CornishXs vs Freedom Rangers

[bigredfeather]

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Don't you mean a higher FCR? My CX's are always between 2 1/2-3 FCR, depending on how old they are when processed.

 

[Peruvian]

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Don't you mean a higher FCR? My CX's are always between 2 1/2-3 FCR, depending on how old they are when processed.

That's correct. My apoligies. CX will eat less feed per pound gained than rangers.

 

[miss_thenorth]

I raise the CXs only now, and I never limit their food intake. My first year I started out limiting their feed, but found in the morning when I filled up their feeder--it was a feeding frenzy, and some got hurt, so I don't limit feed now. I also pasture raise mine in electric netting. Mine forage very nicely, and the last few years, I haven't lost a single one. The first year I rasies them, I only lost three in the brooder.

 

[CarriageStone]

I tried Freedom Rangers last year. After hearing about their superior flavor, I was quite peeved after processing and cooking one. All that effort and expense produced a bird that didn't taste any better than what we had been buying at Costco.

Right now I've got 69 CX's outside. They're four weeks old and doing fine. I started out with 78 but lost some to smothering in the brooder.

THis batch came from Etta at Schlecht's Hatchery. Great folks. So far I'd buy from them again. I'm much more positive about this batch than the FR's -- which is a shame because the folks at Freedom Rangery Hatchery were very nice to deal with.

 

[Renee']

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You will be pleased with your Schlect's birds. I just processed 26 of them yesterday. A few weighed 5 pounds and one weighed 7 pounds (processed)! I would say the average was 6 pounds (straight run). They were 8 weeks and one day old. I didn't lose any and there were zero leg problems. One started whistling, when he would breathe, about a week ago but he hung in there and processed normally (I think his heart wasn't keeping up). They were started on 50 pounds of starter mash then two 50 pound bags of starter crumble then finished with several bags of flock raiser - all non-medicated.

Good luck!

 

[LilyD]

I raised CX last year and the only problem that I had was already stated. They poop like mad men and are very stinky if not let to free range over a big area. If you give them a large outdoor area they are less smelly and need less cleaning. I would also go longer than 8 weeks. They were a bit small for the size I like in a broiler bird being between 3 and 5 pounds dressed out. We have a batch on the way that will be here on the 29th and we plan on taking these out until 10 to 12 weeks this time rather than processing at 8. Other than that I am very happy with them.

 

[vfem]

I'm thinking of ordering the Rainbow Rangers from Meyers. Any luck with these? I saw some Cx being raised and was not pleased with how fast they grew and how uncomfortable they looked. So for my mental state of having to do this, I want to go with rangers... even with the extra 4 weeks to process. Are there better ranger deals out there? We're going to start out with 20.

 

[FarmerRob]

Those Rainbow Rangers look and read just like the Freedom Rangers from JM Hatchery.com only they are slightly higher price than the FRs. Most likely they are just brokering the deal for a small fee. They stated on their (Meyer) website that they are shipped seperate from all other chickens. I would guess that is why. They take your order and forward it to the hatchery (JM) for processing. This is a common practice with many hatcheries for some of the products they offer.

 

[ChikeeMomma]

I was thinking that they looked like they came from JM, too.

 

[vfem]

Thanks, I may just goto JM. I wish I could find some chicks locally since we didn't want to start with many. I would get more, but it looks like we're going to have some meat ducks here shortly and too many of both may not fit in my freezer.