Pix of My "Freedom Ranger" type chix with my RIR/Black Australorp mix

[JanetinTenn]

I received a box of 15, day old Freedom Ranger type broilers from Joel at JMHatchery on Saturday, June 14. 1 Black, 1 Grey, 2 Brownish, and the rest are varying hues of yellow. I hatched out 21 RIR/Black Australorps the day before in my incubator.

I put them all out in a hoopcoop on grass at 6 days old. Its in the 80s days, and 60 nights here and they have a "hot box" to get in if they get cold. They all get the same feed, but the difference in size is amazing. The JM chix have been about twice the size of my RIR/BA from day one. They will all be turned out of their coop at 3 weeks, or whenever they have enough feathers to keep warm.

My travelin chicken house. I built this chicken house on a small, sturdy trailer with the nest boxes on the outside to make egg collection easy. I can move it around the place, or when I move to a new home, all I have to do is hook it up to the pick up truck and go.

 

[greyfields]

My RedBro's are the hungriest little guys I ever remember. They come running to me in the morning when I bring the feed over. They're gorgeous on the grass, too. Lovin' them so far.

 

[SimplyAbundantFarm]

Mine (mid-April babies) are absolute little greedy hogs...not too much longer for these fat boys and girls at this house. Even though they are quite the little eaters, they still are all getting around well -- no leg problems, no heat problems, and just counting the days until processing.

I found a local Amish guy who will do them for me for...are you ready for this... $1 a bird.

I can't beat that...no fuss, no muss...just drop them off and pick them up. Prior to finding him, the best I could find was $4 a broiler.

My baby turkeys arrived today and he said he'll do them for $4 a bird the week within a week of Thanksgiving. You can probably see me smiling from wherever you are!

I asked him what he'd charge me to process ducks and he just laughed and said, "You couldn't pay me enough to do them!"

Oh well...it was worth a try!

Good thing he doesn't read this forum or he'd know what some of the rest of you pay and my price would go wayyyy up!

Janet - I love your traveling chicken house! Very creative, very practical and very cute!