growing out rangers to keep? And fav ranger?

[sfgwife]

We are wantin to be able get fertile eggs from grown ranger birds so we dont need get chicks every time we want do meaties. Have you had any luck with growing and keeping a particular type?

Also anyone done black or grey rangers as opposed to reds? Better flavor? Bigger? Easier to grow out? All the same?

 

[jopheso]

I cant completely answer your question but I can tell you we are growing out red rangers that are 7 weeks right now...on pasture in a tractor organic feed only. I would have NO problem adding these birds to my free range long term flock...they forage they play they fight....they are definitely chickens! Ive got a thread videoing the progress and what they look like at 7 weeks, you might be interested in.

https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/red-rangers-on-pasture-video-series.1174775/

 

[Omega Blue Farms]

I selected my ranger breeders following the same principles I use to select my breeder turkeys. Balance. It's all about balance, pick the largest birds with a nice square stance, straight toes, and good clean movement. Some will be awkward when they walk and others smooth. Pick the smooth ones. In the end, you will be picking birds with a carcass shaped more like a football than a soccer ball. There is far more to it, but this is an excellent place to start. For husbandry practices, go to the hubbard website, they have some good guides.

 

[Omega Blue Farms]

Here is a video of some of my Sasso parents. The rooster is my best rooster out of 150 chicks. He is holding together better than i expected, he is 15 months old. I selected 3, but he is last guy standing. Mountain Lion ate the other two.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1387327961354413

 

[Dave C]

I've had Sasso's for years buying in either eggs or day old chicks from a guy who imported them from France, last year he said he was closing his business so I kept back all the Pullets and 2 Rooster, not the biggest or the smallest but the ones with the best movement.

They laid very well and were very fertile, they seem to have bred true and the offspring are 13 weeks old now, I will be culling next week and again keeping some back for breeding next year.

 

[sfgwife]

I've had Sasso's for years buying in either eggs or day old chicks from a guy who imported them from France, last year he said he was closing his business so I kept back all the Pullets and 2 Rooster, not the biggest or the smallest but the ones with the best movement.

They laid very well and were very fertile, they seem to have bred true and the offspring are 13 weeks old now, I will be culling next week and again keeping some back for breeding next year.

What is the live or cleaned weight of the 13 weekers? Thanks!

 

[Dave C]

Will weigh them later in week and let you know.
I'm aiming for a 2kg dressed bird.

Last year most were there at 14 weeks, the smallest Roosters toll until 16 weeks.

 

[AkChris]

I have a red ranger hen from Dunlap that is just over a year old now. I keep back two hens last year thinking I might try to breed them. One hen died of unknown causes last winter. The other is going strong. She is actually one of my most active forages and acts like a 'real' chicken for sure. For her size she can really move fast and even fly a little bit. She's quite good at jumping to reach the berries. I didn't end up keeping a roo so I haven't breed her so I can't comment on how the line breeds. She lays nice X-large eggs but isn't a prolific layer. I get an egg every other or every third day.