Red Broilers vs. Freedom Rangers ?? Regular Cornish?

[jaku]

I just ordered 25 Freedom Rangers from JM. I've lost so many of my Cornish X's this year that I had to do a small "midterm" batch to make up the difference, and I figured a small batch would be the perfect chance to give them a try.

 

[jBlaze]

Well, I chose JM and placed an order this am.

I will get another order in June and try go get them to 5.5 lbs between 6/16 and 8/3. Wish me luck! My daughter just didn't want to do those frankenbirds again. Hope we can get at least 3 of the rangers to make weight!!

 

[Peruvian]

Quote:
When you raise on pasture, are they free to roam during the day and in at night, or do you keep them under a net or pen? We have a 1.2 acre pastrue and wondered what the best way would be to let them forage. A few dogs around, but not too many other predators. And don't want to cut out the summer free time, either.

They are in a tractor (portable pen) 24 hrs.

 

[Peruvian]

Quote:
I think you would be very lucky to get them to 5.5lbs live weight (3.75lb processed) in 7 weeks as that is just over half as long as most folks raise them.

 

[jBlaze]

Quote:
I think you would be very lucky to get them to 5.5lbs live weight (3.75lb processed) in 7 weeks as that is just over half as long as most folks raise them.

Ya, that's what I'm thinking.

 

[mike67909]

Quote:
maybe at 10 weeks but good luck.

 

[jBlaze]

Ya, ya'll keep your fingers crossed for me! Will they grow faster on turkey feed? LOL

I talked to the guy on the auction committee and he is all about feed conversion. Well, I think it whould be about more than that! They won't allow dairy cross beef steers in the auction either, it's a tradition. Well, duh, maybe they should get with the times and see that sustainability is the new thing. I think consumers are more willing now to pay more for more sustainably grown foods, especially anyone that has watched Food Inc.
W-Hell, we all need to eat less anyhow, LOL!

 

[mike67909]

Quote:
I don't know about the turkey feed ..it may increase it alittle. The rangers do not have the same feed conversion as X's there for poop alot more but seem to eat just as much, maybe with the increased protein they wouldn't eat as much.?? But I raise them for the fact they grow slower and don't have the problems like the X's so if you want that size bird in that short of time raise the X's.

 

[jBlaze]

Well, I was just looking through my records from last year on those cornish cross. They were 6 and a half weeks at fair, and she had birds at 7.2, 6.8 and 6.5, we were not able to process them for another week and a half. So at 8 weeks several of them had big jumbo breasts, like a turkey. I was thinking they were older wehn we had them done. looking back, I am amazed. I think we did feed them starter too, and didn't loose any. They were gross to raise though, need to find a way around that. It is hard to move them in the set-up we have. I am surfing the coop section for ideas, lol.

I realize that if we get the rangers to weight, they will likely be smaller, but as long as we make the 5.5 weight, I'll be happy just to get a non-white bird into auction!