Ranger Grow-Out Journals

[WildflowerJLH]

I have been using my postal scale. The people at my post office are always surprised by the accuracy of my package weights, when I come in. I will see if I can find a way to check it.

Weather has been a little cool. I have been putting them outside when the weather is warmer. I am not worried, really. I am happy to let them grow longer and develop good flavor.

I have been really happy with my FRs, but 3 other people that I know shared my order. All them are having problems with legs at this young age. All of mine are healthy and happy. Not sure why the others from the same shipment are having issues.

 

[wholehearted]

Added my six week weights to my original post. Rangers still seem to be growing well in spite of big thunderstorms alternated with scorching heat/humidity this week. We are starting to prepare for the inevitable end...processing is just around the corner and it will be a first for us. Our second batch of Freedom Rangers will come next week. We will process this first batch when the new birds are ready to take over the tractor.

Wildflower, how are your chicks growing now?

 

[WhiteMountainsRanch]

My 25 FR are coming on the 15th!!! YAY!!!

 

[marquisella]

I found an egg today in the FR pen. just 3 days shy of 5 months. Yeah, I have 8 left to process, just have hard time finding the time to do it...

Mrs. Mucket :

Thanks for the update, Tim. I've been wondering how your new ones have been doing.​

 

[WildflowerJLH]

Quote:
Thanks for asking! I have not been able to weight them last week or this, due to some family emergencies. Next week I will post weights on Wednesday. Most seem to be growing better. I think we concluded that the Modesto Milling soy-free starter is nutritionally lacking something. We all started seeing some leg issues. Everybody is on the Magill Ranch soy and corn free starter. Only 1 of mine is still showing leg issues. All others look great.

 

[lilwhispers]

I just processed 10 of my rangers the two I left for my parents weighed 5.75#'s dressed at 8 weeks. i plan on processing more on monday and friday.

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

Quote:
Those are impressive weights at 8 weeks, Lilwhispers! How/what did you feed?

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

Thought I'd give a little update on our second-generation Ranger offspring. We've been surprised by the coloring. In our original shipment of FRs last year, we got one dark chick and 25 golden chicks. Most of the golden chicks developed into red ones, several became buff colored, and one feathered out tri-color/barred similar to a crele. We kept the tri-color cockerel--he is the father of all the chicks. We kept the dark pullet (she is brown and gray) and some red and buff pullets. Several of the pullets have black neck lacing which I think resembles a Columbian pattern.

So far we have 6 second-generation FR chicks and one RIR X FR. The RIR X has some barring. One FR chick was born golden like the rest but feathered out brown and gray (probably son of the dark hen). The rest of the chicks are a creamy "cafe au lait" or light brown and some have barring and lacing. So far none are really red or buff. We lost our red FR cockerel before he was of breeding age so we don't know how he might have affected the chicks' colors.

Here are a full FR pullet and the RIR X FR cockerel at 4 weeks. She has been a bit larger than him since hatch. At 9 weeks she is as big as our BO hens. Most of our FR chicks are colored similar to her.

Here they are today at 9 weeks with their roomies, four WLH pullets a week or so older. Their dad is watching from the next pen.

Here is the little dark FR cockerel at 5 weeks.

So far they all look healthy and are growing at a good pace.

 

[RHB]

Those are great pictures, thanks so much for sharing them.

Interesting information on this thread....so much to think about

 

[Pineywoods Peepers]

Thanks for the updated, Mrs. Mucket. Your birds are lovely. I really do like the speckled ones.

Are the offspring growing at the same pace as their parents?