Recent content by jpace

Just me but I would not leave the feathers on during rest or freeze. As I am plucking and gutting; I am also cleaning the chicken...

With the temp in the 60s I would close the bed cap, since heat will not be an issue. The 60 MPH wind might scare them into hurting themselves. Not sure about how many to a box... I process my chicks, so they have a short trip:)

When I built my plucker a few years ago, this was my problem to begin with. Added a stronger spring to the tensioner and it worked great.

How long do you keep them in the brooder?

With the Cornish I had raised, they did require moving twice near the end. I will post pics as I go along. I am ordering 50 today.

I sure am hoping the FRs poop less that the CornishX! I also like the idea of them moving around more that locked in the tractors - will have to see how this works.

Had not thought about a tougher meat... Thank you!

A bump: No one has done Freedom Rangers and let them range during the day?

I like chicken - I'd skin them and have fajitas :D

Planning on raising meat chickens again this year – Freedom Rangers for the first time. I normally (with the Cornish X) put 25 in each chicken tractor and move them as needed. By the end of the 8ish weeks, about twice a day. With the Rangers I am thinking of still using the chicken tractors...

I should be picking up mine next week. Good luck! I'm trying Freedom Rangers for the first time.

That's exactly how we do ours. Cooler with ice and water to quickly drop temp, then to the fridge.

I hand plucked chickens for my first two years of raising Cornish X. Year three I build a plucker" and have not looked back. The best I could do hand plucking was about 20 minutes a bird (yep, I'm slow :)) - with the plucker it is about 20 seconds per bird! For me it was money well spent.

I think I will crack one this morning to see what is happening and then go from there. Thank you for the replies!

I can probably get some fertile eggs from my daughter. Would it hurt the hen to set on eggs twice as long as normal? Being broody seems to be a chore for them, since they do not seen to eat or drink as much as normal?