I'm hooked on the meaties

[ZooSD]

Hm, I've never done the rangers so I couldn't say on the crowing issue. Some of my slow-growing cockerels have started crowing at 8 weeks

so I wouldn't be surprised if the rangers may start crowing before they're slaughtered.

And I wonder if the fermentation is what gets their weights up so quickly.

They love the fermented feed and drink less water, maybe the combination of the fermentation and the higher protein in the turkey feed.

 

[Elke Beck]

I live in an area where I can't have a bunch of crowing roosters so if the rangers take longer to get to this size they would probably be noisier too?

You can order only pullets, and then you do not have to worry about crowing. The pullets are slower growing and will produce a smaller carcass, but they are easier to raise and don't get aggressive like the cockerels.

 

[ZooSD]

Good point Elke, I hadn't thought about ordering pullets, I've just ordered straight run for my Cornish X. But then I have to feed rangers longer. I guess I've got a couple of months to research. I'm looking for something for late summer/early fall when the temps here are still in the 90's.

 

[RJSchaefer]

This thread is not good for the wallet! My cornish x will be ~7 weeks old next weekend and were up for processing. I'll only be getting 4 - 2 of my 6 died prematurely. I've got my eye on 15 to 25 more meat birds to set up my freezer for the winter.