Freedom Rangers

[juststruttin]

Well here is gen 3 at week 1. Now I have a broody Ranger on the nest for 1 week! Not holding my breath on this, I had Jersey Giants do this and crush them at week 2 due to the size but I am hoping.

Yeah, if I were an egg, I am not sure I would want to be under a freedom ranger. One of my hens is 11 lbs, and she is not very agile.

BTW, have you seen any scoliosis? One of my Freedom rangers has a bad case of it. Just wondering if it is a fluke, or if it is common. She does not seem to be uncomfortable yet but she will need to be processed soon as I imagine it will get worse.

Cute chick.

 

[3 NH reds]

I had one chick in batch 2 that had a bad leg and I had to end it but other than that nothing outside of a couple of chick deaths in the 1st few days. I now have 3 Rangers on eggs argh. So far no trouble but who knows. Time will tell who gets to be saved for breeding stock.

 

[juststruttin]

I shared about my Sulmtaler X Ranger project a few months back. The chicks are now 16 -20 weeks old and they look promising.

I sold most of the F1 girls as layers as I have no plans to use them in the the project going forward.

I am going to breed the F1 roosters back to ranger hens. My goal is to produce a bird where the males can be processed in 12-14 weeks and the girls can be used as layers. Time will tell.

 

[prijicrw]

Well here is gen 3 at week 1. Now I have a broody Ranger on the nest for 1 week! Not holding my breath on this, I had Jersey Giants do this and crush them at week 2 due to the size but I am hoping.

Can you provide an update on your breeding experiment of the FR? I would be fascinated to know if you had good results with future generations. Thanks!

 

[prijicrw]

Just wanted to add -- these are 3rd generation birds raised here out of stock originally purchased from FR hatchery.
Here's a few pics of the next generation of FR breeders.



This is the pen of pullets. Notice the hen outside on the left. This an example of one of the "feather-duster" types that have popped up. Looks just like the other birds but has very short legs. One was dressed last week and it had nice carcass but a little smaller than average.



Another shot from the pullet pen. Nice type and frame on these pullets -- looking forward to another successful crop from these.



Some of the young roosters we will have to choose from for breeding stock.



More young cockerel stock.



This is a long-distance shot of a Rooster and Hen from last years breeders. They mature into nice looking stock.

Can you provide an update on your breeding experiment of the FR? I would be fascinated to know if you had good results with future generations. Thanks!

 

[philipdj]

Just wanted to add -- these are 3rd generation birds raised here out of stock originally purchased from FR hatchery.
Here's a few pics of the next generation of FR breeders.



This is the pen of pullets. Notice the hen outside on the left. This an example of one of the "feather-duster" types that have popped up. Looks just like the other birds but has very short legs. One was dressed last week and it had nice carcass but a little smaller than average.



Another shot from the pullet pen. Nice type and frame on these pullets -- looking forward to another successful crop from these.



Some of the young roosters we will have to choose from for breeding stock.



More young cockerel stock.



This is a long-distance shot of a Rooster and Hen from last years breeders. They mature into nice looking stock.

what actually breed clasify for free range..?? i mean what their parent stock come from..?? its look like New Hampshire.

 

[GreatBreeder]

@philipdj, the parent stock wouldn't be released to the public, so they breed broilers with eachother here.

 

[oldrooster]

what actually breed clasify for free range..?? i mean what their parent stock come from..?? its look like New Hampshire.

it is a combination of different breeds I am sure. they won't tell because if they did you could do roughly the same thing in a few years.

 

[philipdj]

@philipdj, the parent stock wouldn't be released to the public, so they breed broilers with eachother here.

it is a combination of different breeds I am sure. they won't tell because if they did you could do roughly the same thing in a few years.

oke i see.. it's sound secret ingredient..