They look great, Harp! I bet they'll be just fine outside. Sometimes I think that we spoil our chickens a little too much. I'm sure these Rangers are much tougher/hardier than the Cornish X, and I really think they'll toughen up and adjust to outdoor life very well.
Colored Rangers Grow Out Journal/ Video Added pg 11
- Thread starter Harp Turkey Ranch
- Start date
- Thread starter
- #102
Was this their first day out on pasture? If so, good luck with the first few nights.....
Yes the pictures I took this morning. They where out yesterday and last night, today I opened up the door and let them go in a 300 sq ft area. I have a digital temp gun and when I checked them last night under the brooder they where at 75 degrees and temp out side was 31 degrees.
J
Yes the pictures I took this morning. They where out yesterday and last night, today I opened up the door and let them go in a 300 sq ft area. I have a digital temp gun and when I checked them last night under the brooder they where at 75 degrees and temp out side was 31 degrees.
J
just a suggestion.... you can take it however you want but I have had really good results in cold weather if you can somehow close off the entire pen from the wind. This will also trap some of the heat from the lamp and what the birds give off.
I have their pen sides with the tarp facing the winds. If they get too cold I will do that for sure, as that was what we had to do on the cornish x's last year.
I have their pen sides with the tarp facing the winds. If they get too cold I will do that for sure, as that was what we had to do on the cornish x's last year.
I'm sure these Rangers are much tougher/hardier than the Cornish X, and I really think they'll toughen up and adjust to outdoor life very well.
Well that is what we are going for that they are alot more rugged, but we will see. We had dismal results this early last year with the Cornish X's, so now time will tell.
Well that is what we are going for that they are alot more rugged, but we will see. We had dismal results this early last year with the Cornish X's, so now time will tell.
- Thread starter
- #103
*** UPDATE ***
Well they have been outside in their shelter now for 4 days and everyone is doing great. Last few mornings they are all at the door crying to get out, soon as I open their door they pour out and most try and fly, stretching their wings, they can get up to 1ft off the ground, they don't land so graceful.
Have been leaving their food outside now as it is a pain to try and move it in and out every night. They have feathered out nice and thick now. It has been getting 29 degrees at night and 40's in the day, even with the frost on the grass in the am they just run and search for food, loving them way more then the Cornish X's now.
Food Consumption Update
They have gone through as of today 7 - 50lbs bags = 350lbs of food for 97 rangers @ 4 weeks and 5 days.
So far my math suggest that they are right on track with the feed to consume their 1200 lbs by 10-12 weeks.
Well they have been outside in their shelter now for 4 days and everyone is doing great. Last few mornings they are all at the door crying to get out, soon as I open their door they pour out and most try and fly, stretching their wings, they can get up to 1ft off the ground, they don't land so graceful.
Food Consumption Update
They have gone through as of today 7 - 50lbs bags = 350lbs of food for 97 rangers @ 4 weeks and 5 days.
So far my math suggest that they are right on track with the feed to consume their 1200 lbs by 10-12 weeks.
Okay, so using you figures (thank you, btw) the birds end up eating $1.97 worth of feed per bird (feed is cheap here, $8/bag) and I figured 24 bags...the birds are like $1 each (I have 100 coming April 1) so $3 bird- sell for $2/pound (7lb=$14)? figure $11 profit on each bird?
That be some good numbers!
That be some good numbers!
- Thread starter
- #105
Well they should end up eating about 12 lbs a bird, so at .24 a lb for feed here times 12 lbs of feed per bird = $2.88 a bird in feed. You would also need to figure in that the rangers are only going to get about 5-6 lbs dressed at their biggest so your average should be about 4 lbs not 7 lbs. Then figure in the butchering or your time and should come out to be about 6-7 dollars a bird. The numbers always seem to look better then they really are when it comes right down to it. The only way you will know is keep a very good record of all expenses through out your grow and then at the end minus that against what you sold them for and wholla you get your end numbers.
- Thread starter
- #106
*** UPDATE ****
They are now 5 weeks old and are a handful. They are so much more active then Cornish X's that they escape, not one not two but 50 and the other 47 trying like heck.. Soon as one goes they all go. They fit through the holes in the premier poultry netting. Never had the problem before with the Cornish X's. I went out side right before night fall and heard a peeping and looked and at the back door is a ranger chick. They are all sooo friendly, they see me and they all come running following me like a puppy dog. There is a few that even like to get held and petted. The more they are around the more you realize they act almost like a real chicken, not a broiler.
