Colored Rangers Grow Out Journal/ Video Added pg 11

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Nice video. I like how the smaller ones whip around the pen smile then you have the piggies at the feeder. I am so surprised by th esize of their legs!!
What kind of turkeys are those?

Thanks. They are extremely active. They even test the fence line like the pigs and goats do. it was funny now it is getting old. They search the entire perimeter looking for a hole to go through. Soon a s they find something they can fit through they are gone. They seem to find their own way back in as well, most of the time. On Saturday I moved them to their more permanent home, it is an area 75'x60' = 4500sq ft so that gives each bird 45 sq ft each on the ground and 1 sq ft each in there shelter.
They have feet the size of turkey poults. Man if they grew in their feet they would be HUGE. They have very long legs as well.
I'll post some more pics here real soon as I'm super busy and keep forgetting the camera when I go out to their area.​

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

*** UPDATE ****

Well the begining of this week I took their heat lamp from them as the exteneion cord kept popping the breaker when it rained so for get it .... But we has snow on Wednesday night and got real cold here, and well I lost two more to being crushed to death. Dang weather make up your mind is almost spring or winter ??? Other then that they are all doing great, getting big. Eating more then ever. They are up to 25 lbs a day or so. I would say they are about the same size as a Cornish X at 3-4 weeks old. they are growing I would say at about half the speed as the Cornish X's do. But they are still eating the same amount as the Cornish would, as I can tell far as now they will eat the exact same as the Cornish X's, even though they live twice as long. We really enjoy these guys alot, even though they are a pain in the rear. They really do test your fences, so make them good. We are using what we have always used with broilers, never had one get out or even try but with these little buggers they find that one weak spot and they are off. Came home from town the other day and found 35 or so broilers on the driveway getting their grit. They seen me at the gate and all came running to me as if I was going to be happy they got out. My daughter thought it was cute. What I have found is if they have everything they could ever want they will not test, but if they want to go out for a stroll they will find a way. So after this batch and before the new ones go out I will have to figure out running 2x4 welded wire, so they can not get out at all. Because it is a real pain trying to get all them chicks back in with ease. They really do like their freedom.

We have had great local interest in them as well. We are all sold out for our April orders and now working on March's. People really seem to want something different then the Cornish X's. We had some of our first visitors to the ranch since, we moved and they watched them for about 15 minutes and they were sold and wanted to buy right there on the spot. They liked the fact that they acted more like a chicken then just a eater. They also found it interesting that they ran and tried flying like they do. She said " sure looks like they enjoy their life more and they are sure full of energy."

 

[shelleyb1969]

Harp, you've definitely sold me on them! With every post you make, I get more and more excited...but it's still tooooooo cold here.

 

[nc.chickgal]

I think this is a great thread and so full of information. We are thinking about getting some to raise but you said they eat the same as the Cornish Cross but the Rangers take longer to grow? How much have they eat so far?

Blessings to you
Shanice

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Well after today they will have eaten 12 50lbs bags of feed = 600lbs. They are right at 150lbs a week now.They are now to the point where they will start finishing off a 50lb bag a day here real soon.

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

I finally got a few pictures this morning. They will be 7 weeks old on Wednesday.So they are 6.5 weeks old in these pictures.

Here is a shot of their new area

 

[SamG347]

How much feed do you think 25 would eat...lol if you can think that low after feeding the hundred

I'm planning on raising two batches of freedom rangers. 25 Early spring....and 25 in the summer. And think they can be started on Mash feed?

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

How much feed do you think 25 would eat...

Well I would have to say a fourth of what a hundred eat ?? So if 100 eat 1200lbs of feed then 25 would eat 300 lbs of feed. That would be at an average dressed weight of 4lbs.

think they can be started on Mash feed?

I start,grow and finish all my broilers on crumbles. (ground up pellets)​

 

[PurpleChicken]

I'm enjoying this thread Harp. I didn't track feed that well and had
Cornish and Rangers and Fryers all at the same time and wasn't sure
who was eating what.

The idea of 35 Rangers running up to you makes me laugh too.

Have you been able to weigh them live yet?

 

[Harp Turkey Ranch]

Have you been able to weigh them live yet?

No, I can not hypnotize them like others.

It's like Christmas, peeking would be against the rules. We'll see when they are dressed and only got about 3-5 weeks to go. I almost weighed a few the other day but never did around to it.​