Colored rangers - video - *updated* with processed weights

[knittychickadee]

Bossroo,
I would say some of your good luck with no losses is the fact that you raise them like the commercial growers do- in a building. You don't grow big numbers, your birds don't have the stress of being moved, outdoor weather, etc. Even experienced growers admit Cornishx like to up and die though for no explicable reasons even with the best of care. No one disagrees with you that they put the most weight on in the shortest time, but some of us just don't care! That speedy growth comes with disadvantages, some to the health and well being of the bird itself. Can you please start a new thread if you want to discuss the CornishX?

 

[vermontgal]

Hi Folks, here's my processed weights:

12 birds: 7 cockerels, 5 pullets
10 weeks, 1 day old
Ave weight - 4.8 lbs
Feed Conversion Ratio = 3.8 : 1

Details below for those who want 'em!

Weighed using the old yardsale bathroom spring scale method, so it may not be not super accurate. I stood on the scale 3x with just me + a milk crate, and took the average as the base weight. Then I stood on the scale 3x with sets of 4 birds in the milk crate, and took the average. Two sets of 4 came in at 20 lbs (= 5 lbs per bird), One set came in at 18 lbs (= 4.5 lbs per bird)

I would expect that the largest cockerels are probably close to 6 lbs and the smallest pullets were probably closer to 4 lbs.

Feed summary: approx 220 lbs in total
5/15 - Green Mountain Chick starter (organic), 50 lbs, 22% - 4 weeks
6/13 - Green Mountain Turkey Grower (organic), 50 lbs, 21% - 2 weeks
6/26 - Green Mountain Chicken Grower (conventional), 50 lbs, 20.8% - 12 days
7/6 - Green Mountain Chicken Grower Crumbles (conventional), 50 lbs, 20.8% - 10 days
7/17- Green Mountain Chicken Grower Crumbles (conventional), 50 lbs, 20.8% - 1/2 bag or more left at slaughter

Feed Conversion Ratio = 3.8
220 lbs feed : 58 lbs processed weight (no necks or organs).

* Note I switched from organic to conventional as I realized I was going to go through more feed than forecast. On the flipside, the birds are much larger than I was figuring they'd be.

I fed turkey grower because it has a higher % of protein than the organic chicken grower (19%). Green Mountain Feeds are from a feed mill in Bethel Vermont and are available through much of the north east.

For me, these birds are actually pretty big. When I buy chickens locally, I typically buy 3.5 lb whole birds. Ironically, I'm a little bummed they are so big! I am planning to cut up some of them before they go in the freezer. They are in the refrigerator right now.

 

[vermontgal]

I finally calculated costs. I fed organic ($$$) for 2 bags, the rest conventional. For just the cost of chicks, feed, and processing, the rangers cost me just over $2 per pound.

 

[ChickyLaura]

Thanks a lot for posting this, Vermont. Your post is very informative, and actually is inspiring me to pursue raising my own meaties. I live near JM Hatcheries in New Holland, PA, and am hoping to get 6-8 Colored Rangers from them, to start. I never thought I would do this, but... here goes!