Cornish X vs Freedom Ranger - experience only please

[scubaforlife]

Those of you that have gone from CXs to FRs, can you tell me the differences you have experienced?

I started with 60 CXs, lost one chick, brooded until 2.5 weeks and moved onto pasture. I think we have lost about 10 or 12 more. They are almost 6 weeks now and we lose one or two a day. They seem fine, then drop dead.

I think its a cold/damp problem as their feed, vitamins, etc... are all good.

I ordered freedom rangers with the hope that they are more weather tolerant and I think they seem to be a bit less sad as CXs just sit around and can barely walk.

So, am I on the right track? I want to provide a more heritage type bird and I want to stay within market scope (white meat).

 

[tnchicken]

I have experienced the same issues with CX. If you find they are full of fluid, I believe it might be ascites which appears to be a combination of cardio and respiratory issues. We had a cold damp spring a couple years ago and I lost 40%. From what I read, the trait to develop this is a genetic issue. It is possible to get a "bad batch" that under the right conditions can lead to a disaster. Can you tell me which hatchery you ordered from?

For your question, I have tried the colored ranger version from S&G and it's a night and day difference as to durability. I pastured these up till January with few losses. You give up a lot in feed coversion/time/size. You just have to weigh out what you want. I still raise CX but only after the threat of a cold damp spring and before the high heat of summer. I do the colored rangers in fall and early spring. If you need some data on the S&G version, let me know but I believe the FR might perform a little better.

 

[yotetrapper]

I've been scared to try the freedom rangers. I have images of puny, tough birds, much like extra layer roos.

I grew cornish last year, 25 of them, all 25 raised to slaughter weight.

 

[Brunty_Farms]

Quote:
I think, the biggest problem that people face... either with the colored broilers or the white broilers is the fact of keeping them warm during cool damp nights. It doesn't matter what type of chicken you have, if it sleeps on the ground instead of roosting.... it's going to be somewhat cold. Especially after a rain and then the temps drop, I will have full grown cornish pile after a cool wet day.

So before switching breeds, first find the problem... and I'm willing to bet that's the problem.

One way I'm going to try and fix this problem is feeding at night and withholding feed during the late morning early afternoon. It solves two problems at once.... however it is tough getting light onto pasture for pastured pens. Neil Grassbaugh (from this site).... is working hard to eliminate a lot of these problems that are associated with pasture raising any type of broiler. I'm trying to get him out here to my place and run some type of pilot program to see how his automatic waters, other equipment, and knowledge could help better this type of system. So keep your eyes open for new ideas on this board.... the biggest problem that any producer faces is... running out of water and keeping birds comfortable in the ever changing environment of pasture based farming.

Good luck, but changing breeds will not solve the issue at hand. I've raised both, honestly neither breed is hardier then the other.... one just grows faster.

 

[mike67909]

My rangers were in a tractor at 3 weeks with a heat lamp at night. At 4 weeks I removed the light and they have been fine. The temperatures have been up to 80 degrees F in the days with lows in the 50's to highs in the 50's and below freezing at night since I removed the lamp. I haven't lost a single one. I lost a couple of cornish earlier at 4 and 5 weeks due to the cold weather.

The rangers are 100% better at foraging and don't have any leg problems the list goes on...

They grow slower that the problem but I don't find it to be a problem. I am scheduling to butcher around 9 weeks depending on how they look, which will be at the end of this month. I can let you know what the dressed weights are then.

I will probably stick with the rangers from now on and raise x's for game hen sized birds only.

 

[scubaforlife]

I am going with freedom rangers on the next batch, maybe back to CXs when it is warmer. I just don't like the breed, I guess that's why they make a good meatie.

I think the cold and damp is the problem but it is strange. I look in the pen and they are all bright and happy, fighting etc... Then I go out later and there is a dead one.

Has anyone done a FR capon?

 

[jBlaze]

Semi hijack, sorry , but same question really.

Are the FR's more heat tolerant?

We did CX last year, june and July, and they had a hard time with the heat toward the end. (these were birds for the fair.)
I am soncidering getting FR's but dont really wnat to deal with heat issues either. Should I just wait till fall?

 

[mike67909]

I am sure the FR will do better with the heat for you. They don't grow as fast so they are likely to be more tolerant.

 

[wyliefarms]

I have always done CX and have never had a problem. Been raising them for 13 years now. I do several batches do to space limitations and they do fine in all weather. I use a heat lamp longer in the spring, due to chilly nights.

Good luck on your decision.