New to this, What breed of meat chicken should I get?

[DPC poultry]

black giants

 

[eKo_birdies]

Quote:
does this mean jersey giants? (not being sarcastic, i just want to know)

 

[BookWorm243]

I think so

Jersey giants are often called Black giants not sure why

 

[bigredfeather]

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What I do is on a day that I am around all day is keep track of how much feed they go through in a 12 hour period and only feed that amount every day. They have to forage for the rest if they are hungry

I usually re-measure every couple weeks because as they get older they do need more food. If they eat 4 pounds in that 12 hour period, that is what I give them for a couple weeks till I re-evaluate.

As far as your other questions about Barred Rocks, do a search on them in the Breeds, Genetics section. There are many threads about the pro/cons of all species as they apply to dual purpose (eggs/meat).

That is what I do as well. I started using the table below as a guide, and have found it to be pretty accurate up to the 5 week mark. I use my feed scooper to measure the amount. I know it holds about 4 pounds, so I just count scoops.

As you can see (barely), at the bottom of the page, I have projected the amount of feed per day for the number of them that are in the tractor. I have also found that in doing it this way, I get more uniform results at the 7 and 8 week marks.

 

[CARS]

That chart is great! I just wish it was a printable format.

 

[ErinG]

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I was thinking about raising Freedom Rangers as well, but decided to go with the CX, but this was the hatchery that I came up with - they specialize in them. http://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/
I saw them some place else as well at a bigger hatchery called something a little different, they came tricolor. I thought it was MM, but couldn't find it there.

 

[marquisella]

I have 3 week old FRs and started a thread "· Freedom Rangers arrived today! " where I am documenting their growth, etc.

They weigh about a pound at 3 weeks..

I have never raised meat birds before, so this is my first try. I got 26 chicks, and last week had one loss, looked like a suffocating death, so I started to divide them up into separate brooders and haven't had a death since.

I'm impressed by their weight gain, seeing that they are in a barn, with just 2, 90w regular light bulbs for heat. Its gone down as far as 2 degrees F a few nights since I've had them.
Im in central, NY. If I get a chance, I'll take some photos today. They aren't the "cutest" chicks I've ever seen.

Sue

 

[BookWorm243]

Thanks everyone,
I am going to go with freedom rangers and look into getting some other meat breeds. I did some more reading on the cornish x and they are just not the breed for me. Thanks everyone for the ideas!

marquisella: I would love to see pictures! and would love to hear how it go's. What hatchery did you get them from?

Thanks Again every one !

 

[eKo_birdies]

FYI: at the time of me writing this, her (marquisella) freedom ranger post is like 7 below yours

 

[marquisella]

Quote:
I got them from Freedom Ranger Hatchery, http://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com

I posted pictures at: https://www.backyardchickens.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=425876. Its titled Freedom Rangers arrived today.

Sue