Meyer Hatchery Chicken pics anyone??

[Bethel3330]

I checked into Meyer. Their minimum for cornish cx was 15, but I will tell you the shipping costs are wonky. It's actually a much better deal to get 25 and maybe sell them or split the order with a friend

 

[NotableNancy]

No problem

However, its the Red Rangers (Freedom Rangers) not the CornishX that has the min order of 25. Meyer hatches the CX at their place while their Red Rangers are shipped from a different location. I -believe- that they ship out actual Freedom Rangers from the Freedom Ranger Hatchery in Pennsylvania, but I have not called to confirm that.

I so wish I could do this... the Freedom Ranger Hatchery is only 1 hr from me! Near Shady Maple too (the amazing Amish Market, donut and chick run in one day

). They have Silkies too. Odd, Freedom Rangers and Silkies. Maybe for the black skin meat that's in demand?

I have a weird question.... do they crow before it's time to butcher?

 

[savannahm0m]

Has anybody tried raising meat birds? I've read so much about it, but am still on the fence about it.

We are in the Savannah area, and we got 6 cornish rock X as a project with our Meyer order in February. We raised them until 6 weeks and processed them. Ended up with 3.5-4 lb dressed weight, so we were happy. My friend processed 2 weeks later, and hers were much bigger! I would love to do it again, but we just don't have the space to allow them so they will not smell as bad! When my friend moves out to the country, we are going to try to free-range them. It was the first time we had processed chickens, but my hubby has hunted and fished all his life, so we were prepared.

 

[RoostersCrow HensDeliver!]

Nancy,
They also have white Muscovys! I think I'm going to order duckling from them once I get a duck house and pen (gonna happen eventually

). I prefer the red and buff silkies myself, maybe someday.

I don't think the day can get any better than combining Amish cooking and chicken shopping!

So far, my FR cockerals haven't even attempted to crow (8 wks May 12th) and they are only a teeny bit more aggressive than the super dopey CX. I did notice that a few of the "top dogs" were flaring their hackles after I let them out of the hoop this morning. They get all excited and charge out into the pasture, like its playtime until I fill the feeders up

.

 

[savannahm0m]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I am curious about the taste difference between the two birds. I think it was the CX that had a min of 25 birds. I am def not ready for that many. I like the the FR are not like that. I am thinking that I would like to try a few at first and see how much more work it is before I commit to so many. Thanks again. Keep us updated.

We got an order of 12 from Meyer in February (split two ways). We also ordered layers with them, so we had a total of 26 birds, but did not have to have a minimum of CX.

 

[christine9]

Thanks for sharing your experiences. I am curious about the taste difference between the two birds. I think it was the CX that had a min of 25 birds. I am def not ready for that many. I like the the FR are not like that. I am thinking that I would like to try a few at first and see how much more work it is before I commit to so many. Thanks again. Keep us updated.

No problem
However, its the Red Rangers (Freedom Rangers) not the CornishX that has the min order of 25. Meyer hatches the CX at their place while their Red Rangers are shipped from a different location. I -believe- that they ship out actual Freedom Rangers from the Freedom Ranger Hatchery in Pennsylvania, but I have not called to confirm that.

Ooh. That's even more I couraging then. I've heard so many good things about the CX.

 

[NotableNancy]

Nancy,
They also have white Muscovys! I think I'm going to order duckling from them once I get a duck house and pen (gonna happen eventually

). I prefer the red and buff silkies myself, maybe someday.

I don't think the day can get any better than combining Amish cooking and chicken shopping!

So far, my FR cockerals haven't even attempted to crow (8 wks May 12th) and they are only a teeny bit more aggressive than the super dopey CX. I did notice that a few of the "top dogs" were flaring their hackles after I let them out of the hoop this morning. They get all excited and charge out into the pasture, like its playtime until I fill the feeders up

.

I know... those buff silkies are my favorite but my 16 yr. old son wanted a white one so that's what we went with. It could still end up being a cockerel so I may have none... then I may just have to take a road trip!!! No ducks for me but those ducklings are adorable. To messy from what I hear and not enough land here. Gotta move out to Amish country someday for all of that.

 

[trsturself]

We split an order with a friend of 25 freedom rangers from Meyer last summer. It was an expensive endeavor for us due to feeding problems at a friend's farm. We kept them at a friend's house that wasn't involved in the chickens. So my other friend and I had to go out twice a day to check food/water and lock them up/let them out. The person who owned the farm had a goat that kept breaking in and eating all the food. They were feeling really meaty for a week or two around 10 weeks but we didn't get them into butcher until close to 16 weeks and they were scrawny. Our largest was about 2.5lbs. We butchered 6 of them ourselves around 15 weeks. It was our first time doing anything like that and didn't have any mentors. I did a write up of it. I'll try to find the post.
I loved the meat. So much better than store bought.
I hope to raise some dual purpose birds for meat if we move. They'll take longer but they are sustainable.

 

[trsturself]

Here is the link to my previous write up

https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/822993/processing-tips-from-a-newbie

 

[jonsccm]

Here is the other one.

So I thought I would got it another shot getting closer to 2 weeks old witch one is the EE and wich is the blue AM ?