Processing Day Support Group ~ HELP us through the Emotions PLEASE!

[fisherlady]

Good morning everyone!

One of my freedom ranger roosters has started crowing.
Not very loud, but he's improving everyday, so he may be meeting his demise a little early.
At what live weight do you guys usually start to process your broilers?

They're only about to be 7 weeks old, but they are big. I have them in with a couple turkeys so their feed is slightly higher protein than regular starter feed (not much, but a happy medium for the two).
They're all still active and healthy (none of the panting, laying around all the time, swollen joints...)
The website said to process between 7-11 weeks depending on what size you want your bird to be.

There is no set size needed for the processing. Usually, if I have a choice, I base it on what I want to use the bird for. Younger birds need less specialized cooking but are smaller. The smaller frame with decent meat can make an awesome little 3 or 4 pound whole roaster though. If I want larger servings I wait till they are in the 8 or 9 lb live weight before processing. I typically figure about 25 to 30% loss in live weight vs carcass weight when dealing with meat birds... more to the 30-35% range when dealing with dual purpose birds since they tend to be a bit longer legged and thinner through the breast.
So I'd say go ahead and process whenever you are ready and you should have a very nice tender bird to enjoy after a few days rest. If you want to add some weight to him quicker you could probably increase his feed a bit or adjust to do like they do when folks finish the fancy broilers. ( I believe they use some type of milk additive in the diet, but since I never raised the Brese I only did a cursory read on their care)

 

[3 NH reds]

Have you tried to hatch your own freedom rangers? They aren't the crosses like the broilers, so you should be able to.
I'm curious how loud the roosters get and when they'd start laying/how much.
I know it would probably be more cost effective to order the chicks, but I have become obsessive with hatching and we live in the city! If I don't start eating them or giving them away we will quickly be overrun with chickens!!!

Yes I have, we have 8 birds so far.Not allot of luck incubating, right around 40%. Ranger are good egg layers and often have laid jumbo eggs, I think the largest was over 3.5 oz. The older two are Ranger chicks are look alike and some of the younger 6 have some white on the head. My Rooster is just over 16 lbs. The hens are big as well unfortunately I only have two so breeding was slow. As far as crowing, I hate to say it but he is loud. He does not crow as much as the Jersey Giant. I tried a Jersey/Ranger mix but they develop slower but have a higher incubation rate. Like you I am want to raise a bird I can breed and keep. I also am thinking of getting some Cornish this spring just for a 8 week and out bird.

 

[lizanne]

I thought Rangers were a cross. Possibly a Cornish-X and RIR.

 

[dutchbunny83]

I thought Rangers were a cross. Possibly a Cornish-X and RIR.

They are a line made of a few different things, but they don't have any cornish cross in them. They have a different make up of the broilers since they are long breasted and slower to grow. They are actually developed from French heritage breeds. There are other types of rangers (rainbow, red, etc) which I don't know what goes into them. But the Freedom Rangers come from a Mennonite farm in Pennsylvania Dutch country. So far I'm really happy with mine! I had a bad experience with the cornish cross being, well freakish gross and dirty, haha. Some people love theirs, maybe I had a bad batch, but I love these guys.

Actually here's a link of their site that explains it better since I really don't know what they are exactly:
http://www.freedomrangerhatchery.com/learnmore

Yes I have, we have 8 birds so far.Not allot of luck incubating, right around 40%. Ranger are good egg layers and often have laid jumbo eggs, I think the largest was over 3.5 oz. The older two are Ranger chicks are look alike and some of the younger 6 have some white on the head. My Rooster is just over 16 lbs. The hens are big as well unfortunately I only have two so breeding was slow. As far as crowing, I hate to say it but he is loud. He does not crow as much as the Jersey Giant. I tried a Jersey/Ranger mix but they develop slower but have a higher incubation rate. Like you I am want to raise a bird I can breed and keep. I also am thinking of getting some Cornish this spring just for a 8 week and out bird.

Okay, thanks for the help!

 

[Chambertin]

Chambertin--  I hope you're having a better day!  

Thanks and today is much better

 

[dutchbunny83]

I'm glad!!!

 

[jajeanpierre]

Thanks and today is much better

It's a real culture shock to come back to the West after living in a Third World country. You didn't leave China under the best of circumstances. It will take you time to get over it.

 

[dutchbunny83]

It's a real culture shock to come back to the West after living in a Third World country. You didn't leave China under the best of circumstances. It will take you time to get over it.

Chambertin, you seem like such a fascinating person, I look forward to getting to know you better!

 

[Chambertin]

I cant say I'm all that fascinating, but the events that have happened to me would make a good story for anyone to tell on a Friday night.

My Avatar choice, now That's facinating

 

[wlhtx]

I admit, it is one of the best avatars I've seen on here.