Freedom Ranger Nerd Out Thread

[Molpet]

I harvested my Freedom Rangers this past weekend here are some results. Average Rooster weight 6.5lbs dressed with the largest weighing 7.5, Hen average was 6 with the largest at 6.5 and the smallest at 5. All in all Im pretty happy with the results

how old?

 

[kyleag]

how old?

10 1/2 weeks

 

[seanengler]

10 1/2 weeks

What did you do for your feeding regimen?

 

[seanengler]

--Week 2 Update--



I am amazed at how much they are eating. I knew they were going to eat a lot, but they've outpaced the data for the cornish cross broilers meyer hatchery has on their website at this point.



Some notes:
-the birds are about 50% feathered out
-I have them on a natural daylight schedule now
-I have gone from average live weights to random live weights each week from now on in an effort to reduce the stress. Through research and reading I've done, stressing the birds can affect the outcome and final weights etc.. The average weights week by week really don't serve a purpose other than curiosity, so I've gone to random weights.

 

[kyleag]

What did you do for your feeding regimen?

I allowed them to have free choice 24 hours a day on a 21% protein feed, with a handful or two of scratch every couple days then the last 10 days I switched to a 16% protein feed with a quart mason jar of cracked corn and 1 cup of scratch in the mornings to help with adding a bit of fat.

 

[seanengler]

I allowed them to have free choice 24 hours a day on a 21% protein feed, with a handful or two of scratch every couple days then the last 10 days I switched to a 16% protein feed with a quart mason jar of cracked corn and 1 cup of scratch in the mornings to help with adding a bit of fat.

Thanks for the info!

 

[seanengler]

Week 3 Update

Well, I have no week three update. I spent most of the week in the hospital and my wife spent most of her week keeping me company. So, the friends and family we had looking after the dogs and chickens etc., I didn't bother having them do my daily feed consumption tracking etc.

Anyway, Hopefully the weather cooperates and I can get these birds out onto pasture this week. They're ALMOST fully feathered, and our temps are in the mid to high 40s.

Some things I've noticed since coming home from the hospital today since the last time I saw them....their activity level is insane. They are the most active birds I've ever seen, I've never raised cornish cross so I don't know how they compare there. They remind me of little Veloca Raptors. They all rush my hands and attack when I reach in to get the feeders and attack the feeders like crazy when I put them back in. They're flapping/jumping high enough to roost on the walls of the 18 inch brooder too. I look forward to seeing their consumption numbers and weight gain next week for the week 4 update.

 

[seanengler]

Pen is done! Waterer is done, feeder is done, electric fencing around base of pen is done and perimeter fence all done. Chicks go in the pen tomorrow morning at sunrise...I'll post some pics of the setup all in place, it got too dark by the time I had the waterer etc finished tonight. Anyway, here's a pic of the pen.

 

[Maeschak]

Pen is done! Waterer is done, feeder is done, electric fencing around base of pen is done and perimeter fence all done. Chicks go in the pen tomorrow morning at sunrise...I'll post some pics of the setup all in place, it got too dark by the time I had the waterer etc finished tonight. Anyway, here's a pic of the pen.

Beautiful. Congratulations!

 

[pioneerchick816]

@seanengler
That looks great!!