Any tips from those with a bit more experience?

[aoxa]

Aoxa I have done the same thing with mine and they have about 1 and 1/2 out of 2 acres to roam and they do roam but my problem is that in order to do this I have to block access to the layer coop and access to the feed buckets for it to work. They (CRX or Freedom Rangers) are amazing at foraging because they are constantly hungry but they forage everywhere and it's like they talk to each other. I went from getting two dozen eggs a day down to getting 4 a day and found that it was from the meat birds getting in the coop and eating my eggs as well as bugs feed and whatever else they could get their little beaks on. Maybe it's where I got my birds from, not sure. This batch I just did would get into the coop daily and eat the eggs and the minute I went outside they would run up and swarm my legs so that I would feed them. If I didn't give them something they would peck at my legs and I actually had little blood blisters on my legs from where they bit and twisted with their beaks.

Not sure what I am doing wrong but wow. The meat was good but the behavior really wasn't.

They haven't touched eggs yet. They had ample opportunity, since some of the layers went into their pen and laid their eggs. I had to dig for them, since the CX would turn the bedding all up - but I knew which corner a certain hen preferred and would get them every night (she has since gone broody so don't have to worry about digging for them for a while).

They do swarm me, but so do all of my chickens when it is feeding time. They see me after work, and they come running! It's adorable. None have pecked me. They do get under foot, but I don't mind.

Really they are good birds. Only complaint I have is that they eat so fast they gasp when it's time to feed.

 

[LilyD]

They haven't touched eggs yet. They had ample opportunity, since some of the layers went into their pen and laid their eggs. I had to dig for them, since the CX would turn the bedding all up - but I knew which corner a certain hen preferred and would get them every night (she has since gone broody so don't have to worry about digging for them for a while).

They do swarm me, but so do all of my chickens when it is feeding time. They see me after work, and they come running! It's adorable. None have pecked me. They do get under foot, but I don't mind.

Really they are good birds. Only complaint I have is that they eat so fast they gasp when it's time to feed.

Mine did eat fast and gasp when they were eating too but they could eat a huge amount of food in 5 minutes and then even though their crop was full they still would want to eat more and would go after the other chickens to get their food as well. I am almost wondering if it was where I was getting them from. I also ordered CRX a few years back from the same supplier and they were the same way. Rushing at me and trying to jump at me and bite me. They also were very hard on my layers and caused injuries by jumping on the girls which ended up hurting them. I think I need to look around for a new place to order them. I did like the Freedom Rangers weight and size as a processed bird but would love ideas on how to change the behaviors. I tried to socialize them in the beginning maybe that's what I did wrong. Who knows. But I have now gone from 4 eggs back up to almost 2 dozen a day since we processed them all.

 

[aoxa]

Mine did eat fast and gasp when they were eating too but they could eat a huge amount of food in 5 minutes and then even though their crop was full they still would want to eat more and would go after the other chickens to get their food as well. I am almost wondering if it was where I was getting them from. I also ordered CRX a few years back from the same supplier and they were the same way. Rushing at me and trying to jump at me and bite me. They also were very hard on my layers and caused injuries by jumping on the girls which ended up hurting them. I think I need to look around for a new place to order them. I did like the Freedom Rangers weight and size as a processed bird but would love ideas on how to change the behaviors. I tried to socialize them in the beginning maybe that's what I did wrong. Who knows. But I have now gone from 4 eggs back up to almost 2 dozen a day since we processed them all.

It could very well be their genetics. Anything is possible.

By socialized, what do you mean? Mine were out and about with the older birds at 2 weeks old. They are raised with layers, and there is a group the same age, but penned differently and let out a bit later and everyone seems to be getting enough feed (the CX for sure). I don't think early socialization with other birds would cause the behaviour you are describing.

I am afraid to let a younger batch of CX out with them watching how food aggressive they can be. I wouldn't want them to squish the younger group, so I'm holding off until the older ones are processed.

 

[LilyD]

It could very well be their genetics. Anything is possible.

By socialized, what do you mean? Mine were out and about with the older birds at 2 weeks old. They are raised with layers, and there is a group the same age, but penned differently and let out a bit later and everyone seems to be getting enough feed (the CX for sure). I don't think early socialization with other birds would cause the behaviour you are describing.

I am afraid to let a younger batch of CX out with them watching how food aggressive they can be. I wouldn't want them to squish the younger group, so I'm holding off until the older ones are processed.

When we first got them we had them in a brooder and my son and I would hold them and play with them. They were outside by about 4 weeks old but were voracious from even before they were put with the other chickens. They would bite me or jump up at my face when I was carrying the food to feed them. Later as they got older they would meet me at the feed barrels and would not even wait for me to put the feed out for them but try and jump in the buckets and would bite me when I tried to take them out. I will try another supplier to see if there is any difference and now that I know that the birds I have for layers are okay with babies I will get them out earlier so the layers can maybe teach them some manners before they become monsters.

 

[DaveMorey]

My CX are 4 weeks now. I have had no issues with them in regard to aggression. We have handled ours on a daily basis since we kept them in the brooder by night and put them out on grass during the day. Every one of them has been handled, not as pets but in a caring manner. My youngest son likes to hold them from time to time. I also handle them once a week to weigh them and record progress. They certainly do rush me at feeding times but only to get to the food. I use two 3' reel top troughs so that everyone has a place at the table. I am not sure if breeding has to do with aggression, I bought mine from Purely Poultry and have been thrilled with these birds.

 

[TaraBellaBirds]

So we finished the processing. We had a several bumps and setbacks. I will say it again NEVER AGAIN WILL I HAVE PRODUCTION RIRS! We did have three that were pretty good sized birds, but for the most part they were lean. Other than being small most of my roos turned out quite nice. My one Delaware roo dressed out beautifully! The cone worked great and just one cut worked much better and made a cleaner death than the chop block!

I want to ask, has anyone else had watery meat? We had this problem with a couple CX and this time with two RIRs. Is it a protein problem?

Thank for all of the tips!

 

[aoxa]

So we finished the processing. We had a several bumps and setbacks. I will say it again NEVER AGAIN WILL I HAVE PRODUCTION RIRS! We did have three that were pretty good sized birds, but for the most part they were lean. Other than being small most of my roos turned out quite nice. My one Delaware roo dressed out beautifully! The cone worked great and just one cut worked much better and made a cleaner death than the chop block!

I want to ask, has anyone else had watery meat? We had this problem with a couple CX and this time with two RIRs. Is it a protein problem?

Thank for all of the tips!

I have never heard tell of watery meat.

did you let them rest? How did you cook them?

 

[aoxa]

Oh and congrats!

 

[DaveMorey]

We finished our roosters today too. No issues with the meat. I did find one roo with a ton of fat around his internal organs. He actually had a lot of fat on him period but much of it was around his innards. I built a killing cone yesterday that worked out great. I was going to buy one but forgot until last minute. Now I won't buy one but make another if needed. I mounted it to a steel stake.

I just used a piece of black stove pipe. It's folded into a cone shape and then pop riveted. I was also disappointed with the size of my birds (Production Reds) when finished. They were all just a bit under 5 lbs. Very thin once the feathers came off. But they had to go now.