Freedom Ranger breeding first year results

[kfacres]

sounds like you have it all figured out then.

 

[ShadyHoller]

Mrs. Mucket :

FEEDING:
Then for about six weeks they were out free ranging with our layers in a 3-acre area with no regular supplemental commercial feed. They were fed kitchen scraps during that time. They grew at a steady rate. For the last six weeks they had free access to Nutrena layer pellets (16%) and wheat but they seemed to prefer free ranging and were still finding stuff to eat in the garden.

I was surprised to see this: you got decent weight at 16 weeks, even with a six-week period of free-ranging with no supplemental feed other than kitchen scraps. That, I think, is impressive.

I have raised DP birds (DE x RIR mutts) to about the same weight in about the same time, but it involves a heavy feeding regimen of high-protein pellet.

So, in my mind: well done!​

 

[eggscetera]

Farmer Grammy - thanks so much for this info. This is just what i needed to know. I saved out a rooster and 4 hens from my 25 Freedom Rangers I raised this summer. One hen has already kicked the bucket so there are just 3 left. I thought I'd lost another last week - her comb turned purple and her breath was labored for three days. She's back running around now so I'm keeping my fingers crossed. Winter is here and I won't start incubating until February. A lot could go wrong between now and then. But I'm looking forward to hatching out some chicks from this bunch if they make it.

 

[Bucky182]

Ms Mucket, I am no scientist or gene specialist for sure. LOL But you might try using a different meat bird for your rooster. Say one from Nolls, or the one down in Alabama which are both totaly different stains. This cross might put some hybrid vigor back into the birds and you would get growth as good or possibly better than the parents. In cattle it is called hetorosis (SP) and according to MARK (Meat Animal Research Center) in Neb. the best possible cross is a 4 way cross with one being 50% each of two breeds and the other being 50% of two different breeds. The resulting calf grows faster, and has more imunities than either of its parents. Heck its worth a shot.

 

[jessicayarno]

Quote:
Bucky that is a great idea, and depending on how fast these guys grow, I think I am gonna give that a try.. I have a batch of freedom rangers that are 2nd generation..

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

Bucky-- I missed your post till now but that is a good idea. I'm just learning about selective breeding. I was thinking of trying a smaller rooster too, not for size genes but for comfort of the hens. Both my FR roos have been 15# and a FR/RIR roo was 13#.

I have not gotten responses from Nolls'--is phone the only way to reach them? Do you have any info on the Alabama hatchery?

Johnsons-r-us, do you think a WR would be a good roo to try?

 

[tracylhl]

This is great info for me! I'm going to be slaughtering some FR's and DP roo's in the next week. I had planned to keep some FR's back from the brings of the freezer but then decided to put them all up. Now I'm re-thinking that!

 

[beanmcnulty]

Mrs. Mucket :

Bucky-- I missed your post till now but that is a good idea. I'm just learning about selective breeding. I was thinking of trying a smaller rooster too, not for size genes but for comfort of the hens. Both my FR roos have been 15# and a FR/RIR roo was 13#.

I have not gotten responses from Nolls'--is phone the only way to reach them? Do you have any info on the Alabama hatchery?

Johnsons-r-us, do you think a WR would be a good roo to try?

Nolls has an email that I have used: [email protected] from what I remember, I didnt get an email back, but I did get my brochure!​

 

[EggsForIHOP]

I think pineywoodspeeps has their number here too somewhere for Noll hatchery - aren't they raising a batch of their kosher kings right now?

I am watching all of this, because it is interesting to me quite a bit...good luck moving forward with your breeding and experimenting...I think it is rather nifty to see good outcomes from things like this

and I admit to not being patient enough to try it myself, so I have to watch others and see what they get

 

[cornish20]

Mrs. Mucket :

Bucky-- I missed your post till now but that is a good idea. I'm just learning about selective breeding. I was thinking of trying a smaller rooster too, not for size genes but for comfort of the hens. Both my FR roos have been 15# and a FR/RIR roo was 13#.

I have not gotten responses from Nolls'--is phone the only way to reach them? Do you have any info on the Alabama hatchery?

Johnsons-r-us, do you think a WR would be a good roo to try?

mrs mucket..

read this, you might find benefit from it.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/web/viewblog.php?id=99923​