New Hampshires from Freedom Ranger Ranch

[trescloudy]

@trescloudy hows the temperament of these birds? Male and female?

These Henry Noll NH roosters can be kind of protective of their hens and do have some human aggression but I've seen way worse. Seems like they learn who's boss soon enough though. Hens dont seem to have much human aggression so I think it's more of a protection thing. The

I have 100 more of henry nolls chicks to pick through now. Just got them last week.
I'm incredibly impressed with the structure of my 8 month old HNNH birds. They are huge and feel A LOT like an older CX when I pick them up.

So far I'd have to say if you are looking for a self sustaining meat bird these may be the answer.

We arent getting a lot of eggs so I suspect HN has a father and mother line. So there is likely more to keeping this line sustainable on a single farm but probably not out of the spectrum of reality for experienced or intelligent aspiring breeders.

 

[Harp_Acres]

These Henry Noll NH roosters can be kind of protective of their hens and do have some human aggression but I've seen way worse. Seems like they learn who's boss soon enough though. Hens dont seem to have much human aggression so I think it's more of a protection thing. The

I have 100 more of henry nolls chicks to pick through now. Just got them last week.
I'm incredibly impressed with the structure of my 8 month old HNNH birds. They are huge and feel A LOT like an older CX when I pick them up.

So far I'd have to say if you are looking for a self sustaining meat bird these may be the answer.

We arent getting a lot of eggs so I suspect HN has a father and mother line. So there is likely more to keeping this line sustainable on a single farm but probably not out of the spectrum of reality for experienced or intelligent aspiring breeders.

Any updates on your NH flock... Did you ever breed and hatch any eggs from them?? Henry stated that to get eggs from them regularly they had to be fed on a restricted diets 18% grow out and 16% as adults or they get too fat and won't lay.... have you found this to be true??

 

[RooStar Chicken Gang]

Dunno bout that brand U talking bout. However most my chooks are cross with new Hampshire, Leghorn X New Hampshire, australorps X New Hampshire, there nice birds they are daul birds, lay eggs daily and decent size bird, about the same as Isa Browns which I also have. The Isa Browns r more dominant though and at the top of my flocks pecking order, however one of the australorps X if pritty tough. The leghorns X New Hampshire are just super friendly good one of the Leghorn xs broody at the moment on some eggs the babies will be Barnevelder X Leghorn X New Hampshire.

 

[HomesteadNowhere]

Would love to know what the laying rate is like if anyone has them could share? Seems in general NH are 200/yr, about 3/wk eggs.

 

[trescloudy]

Would love to know what the laying rate is like if anyone has them could share? Seems in general NH are 200/yr, about 3/wk eggs.

These are not the best laying birds. Their website says 180 and i honestly feel the average is less. Its definitely something to consider but i fine with keeping extra hens to get more eggs. These are closest to the size of CX ive found. The bigger hens lay less eggs but they are quite valuable as im trying to breed giant birds with these and i think success isnt far.

 

[Folly's place]

Just found this thread, thanks for the information! I've raised their Freedom Rangers and like them, and their NHs sound like a good choice too.
Mary

 

[trescloudy]

Just found this thread, thanks for the information! I've raised their Freedom Rangers and like them, and their NHs sound like a good choice too.
Mary

To me their NH's are a good choice because they are not a hybrid like FR, they breed true so you can hatch raise, breed your own. Thats going to be huge in the near future

 

[Tre3hugger]

To me their NH's are a good choice because they are not a hybrid like FR, they breed true so you can hatch raise, breed your own. Thats going to be huge in the near future

So true

 

[SE_Gardener]

@trescloudy - I've been working on a self-sustaining dual purpose flock now for several years...tried several breeds and pretty much gave up b/c hatchery chicks are mass produced with little to zero selection for improvement. At best you get mediocre layers. I found info on Henry Noll a while back and with diligence was able to trace to Freedom Hatchery and just bought 15 chicks as trial. The goal is to select from the bunch a rooster and 4-5 hens. I raise White Ply Rock and have selected them as meatbirds/layers as well and am pleased with what I think is a sound breeding bunch. I'll keep the NH separate from the Rock to maintain lines but do plan to include a NH hen with the Rock bunch to produce Golden Comets - that cross produces a hybrid laying machine.. I'll likely only hatch NH for broilers with several Rock crosses to see if I gain hybrid vigor (which I think will happen). My rocks are good egg producers as well so the lower egg production of the NH is not an issue for me. Both the male/female rocks are huge birds - 10# and 7.5/8# respectively with not a lot of body fat. My maintenance feed is 22% mini layer pellet. My plan is to hatch several batches of NH chicks throughout the next spring/summer season incubating 25 eggs per batch. Raise the chicks like I raise CX - in confinement 26% Gamebird starter for wk1&2, then 22% meatbird ration 12/12 cycle to finish. I'm interested in your experience with the NH - your breeding flock feed ration/age of egg collection for hatch. Also what weight do you experience at 12-14 wks for the broiler chicks. Any other comments would be appreciated. Thanks.