Freedom Rangers as Layers? Any experience?

[Henry45]

What did you do?

 

[3KillerBs]

This thread is almost 10 years old.

 

[U_Stormcrow]

I was sipping my coffee reading this for some insight myself, only to find the tale will be told around the same time as "A Song of Ice and Fire" is concluded.

Sadness. More coffee.

 

[esme13]

I can see the thread is old, but for those who are interested in a little more information on them, I can provide a little advice. The hens lay well , very well. But they are large birds and they loose a lot of belly feathers and look poorly after a few months (bald spots under body). Mine lived over a year, only to die of heat stroke from 90 degree weather. Sweet bird. They roost on the floors and really did not eat much once an adult. Basically they are not the most attractive bird. My adults weighted a good 15lbs. They would lay double Yolk eggs during the start of the their laying careers. They can be breed, as I did have fertilized eggs start to developed. The babies eat a lot! I mean a lot a lot omg a lot! Aggressive eaters for months and then they slow down.

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

I can see the thread is old, but for those who are interested in a little more information on them, I can provide a little advice. The hens lay well , very well. But they are large birds and they loose a lot of belly feathers and look poorly after a few months (bald spots under body). Mine lived over a year, only to die of heat stroke from 90 degree weather. Sweet bird. They roost on the floors and really did not eat much once an adult. Basically they are not the most attractive bird. My adults weighted a good 15lbs. They would lay double Yolk eggs during the start of the their laying careers. They can be breed, as I did have fertilized eggs start to developed. The babies eat a lot! I mean a lot a lot omg a lot! Aggressive eaters for months and then they slow down.

I can't add anything yet as mine are 13wks old now. I'll be butchering the cockerels and keeping the pullets.
I was curious if you fed them alot/like meat birds or how much you may have restricted feed? I kept restricted feed to mine, I was worried too much, but they are doing great. Run around with the rest of the flock, same age of assortment breeds. Cockerels are getting too bossy and one has started crowing. So far mine have good feathering.

 

[esme13]

I can't add anything yet as mine are 13wks old now. I'll be butchering the cockerels and keeping the pullets.
I was curious if you fed them alot/like meat birds or how much you may have restricted feed? I kept restricted feed to mine, I was worried too much, but they are doing great. Run around with the rest of the flock, same age of assortment breeds. Cockerels are getting too bossy and one has started crowing. So far mine have good feathering.

I would recommend feed restrictions. I fed all of them in the morning at once. If I had left the whole feed bowl full, the rangers would just lay in front and eat non stop.

After there morning feed, they would free range with the rest of the group. At 5 months , I went back to the bowl fillings and they would eat a lot. It wasn’t until I tied the bowl feed and had it hanging that they seemed to not pay as much attention. They preferred to graze on the grass.

My rooster when young was very food aggressive , but he’s still around. His built is a lot more different than the hens. He stands more proudly. He is much more nicer built than the ranger hens with his feathers intact. He can not roost, he’s to big, but very docile as far as roosters go. I would say he is 15lbs give or take! He does crow, a lot in the morning and it can be very raspy.
I had no intentions of keeping him this long, but I lost my Orpington roo and a black australorp roo. Some how he lucked out! He protects the flock, coos and takes them to shade.