Hey folks, I often see questions about the pros & cons of CX over Freedom Rangers and thought, having raised 35 Freedom Rangers last summer and butchered three of my remaining 6 CX this morning, I'd post a few observations on the differences I've noticed. When I'm done with the CX, I'll post my estimates on how much per pound each variety ended up costing me.
Last summer I ordered 35 Freedom Rangers from the Freedom Ranger Hatchery. They sent 36 but one died mysteriously at around 3 weeks of age. I lost 4 to a predator one night when they were about 6 six weeks old but all the rest made it to butchering age in good shape. I did have one rooster that I butchered a week earlier than the first scheduled batch because he had strange bowed legs and looked like he had difficulty getting around. I also had one pullet with an enlarged crop that didn't seem to be thriving and was considerably smaller than the rest.
I processed some at 9, 10, 11 and 12 weeks, starting with the largest each week. The finished birds ranged from the smallest pullet at 3lb 9 oz to the largest rooster at 6lb 6oz. Most were between 4 and 5 pounds. I estimated that they finished meat cost me about $2.57 a pound (not including broth, giblets etc.) This includes the purchase and feeding cost of the 4 that were killed and whatever feed cost there was of the one that died.
I haven't done all the CX yet, so I'll have better cost data in a week.
This spring I purchased 10 CX chicks from tractor supply. One died at 3 weeks, one at 4 weeks and one at 5 weeks, leaving me with only 7. I butchered one rooster at a little over 7 weeks of age because there was something wrong with at least one of his legs and he couldn't get around very well. He dressed out at about 4lb 6oz. I butchered the three remaining roosters today at a little over 8 weeks of age and they were...let's go weigh them...Wow 6lb .5oz, 6lb 13.5oz and 7lb even. I'm surprised!
A few more comparisons: The CX had larger breasts but smaller leg quarters than the FRs (either a plus or a minus depending on how your family feels about dark vs ight meat).
The CX were dirtier to handle, (more poop stuck to their feathers) but seemed easier/quicker to pluck.
The CX didn't work as well in the killing cone I'd made for my FRs. The CX had fatter bodies and shorter necks than the FRs, so their heads didn't always come out the bottom of the cone and I had to reach up and draw their heads down to where I could do the deed. I may re-engineer a different cone before I do the last three.
The CX had less fat in the body cavity than I remember some of the FRs having. That may have been an age difference thing or a breed difference thing, or it may only be that so far all I've butchered of the CX have been roosters and when I get to the pullets I'll find similar body fat with the CX (no insults ladies but we do tend to store fat differently than the guys).
CX were cheaper per chick and didn't include any shipping cost...although I did have to drive to Canon City to get them, so perhaps I should include a mileage factor in my final cost calculations.
I'll be curious to see how the final cost/lb works out because while the CX have been quicker to raise, I lost 30% of them before they were old enough to butcher.
One other difference is that I fed primarily Fermented Feed to the CX but did not with the Freedom Rangers so the cost comparison won't be perfect.
I'll add more later when I know more.
Oh, I have 18 Red Rangers coming in two weeks, so I can give you my findings on how they compare in...around 12 or 13 weeks. I will be feeding them primarily Fermented Feed.
Last summer I ordered 35 Freedom Rangers from the Freedom Ranger Hatchery. They sent 36 but one died mysteriously at around 3 weeks of age. I lost 4 to a predator one night when they were about 6 six weeks old but all the rest made it to butchering age in good shape. I did have one rooster that I butchered a week earlier than the first scheduled batch because he had strange bowed legs and looked like he had difficulty getting around. I also had one pullet with an enlarged crop that didn't seem to be thriving and was considerably smaller than the rest.
I processed some at 9, 10, 11 and 12 weeks, starting with the largest each week. The finished birds ranged from the smallest pullet at 3lb 9 oz to the largest rooster at 6lb 6oz. Most were between 4 and 5 pounds. I estimated that they finished meat cost me about $2.57 a pound (not including broth, giblets etc.) This includes the purchase and feeding cost of the 4 that were killed and whatever feed cost there was of the one that died.
I haven't done all the CX yet, so I'll have better cost data in a week.
This spring I purchased 10 CX chicks from tractor supply. One died at 3 weeks, one at 4 weeks and one at 5 weeks, leaving me with only 7. I butchered one rooster at a little over 7 weeks of age because there was something wrong with at least one of his legs and he couldn't get around very well. He dressed out at about 4lb 6oz. I butchered the three remaining roosters today at a little over 8 weeks of age and they were...let's go weigh them...Wow 6lb .5oz, 6lb 13.5oz and 7lb even. I'm surprised!
A few more comparisons: The CX had larger breasts but smaller leg quarters than the FRs (either a plus or a minus depending on how your family feels about dark vs ight meat).
The CX were dirtier to handle, (more poop stuck to their feathers) but seemed easier/quicker to pluck.
The CX didn't work as well in the killing cone I'd made for my FRs. The CX had fatter bodies and shorter necks than the FRs, so their heads didn't always come out the bottom of the cone and I had to reach up and draw their heads down to where I could do the deed. I may re-engineer a different cone before I do the last three.
The CX had less fat in the body cavity than I remember some of the FRs having. That may have been an age difference thing or a breed difference thing, or it may only be that so far all I've butchered of the CX have been roosters and when I get to the pullets I'll find similar body fat with the CX (no insults ladies but we do tend to store fat differently than the guys).
CX were cheaper per chick and didn't include any shipping cost...although I did have to drive to Canon City to get them, so perhaps I should include a mileage factor in my final cost calculations.
I'll be curious to see how the final cost/lb works out because while the CX have been quicker to raise, I lost 30% of them before they were old enough to butcher.
One other difference is that I fed primarily Fermented Feed to the CX but did not with the Freedom Rangers so the cost comparison won't be perfect.
I'll add more later when I know more.
Oh, I have 18 Red Rangers coming in two weeks, so I can give you my findings on how they compare in...around 12 or 13 weeks. I will be feeding them primarily Fermented Feed.
