I finally took the plunge and have a batch of 100 color range broilers coming from JM. After a couple years of research I finally did it. They will be pastured (free ranging) in an electrified net paddock that will be rotated and will be locked in at night to keep the owls off of them. A local feed mill was super helpful and mixed a ration to my specs - 20% protein, no animal by products, kelp meal, nutribalancer and a probiotic. I can't wait to get them as they will be a mixed batch of the 3 colors, should be a pretty sight out on the range!
AnthonyT, I think you will love them. They are the friendliest chickens I have ever had, and I've been dealing with chickens for 50 years. When I go out of the house the little fat rascals come running and flying to me. Yes, they really can fly, actually its just running and flapping, but it looks like flying. They are very healthy, and pretty birds too. I have all the colors, black, gold, red, bronze and some I'm not even sure what color they are. I let mine run loose all day and put feed in their trough 4 or 5 times every day. They gulp it all down in 10 minutes then its off to catch some little bugs hiding in the tall weeds. I think its very unnatural to keep man-u-factured food in front of them 24/7. They go to their coop to sleep and take naps during the day. Some roost on a pole roost and some like to sleep on top of their little chicken house, and some sleep in the chicken house. They are very laid back and I can pick any of them up without them having a fit. Calm is a good word for them, but they are athletic too. Unfortunately, most people seem not to understand the difference between this type bird and the American Frankenchickens that fill the brooder houses of our great nation. Free Rangers have been bred to live like normal chickens, scratching in the dirt, eating whatever they can find, but with faster and larger growth. They are not "designed" to live in brooder houses and do very poorly confined in that type atmosphere. They were also intended to be harvested no earlier than 81 days, (if my memory is correct). I doubt that I will ever raise any other kind of chickens for eating, certainly not Cornish Frankenbirds. I love my Freedom Rangers from JM Hatcheries!! If you raise them as they were intended to be raised, I imagine that you will love them too. Janet, on a one lane road, just outside of Music City USA
I love reading all of this. I took my pathetic Cornish Crosses in yesterday to the processor. They were done and I was done. One was pretty attached to me, though. It was actually hard to say goodbye to that guy BUT his destiny was fulfilled, and now he is freezer meat. That's how life goes! Anyway, I was there at the same time a couple was having their Red Bros processed. They were very beautiful, healthy looking birds, especially compared to my waddling little pigbeasts. I was so impressed with them (and the ones I saw lively and happy on Greyfields' farm) that I may have to give them a try next spring. Please provide pics of your multi-colored free-range meat birds. I would love to see that! Good luck with your new meat flock, too
Janet, thanks for the info. It will be great to have calm, easy to work with chickens. I like any livestock I have to work with to be calm and freindly. Makes it easier on you and them and they don't get sick as often if they aren't stressed out every time they see you. I can't wiat until they get here! By the way I am straight up I-65 from you, just the other side of the KY line.
WOW! I was just looking at JM site and they offer free shipping! (Well, one could say, shipping included in price lol). But still, I think that's a great thing! Dh works with a guy that raises his own meat. We got our silkie trio from him. I think after talking with him, dh has the idea in the back of his mind. He's a "processor", though...takes him some time to decide on something lol. I mentioned that I though raising our own meat birds would be a good idea, so we'll just see.
We have 50 RedBros on the way to us next week. I think Joel(JM) is having a busy summer. If these birds are half as cool as so many say and 75% the size of a Cornish then I'm gonna be thrilled. We are used to young standard roos for our table. These are gonna be a treat. It does scare me when people say how friendly they are. Has anyone kept a few as pets or added to their layer flocks because they were too friendly to cull?