Freedom Ranger Vs. Heritage Breeds

[GreatBreeder]

Freedom Rangers include a variety of hubbard crosses based on Redbro Females x Coloryeild Yellow/ Redbro/ Tricolor Males. (I got that from joel Martin). We all know these were label rouge crosses for people unsatisfied with Cornish Crosses. We've seen tons of comparisons with them and Cornish Cross. Never with heritage breeds.

To my knowledge Bresse and White Cornish are superior, they get bigger, they're heritage, and lay vastly better. They're widely unavalible, but more people should start breeding them just like freedom rangers have become widely avalible.

I'd like any input you all have on freedom Rangers and heritage breeds, no Cornish Cross though.

 

[centrarchid]

I am not going to touch this one. I have heritage breeds with limited experience using more production oriented breeds. Once feed brought into the equation, production breeds can kick butt. The problem is how complete your investment is. If you skimp, some of the heritage breeds might do better. Might.

 

[GreatBreeder]

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[GreatBreeder]

I am not going to touch this one. I have heritage breeds with limited experience using more production oriented breeds. Once feed brought into the equation, production breeds can kick butt. The problem is how complete your investment is. If you skimp, some of the heritage breeds might do better. Might.

Well I know you can restrict the feed on Cornish Cross and get them to go with layers so they range and they do well, but Freedom Rangers are kind of feed extensive.

 

[GreatBreeder]

For cockerels it's found my crow time to go.

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

I'm also eager to hear some answers on these questions. I have experience with a few heritage breeds from hatcheries, and I can say that you should stay away from hatcheries if that is your plan. They do create great fast-growing hybrids though, and my only experience there is with Cornish Crosses. I'm working on heritage Delawares, using a mix of the largest females from a hatchery and some breeder stock. Everyone I've talked to locally (FL) says that Dels are their go-to dual-purpose breed.
I also agree with @centrarchid that it has a lot to do with the feed. I've heard that fermented feed helps with cost as well as weight gain, so I've switched over to that recently and can already see a difference in my birds. They are eager to forage more, they eat everything I put in front of them, they eat half the amount (when dry), they seem to have more energy, and they seem to be gaining weight quicker.

 

[GreatBreeder]

If you're breeding delawares cull the hens and take some Cornish Cross hens. Few generations of that and you get the Corndel, a sustainable meat bird that never hit the market.

 

[KoopOnTruckin]

I've heard of that, but not that much info on what they are from. Do you know how long they take to hit market weight?

 

[GreatBreeder]

Aka Delaware rooster over Cornish Rock

 

[GreatBreeder]

I've heard of that, but not that much info on what they are from. Do you know how long they take to hit market weight?

Well about 12 weeks and the simple cockerel rule.