Anyone tried these Red Ranger meat birds?

[informative]

Has anyone tried these chickens and can tell me how they compare to a RIR or NHR?
http://www.mthealthy.com/store/948458/product/RR-sr

They are called "Red Ranger" - basically a strong foraging free range red chicken which I cannot find much info on elsewhere so must be a custom label new breed someone is claiming here at this respected hatchery.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise.

 

[Kelsie2290]

I had some. I just raised them with my spring layer chicks and did not try to fatten them up like meat birds. I actually did not find them much different than your average heavy breed cockerel of something like RIR, NHR, sex links etc. They only sell them straight run, and for the money and trouble I like red sex links better, the hens lay a lot better and there was not that much difference in the boys when pasture raised.

 

[Hummingbird Hollow]

I am 11 weeks into a group of 15 Red Rangers that I purchased through Murray McMurray Hatchery. While I can't comment as to whether or not these are the same birds as MtHealthy, the descripton sound very similar. I purchased these Red Rangers this year because I had had a really positive experience raising Freedom Rangers for meat last summer. Unfortunately, you can't order Freedom Rangers in lots less than 25, and I had promised my husband I wouldn't order that many at one time again this year. So, I ordered the Red Rangers instead.

I can't say that I've been impressed when comparing these birds to last year's Freedom Rangers. While they have been mostly healthy and robust, as promised, I'm closing in on 12 weeks and have only butchered 4 of the largest roosters. The first I butchered at 9 weeks and he was only 3 lb 5 oz (the first batch of Freedom Rangers I also butchered at 9 weeks and the roosters averaged 4 lb 3 oz) I waited a week and grabbed two more of the largest looking roosters. They both weighed about 4 lb, give or taka on ounce 4 lb at 10 weeks (my Freedom Ranger roosters averaged 4 lb 8 oz). The one I processed yesterday at 11 weeks was 4 lb 3 oz. compared to an average of 5 lb for a similar aged Freedom Ranger.

If memory serves, the Red Rangers cost more than the Freedom Rangers and it appears that they take longer to reach a good butchering weight. Next year I'm going to see if I can find someone to share a batch of FRs with unless I can convince my husband that 25 chickens isn't REALLY all that more than 15.

I'll probably butcher half of the remaining at 12 weeks and the rest at 13 weeks but don't expect to be impressed.

 

[BCMaraniac]

I got Red Rangers from McMurray this year, and they are 13 weeks old tomorrow. I intended to butcher last weekend, but then couldn't. This weekend is out because we are moving our son out to his first apt.....Yay

So next weekend will be the beginning of the processing. They aren't going to be as big as the CX, obviously, but I believe they are going to be a decent size, especially the cockerels.

I will post weights after processing.