Ranger Grow-Out Journals

[TimG]

I lost another pullet this morning. I do not know what the cause was, but she had been sick for a few days and when I found her dead she had pushed intestines out through what was once her vent. I don't mean to be graphic, just suggesting this wasn't a simple heart attack caused by genetics.

She weighed 9 lbs 10 oz and was 20 weeks old.

 

[remadl700]

Quote:
When you say "6 pounds of dead bird" thats including what the dead birds ate correct?

 

[TimG]

Quote:
When you say "6 pounds of dead bird" thats including what the dead birds ate correct?

Yeah, that wasn't worded so well, was it? The six pounds of dead bird wasn't fed to the birds! It was included in the denominator when I figured pounds f feed per pounds of bird.

 

[TimG]

I've finally isolated three pullets and one cockerel. I'm going to give them 2-3 weeks alone before collecting eggs for incubation. I really don't know how many eggs these three pullets are producing, but will soon find out. I'll also weigh the eggs so I have an objective measure rather than just a sense that they are on the small side.

I'm guessing all four birds are in the 8-9 pound range. They're about six months old.

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

One of our 5-month-old FR cockerels died the other day. For a few days he'd been fairly immobile and wouldn't stand but I couldn't find any visible injury. So I don't know if it was a heavy-meatbird-leg issue, an injury or some ailment. He was hefty though. Our FR hens are laying large to jumbo eggs (the jumbos are always double yolkers). We still have one FR cockerel so will continue on our plans to try for a hatch next spring.

 

[TimG]

I've posted this elsewhere, but the eggs I have been getting have all been 1.8-2.1 ounces. I don't know the classification off the top of my head, but would guess this isn't close to Jumbo.

I haven't gotten an egg in a few days. I was going to install a light in their coop today, but didn't get around to it, maybe tomorrow.

 

[noahsark]

My 24 roo freedoms are being harvested right now as we speak. 12 weeks axactly today. Smallest is 5 pounds 6 ounces only 3 of them..most are between 7 and 8..Lost 1 to splayed legs at 6 weeks.
total cost from 3 days old...
$70 for birds and shipping
4 bags gamebird 21% (50#) $54
5 bags of wheat and barley screenings at $5 for 50# bags. $25
$150 total @ 24 birds + $6.25 a bird
and actually I fed my 9 brahma pets on this as well.. so 300# of food, sure glad I found the screening deal, that saved me big!
Hopefully they taste better then the all purpose heritage breeds we raised last time around..really wasnt thrilled with texture or flavor, they were so small, and had to wait 18 weeks for them, $14.70 a bird...They were good if you BBQd, but not if you baked...my friends that Im doing this with say if the freedoms dont taste better then the heritages, they may not want to do it again..so I will keep you posted..as of right now, they just plucked and they say they look WAY different much meatier, and plumper, alot more meat...

 

[noahsark]

Tim, sorry if I jumped in on your post...maybe should have startd a new topic...

 

[TimG]

Quote:
No problem at all. When I started this thread, I hoped that others would post information similar to what you just posted. I think it's great to have information about size and cost from more than one source in a central location.

Please let us know what everyone thinks of the taste and texture. I'm guessing you'll be pleased.

 

[Mrs. Mucket]

TimG, thanks for sharing your post! It seems like a great place for us to compare notes on our Rangers.

Your hens are laying good-sized eggs too...my chart says 1.9 oz is L, 2.1 oz is XL.

The heaviest Ranger egg weight I've recorded is 2.7 oz but I think I had one close to 3 oz. I think two of my pullets are laying the jumbos and the other four are laying normal size eggs. When I crack the jumbo ones, they seem to have about the white of a L egg but two yolks. But I've heard that pullets may lay larger and double-yolked eggs when young and settle into more normal size eggs so mine may do that. I know one of my slender white leghorns pops out a huge egg once in a while.

We've had several people remark on the flavor of the Ranger, including some who didn't think they'd be able to tell the difference. I really notice the richness of the stock they produce. We've grilled parts and roasted whole birds, making stock with the carcass. I even crock-potted a whole one when I didn't have a good oven--it was delicious. They definitely have more leg/thigh than a typical bird, but the breasts are not small either, just longer and thinner.