Ranger Grow-Out Journals

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

I do:

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Awesome. You got those right from Jm Hatchery? They look nothing like my broilers. I thought they were the same thing... guess not!

Thanks!

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

yes I got them from JM Hatchery

I sold my flock last year, but they were excellent layers -- however ate a lot!

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

Quote:
They were good layers too? I thought they were strictly a meatie bird...?

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

yes I got lots and lots of eggs from all my girls. They were very reliable! I sold some as hatching eggs too.

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Your FR's are much prettier than I'd imagined they'd be as adults. How old were your hens/roo? Did you have mortality issues as your FR's got older?

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

Jamie's hens are a lot prettier than my Rangers too. They are all molting--now! I need to get them a calendar.

 

[DenverBird]

yes, I'm almost regretting getting a full order of roosters as I could've grown out hens to be large and attractive birds. I'm really surprised to hear that they're good layers too - talk about the ultimate dual purpose bird!

BTW - follow up to my post above. They're moving around the yard a lot more thought they do seem to have favorite places to go - I think they just needed to get more accustomed to getting out and about.

Here's one of mine at 9.5 weeks:

 

[Jamie_Dog_Trainer]

Quote:
I had no birds die other than from predators. I found them to be extremely healthy and easy to keep (except their food consumption was pretty huge). I also live in Washington State, so our summers are mild. However we did have a couple days in the 100+ degree range, but that is rare. Our average hot days in July and August are about 74-78*. If I can ever have chickens again I would get this breed, and hatch some of their eggs myself to see what kind of second generation meat birds they turn into.

ETA: My birds were over a year old when I sold them. To my knowledge they are still alive.

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

Tim and others who have hatched Rangers--did your Ranger chicks tend to hatch on day 20 by any chance? This is my second batch with pips and hatches on day 20. I'm wondering if I should lock down a day early next time.