Today we also took a roll of premier poultry fencing and made them a 40'x40' area to play in. Need a couple more weeks to be big enough they can not fit through the field fence and netting to allow them their 1/2 acre space.
They are almost at a 50lb bag a day now. Probably right at 40lbs a day. But they are growing fast and have not missed a beat, really pleased with them so far. What a pleasure to raise for broilers.
They are now 5 weeks old and are a handful. They are so much more active then Cornish X's that they escape, not one not two but 50 and the other 47 trying like heck.. Soon as one goes they all go. They fit through the holes in the premier poultry netting. Never had the problem before with the Cornish X's. I went out side right before night fall and heard a peeping and looked and at the back door is a ranger chick. They are all sooo friendly, they see me and they all come running following me like a puppy dog. There is a few that even like to get held and petted. The more they are around the more you realize they act almost like a real chicken, not a broiler.
Today we also took a roll of premier poultry fencing and made them a 40'x40' area to play in. Need a couple more weeks to be big enough they can not fit through the field fence and netting to allow them their 1/2 acre space.
They are almost at a 50lb bag a day now. Probably right at 40lbs a day. But they are growing fast and have not missed a beat, really pleased with them so far. What a pleasure to raise for broilers.
How do you like the Premier netting? I'm getting some ordered for our layers in a couple of days. I have been talking to the sales reps and trying to see what would best fit.
Does it keep the dogs and predators away like they say? I'm a little leary of a dog going up to the fence and running through it.
I'm debating on the heavier netting or the regualar netting as I'm not sure which to get.
If you can tell me your experience with this netting I would be thrilled to get your input.
Does it keep the dogs and predators away like they say? I'm a little leary of a dog going up to the fence and running through it.
I'm debating on the heavier netting or the regualar netting as I'm not sure which to get.
If you can tell me your experience with this netting I would be thrilled to get your input.
- Thread starter
- #108
How do you like the Premier netting? I'm getting some ordered for our layers in a couple of days. I have been talking to the sales reps and trying to see what would best fit.
Does it keep the dogs and predators away like they say? I'm a little leary of a dog going up to the fence and running through it.
I'm debating on the heavier netting or the regualar netting as I'm not sure which to get.
If you can tell me your experience with this netting I would be thrilled to get your input.
It is alright. It is not as easy to install and move as they say, unless you are on complete flat land. It keeps my dog out and I use some for the pigs and keeps them in. The chicks on the other hand just cruz right through. They will not be able to in another week or so. I would go with the poultry netting as the holes are a lot smaller at the bottom, then the goats and sheep stuff. Its not cheap but makes a good barrier for land predators and semi permanent fencing. I would cut the first lead to keep the fence from grounding out, with the pigs I cut the first two leads to help the grounding out. Other then that it is what it is, but seems to work great.
I also wanted to post a couple of pics of the chicks out and about.
Does it keep the dogs and predators away like they say? I'm a little leary of a dog going up to the fence and running through it.
I'm debating on the heavier netting or the regualar netting as I'm not sure which to get.
If you can tell me your experience with this netting I would be thrilled to get your input.
It is alright. It is not as easy to install and move as they say, unless you are on complete flat land. It keeps my dog out and I use some for the pigs and keeps them in. The chicks on the other hand just cruz right through. They will not be able to in another week or so. I would go with the poultry netting as the holes are a lot smaller at the bottom, then the goats and sheep stuff. Its not cheap but makes a good barrier for land predators and semi permanent fencing. I would cut the first lead to keep the fence from grounding out, with the pigs I cut the first two leads to help the grounding out. Other then that it is what it is, but seems to work great.
I also wanted to post a couple of pics of the chicks out and about.
- Thread starter
- #109
I also wanted put this video clip I took this morning of them doing there thing, to just kinda show their activity level and so you can see first hand how they behave. Hopefully it works and you guys can view it ??
View My Video
View My Video
Last edited:
They look awesome for five weeks, especially with colder temps. I'm surprised they are so big and so active. I can't wait to see them in another 3 weeks.
I bet the next batch does circles around the one you currently have. When the grass starts to grow and the temps go up a bit. There will be a lot more insects out and more grass to eat, it will be interesting to see how they do.
Nice video too.... I was getting sea sick trying to keep up with the chickens.....
I bet the next batch does circles around the one you currently have. When the grass starts to grow and the temps go up a bit. There will be a lot more insects out and more grass to eat, it will be interesting to see how they do.
Nice video too.... I was getting sea sick trying to keep up with the chickens.....
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