This is just my overview on these two birds that we are raising this year. We did the Cornish first, and once we figured out the best way to raise them without the early fatalities, they're a good bird. Withholding the feed for 12 hours proved to be way to go. We didn't have many of the leg problems or premature heart attacks like we did in the past. After 8 wks. we processed the birds and they all weighed 6 1/4 lbs. except for one at 5 1/4 and one at 7 1/2. The feed to weight conversion I thought was very good.
As for the Freedom Rangers (red), I'm not impressed with these birds at all, and will not go with them in the future. They are slow to put on weight. They go through an awful lot of feed as compared to the Cornish. They are currently 8 wks. old and I'd say they're about 3 1/2 lbs. They're just now starting to look as though they're starting to build meat. Up until now, they looked as though they were building skeletal structure rather than putting on meat. I do open up the pen in the morning and they forage all day long in the yard, which is not a trait of the Cornish. Towards dusk I fill the food trough with broiler feed which they usually have gone by noon the next day.
In the past, we've ordered Cornish Roasters from McMurray which was our first go at meat birds and liked these birds the best of all, and are our first choice. Our second choice would have to be the Jumbo Cornish X, which do take a little more care in raising.
I really don't know the difference between the Cornish Roasters and Jumbo Cornish X birds, but the Cornish Roasters are carefree birds to raise and will get just as big as the Cornish X. Just takes about 2 wks. longer.
As for the Freedom Rangers (red), I'm not impressed with these birds at all, and will not go with them in the future. They are slow to put on weight. They go through an awful lot of feed as compared to the Cornish. They are currently 8 wks. old and I'd say they're about 3 1/2 lbs. They're just now starting to look as though they're starting to build meat. Up until now, they looked as though they were building skeletal structure rather than putting on meat. I do open up the pen in the morning and they forage all day long in the yard, which is not a trait of the Cornish. Towards dusk I fill the food trough with broiler feed which they usually have gone by noon the next day.
In the past, we've ordered Cornish Roasters from McMurray which was our first go at meat birds and liked these birds the best of all, and are our first choice. Our second choice would have to be the Jumbo Cornish X, which do take a little more care in raising.
I really don't know the difference between the Cornish Roasters and Jumbo Cornish X birds, but the Cornish Roasters are carefree birds to raise and will get just as big as the Cornish X. Just takes about 2 wks. longer.