freedom rangers

[smokinjay]

With that many birds I would start with 1500lbs of feed hoping I could finish them out. On the sticky thread 101 says 18-20 lbs of feed per bird.

 

[mstricer]

Here are mine they hatched on Sept 16. Like I said before they are fed Purina Start and Grow 12 hrs on 12 hrs off, they don't get that much scratch. I put their food out at 5am and remove at 5 pm to which they free range for bugs, grass and seed. Here is a picture of what they do best.

 

[rbefarm]

I am a Pastured Poultry grower and do the Farmer's Markets, sell privately, etc. I've done probably 6 batches of 100 Freedom Rangers now in the last year since we've started as well as several others from S&G Poultry. We find the Freedom Rangers to be the best eating bird we've ever had and get that same feedback consistently from our customers. The Heritage Whites from S&G were noticed by several customers as not being as "good." So, we've pretty much decided to stick to the FR stock. Why monkey with success? I have to admit I'm surprised a bit at the OP's comments as we've had really good results from them.

We start ours for about 6 weeks on Start and Grow, then mix the feed with a 16% layer crumble and by 8 weeks they are on the 16% layer feed. We finish them on that and sometimes some scratch (not necessary). I slaughter from 9 to 12 weeks...preferring sooner than later. I am doing a batch of 11 week old broilers tomorrow actually. We get roasters up to 5.5 lbs with most averaging around 4.5. Breasts are longer and thinner but you get a good amount of meat. If you are expecting the huge Cornish X type breasts you will be disappointed with the FR breasts but we find the quality is so much better no one seems to mind. I get $13 a lb for breast fillets.

I can't recommend these birds highly enough. They also have amazing survivability. I almost never have a dead chick upon arrival and it's rare to lose any at all. I lose more layer chicks than Freedom Ranger chicks in the brooder. Once I get them outside, I have not lost any at all. You can't even compare that to a Cornish X which is so fragile by comparison. Our FR's do forage albeit not as much as the layer hens...but they are way more active than the Heritage Whites were. At least they get up and move and not just sit at the feeder and eat themselves to death. I never have to withhold feed or anything...I keep feed free choice for them out 24/7.

Anyway, I just wanted to share our experiences as we've done quite a few now. I'd hate for someone to not even try them without hearing more reviews.

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

I agree with the above post. I've tried Cornish crosses, Ideals Red Broilers, Freedom Rangers, heritage Delawares, mixes, EE's, Wyandottes... all kinds...

and the Freedom Ranger was the BEST meat bird hands down.

I did notice they stopped putting on weight at about 3 months until I dewormed them. Then they got fat.

Also they eat a LOT. Probably not as much as a Cornish but I was REALLY surprised at the food these guys could pack away.

 

[mstricer]

Quote:
How long did you keep them before you butchered them. I always do mine at 12 weeks. I kept one hen back to breed with my marans and she probably weighed close to 15 lbs before hunting dogs got her. I never had any problem with them not gaining weight.

Michele