Crossing my Red Ranger Hens.

[Compost King]

I let the meat rest 24 hrs to let the rigor motits pass... seems tough to me otherwise

I never even thought of that. I cooked up half the breast right away, and then cooked up the other half the next day. I didn't notice a difference but that doesn't mean there wasn't one. It just means I don't pay attention to things sometimes,

 

[Kris5902]

I miss YouTube... more than TV, and Doug and Stacy’s channel especially, they weren’t into chickens heavily yet while I still had internet, one day I’ll catch up on things! My Rangers are weighing in at 1lb 4oz average at 3 weeks now, but there’s a huge variety in sizes, some giants, and some runts coming in at barely a pound, so I’m going to select heavily for breeding stock that feathers faster, with decent size.

I’m making chicken pot pie out of the three cockerels I processed out Tuesday, two layers and a Barnvelder that looks promising for meat crossing (I kept his less temperamental and larger brother for potential breeding. They were 24 weeks old, so I’m expecting them to be very “flavorful”, but we like stronger tasting meats now that we eat all hunted/pastured meat. The Layer boys were skinny little things, but the Barnvelder dressed out close to 5 lbs* with some nice fat on him. Our abbatoir cold room is down so I had to bag them up and put them into our little shared electric fridge to rest. He was way too big to fit in our ziplocks so we had to remove the legs.

Assuming there’s no huge attitude swings, I know who’s getting some Readheaded Girlfriends once they are all grown up! Plucking the darker bird wasn’t a problem at all, and he cleaned up nicely, better than the white layer boys even. I wish I’d thought to take pictures before we squished him into the baggie. I just wonder about the offspring’s temperament, because the Barnvelders are quite standoffish and high strung, and my Rangers are also very “flee! the food bringer is coming” in attitude. Excited to start this project... thanks again for all the support and info!

edit: 4lbs 6oz, just got him on the scale, but not a bad guess... total weight of all 3 was 8lbs 3oz, he has some chunky legs!

.

 

[Compost King]

I miss YouTube... more than TV, and Doug and Stacy’s channel especially, they weren’t into chickens heavily yet while I still had internet, one day I’ll catch up on things! My Rangers are weighing in at 1lb 4oz average at 3 weeks now, but there’s a huge variety in sizes, some giants, and some runts coming in at barely a pound, so I’m going to select heavily for breeding stock that feathers faster, with decent size.

I’m making chicken pot pie out of the three cockerels I processed out Tuesday, two layers and a Barnvelder that looks promising for meat crossing (I kept his less temperamental and larger brother for potential breeding. They were 24 weeks old, so I’m expecting them to be very “flavorful”, but we like stronger tasting meats now that we eat all hunted/pastured meat. The Layer boys were skinny little things, but the Barnvelder dressed out close to 5 lbs* with some nice fat on him. Our abbatoir cold room is down so I had to bag them up and put them into our little shared electric fridge to rest. He was way too big to fit in our ziplocks so we had to remove the legs.

Assuming there’s no huge attitude swings, I know who’s getting some Readheaded Girlfriends once they are all grown up! Plucking the darker bird wasn’t a problem at all, and he cleaned up nicely, better than the white layer boys even. I wish I’d thought to take pictures before we squished him into the baggie. I just wonder about the offspring’s temperament, because the Barnvelders are quite standoffish and high strung, and my Rangers are also very “flee! the food bringer is coming” in attitude. Excited to start this project... thanks again for all the support and info!

edit: 4lbs 6oz, just got him on the scale, but not a bad guess... total weight of all 3 was 8lbs 3oz, he has some chunky legs!

.View attachment 1753197 View attachment 1753198

That is a lot of meat for a 24 week old heritage breed. My only Heritage breed that has any size on them are my Dorking's and it takes a long time to get them up to size. Which explains why I started breeding Red Ranger hens with Heritage breeds.

 

[Compost King]

Some Pictures I took tonight
First.. one of the 2 Dorking's hatched last night or early this morning. I have a hands off approach with Broody's and their chicks so not the best pictures of the chicks. Under here were Naked Neck X Red Ranger and Naked Neck x (Cemani x Red Ranger) along with Pure Dorking's. The 2nd Dorking should Hatch out in a next couple days.

In the Brooder from the last hatch from last weekend

There are a few Naked Necks X Red Rangers, as well as Cemani X (Cemani X Red Ranger) and a Naked Neck x (Cemani x Red Ranger). Only one Naked Neck had the Fibro trait though... Some chicks in there are from TSC as they Cream Legbar straight run and splash Jersey Giants... and some easter eggers.

My last Naked Neck with the Fibro trait died on me so I am glad to get another.

 

[BlueBaby]

Some Pictures I took tonight
First.. one of the 2 Dorking's hatched last night or early this morning. I have a hands off approach with Broody's and their chicks so not the best pictures of the chicks. Under here were Naked Neck X Red Ranger and Naked Neck x (Cemani x Red Ranger) along with Pure Dorking's. The 2nd Dorking should Hatch out in a next couple days.
View attachment 1754840
View attachment 1754841
In the Brooder from the last hatch from last weekend
View attachment 1754842
There are a few Naked Necks X Red Rangers, as well as Cemani X (Cemani X Red Ranger) and a Naked Neck x (Cemani x Red Ranger). Only one Naked Neck had the Fibro trait though... Some chicks in there are from TSC as they Cream Legbar straight run and splash Jersey Giants... and some easter eggers.
View attachment 1754850
My last Naked Neck with the Fibro trait died on me so I am glad to get another.

The Cream Legbars are an auto-sexing breed. They don't grow all that big. I have one here still and she lay's a light blue egg. Her niece lay's green egg's because her mother was bred to my NN rooster. She inherited the crest from her mother, and the NN from the father.

 

[Compost King]

The Cream Legbars are an auto-sexing breed. They don't grow all that big. I have one here still and she lay's a light blue egg. Her niece lay's green egg's because her mother was bred to my NN rooster. She inherited the crest from her mother, and the NN from the father.

I got the Cream Legbars for the auto sexing. When it comes to having chickens for eggs the smaller the better and leghorns are by far my favorite egg laying breed. Legbars are very similar but with auto sexing. I am guessing they might be the perfect egg laying breed to hatch eggs from.

 

[BlueBaby]

I got the Cream Legbars for the auto sexing. When it comes to having chickens for eggs the smaller the better and leghorns are by far my favorite egg laying breed. Legbars are very similar but with auto sexing. I am guessing they might be the perfect egg laying breed to hatch eggs from.

The hen's lay egg's ok just not a large size, and non of the 3 of mine that I had went broody. So if you want chick's hatched you'll have to do it yourself. I intend to breed that CCLB/NN hen back to the NN to try for a larger sized green egg in the future pullet's.

 

[Compost King]

The hen's lay egg's ok just not a large size, and non of the 3 of mine that I had went broody. So if you want chick's hatched you'll have to do it yourself. I intend to breed that CCLB/NN hen back to the NN to try for a larger sized green egg in the future pullet's.

And my Legbars are from TSC so my eggs will be smaller, and my rate of lay will be lower.

 

[Kris5902]

And my Legbars are from TSC so my eggs will be smaller, and my rate of lay will be lower.

I’m just going to say... I’m pretty sure you’ve got the skills to take those TSC Legbars and improve them!

 

[BlueBaby]

And my Legbars are from TSC so my eggs will be smaller, and my rate of lay will be lower.

Good luck with them. I don't plan on buying anymore of those. I find them to be too expensive for small, and laying smaller and fewer egg's. They will however forage pretty good and will help your composting.