in that statement lol.

[@MeadowRoseHuckleberry]

Awesome thank you! I think I'll try it your way first!​@@CedarHillsHomestead

[@MeadowRoseHuckleberry]

Follow up question. What is the salvent for the salt and alum you use? Is it just water? ​@@CedarHillsHomestead

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

@@MeadowRoseHuckleberry yes it is just water.

[@HolyFamilyHomesteadWV]

Is the lack of consistency in the giant chinchilla pelts why you decided to go with the American chinchilla? I wonder if since the giant chinchilla gets so much bigger, wouldn’t they have more meat?

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

I don’t have anything against giant chinchillas, they’re great! But I only have space for one breed of rabbit and I liked the Americans a little better. Plus, it would be harder for me to find hutches that are suitable for the larger breed.

[@HolyFamilyHomesteadWV]

@@CedarHillsHomestead I’m worried such a larger animal would be able to inflict injury when handling. But my reasons for raising rabbits are probably really close to yours! My daughter also wants to raise Angora for wool and her first 4H project!

[@SavvyGirl515]

The larger animals aren't usually especially good for meat as they grow bones to support their frames first, then they start to put on weight. At least that's my personal knowledge. ❤❤❤ love the interest and seeing so many questions ❤❤❤

[@HolyFamilyHomesteadWV]

@@SavvyGirl515that’s great info! I think this is the breed we’re going to start with in the spring! I would LOVE the variety of colors in pelts, but we also have limited space as we live in suburbia currently. Once we find our forever homestead property, I may find colorful rabbits and learn to breed for color as well as meat!

[@SavvyGirl515]

@HolyFamilyHomesteadWV New zealands come in a variety of colors. They are where I'm starting because they are readily avaliable to me. I eventually want to breed American Chinchillas mostly because they are beautiful 😍 and there are so few breeders. I want to help the species out by being a good breeder (eventually, when money permits).

[@birgitelisabeth9661]

Will you need grow lights in your greenhouse since you don't have any sunshine from Thanksgiving to the middle of January? Also, how do you maintain your chickens in the winter?

[@CedarHillsHomestead]

Yes we will need grow lights. I’ve been playing with grow lights in the house and the LED have truly amazed me with how efficient they are. The chickens do extremely well in winter. They live in a small 5x8 ft coop with two layers of plywood on the interior to act as insulation. They’ve been through -55°F just fine. The only real issue I’ve had is that I ordered rose comb Leghorn chicks but received single comb roosters instead. The single combs had pretty gnarly frostbite. If you live in a cold area, always buy breeds with the small rose or pea combs instead of the tall single combs.

[@mykindpharm]

Have you all applied for the NRCS program for a high tunnel?

[@travjf15]

Hello I am from Australia and have so far 3 wild rabbit skins to brain tan in the freezer but we don’t have alum here is there an equivalent or similar I could use? Is it like baking soda I use baking soda when doing a stir fry to ‘velvet’ the meat is that essentially what is happening with the alum and salt it’s tenderising the remaining membrane and stuff so it’s easier to clean? I hope that makes sense?

[@Quaaysan]

Tell us more about the goats!!!

[@NOTurbuisness-r5q]

Imagine having a little sas and your whole bloodline is slaughtered. Jk Jk lol great video !

[@SunFlower-cq6gi]

There are a lot of people becoming interested in homesteading now because of the pandemic.

[@jamietownsend3677]

Some people say you can’t tan if it’s starting to shed/blow coat…????

[@kristenburkett4274]

I wonder what part of IN you came from? We're in Terre Haute area.

[@steffybael1245]

REGISTRATION!!! TOTALLY WORTHLESS IF YOUR NOT TRYING TO SELL "REGISTERED " LIVESTOCK TO OTHER BUYERS!! IM 65 YEARS OLD, AND I HAVE A DEGREE IN AGRICULTURE. IM AN OLD HILLBILLY SO I LIVED THE "HOMESTEADING LIFE" ALL MY LIFE!! REGISTRATION COSTS MONEY. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE!

[@veronicavatter6436]

Stef, why are you screaming?

[@jonathanbriggs481]

❤😊

[@princesspikachu3915]

🤯

[@timelesstales42]

nahh ill just bark tan mine and save my $1 lol

[@JamBreadSpotify]

I like your videos. You kind of have a mundane tone of voice though that makes it seem like boring or annoying repetitive work. Maybe you can work on making your tone a bit more exciting. :)