Space requirements for Red/Freedom/Rainbow Rangers

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

I have 7 Rainbow Rangers on order from Meyer Hatchery for September. My question is how much space do they require per bird when free-ranging in order for it to not get too poopy? And, how much do they poop compared to CX?

I think my plan is to brood them for the first 2-3 weeks. Then do 2-3 weeks in the tractor. Then as they get larger, I might section off a part of my backyard (maybe 20x30ish but I haven't measured it yet) and let them roam in there. I know with CX they poop so much that it would get pretty messy in there with 7 birds, but would this be manageable with the Rangers? I don't even mind spot cleaning poop into a bucket every few days like I do with my layers who free range in the yard, but if their poop is gonna be kind of watery like the CX, that wouldn't be possible.

I just don't know if I can tractor in my small yard all 10 weeks because I like to keep the higher traffic part of the yard "unpooped" for when guests are over, and I'd probably run out of untractored space. I have also heard these birds are more active and might enjoy the free ranging more. Anyway, lmk what you think.

 

[Morrigan]

My experience with rangers is that their poop is larger and slightly more loose than layers, but not as bad as CX. I've had 10 rangers at at time sharing a coop with a few layers and utilizing the same yard. Although the yard is 80 x 80 feet, the reality is that the chickens tend to congregate in the corner of the yard with the shade shelters and near the food and water. I didn't notice unmanageable poop levels, with the full disclosure that this is in a dedicated chicken yard, not on my back lawn. I noticed the excess poop more under hte roosting bars in the coop. I had to scrape very messy poop boards down daily and I wasn't sorry when they transitioned from coop to freezer.

Which brings to another point. Unlike CX, the rangers will want to roost at night. Which I thought was actually a good thing because it is easier to scrape a poop board off than have to shovel dirty straw off the ground.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

My experience with rangers is that their poop is larger and slightly more loose than layers, but not as bad as CX. I've had 10 rangers at at time sharing a coop with a few layers and utilizing the same yard. Although the yard is 80 x 80 feet, the reality is that the chickens tend to congregate in the corner of the yard with the shade shelters and near the food and water. I didn't notice unmanageable poop levels, with the full disclosure that this is in a dedicated chicken yard, not on my back lawn. I noticed the excess poop more under hte roosting bars in the coop. I had to scrape very messy poop boards down daily and I wasn't sorry when they transitioned from coop to freezer.

Which brings to another point. Unlike CX, the rangers will want to roost at night. Which I thought was actually a good thing because it is easier to scrape a poop board off than have to shovel dirty straw off the ground.

Wow thanks for bringing up roosting bars! I did not consider this at all. It looks like I have some preparation to do. Maybe they can still stay in the tractor at night but I'll build a freestanding roost in it or something

 

[Morrigan]

If you don't have roosts, they will sleep on the ground. I think a lot of people do tractor rangers without them. I just like the fact it is a little cleaner to deal with.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

If you don't have roosts, they will sleep on the ground. I think a lot of people do tractor rangers without them. I just like the fact it is a little cleaner to deal with.

Good to know. So do you think if I had 7 in a 20'x25'ish pen for a maximum of 4 weeks, would it get too poopy? Part of that area is covered by juniper trees and I don't think poop buildup would matter there as much since it's dirt. They could scratch it around. I just don't want the grass part getting too bad.

 

[Morrigan]

Good to know. So do you think if I had 7 in a 20'x25'ish pen for a maximum of 4 weeks, would it get too poopy? Part of that area is covered by juniper trees and I don't think poop buildup would matter there as much since it's dirt. They could scratch it around. I just don't want the grass part getting too bad.

Would you be moving it at all? If it's moved around, like a tractor, I think it would be fine. If it is stationary and they are in it 24/7, it might get pretty yucky. I can't say for sure as I've never done it that way. It might help to put some type of absorbent litter down -- wood chips, straw, etc. that you stir around/top off if it gets too poopy.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

Would you be moving it at all? If it's moved around, like a tractor, I think it would be fine. If it is stationary and they are in it 24/7, it might get pretty yucky. I can't say for sure as I've never done it that way. It might help to put some type of absorbent litter down -- wood chips, straw, etc. that you stir around/top off if it gets too poopy.

Nah it's just a stationary, sectioned off portion of my yard. Maybe I should just tractor them as long as possible and then for the last couple weeks have them there.

 

[Morrigan]

I just had a cup of coffee and looked at your post again -- for some reason I read the pen as being 20 X 25 inches -- that's why I thought it was a tractor. At 20 x 25 feet, I think you will be fine on poop. You might have to rake it up every now and then where they sleep, but I think you will be fine. Looking forward to hearing how you like the rangers.

 

[HenriettaPizzaNolan]

I just had a cup of coffee and looked at your post again -- for some reason I read the pen as being 20 X 25 inches -- that's why I thought it was a tractor. At 20 x 25 feet, I think you will be fine on poop. You might have to rake it up every now and then where they sleep, but I think you will be fine. Looking forward to hearing how you like the rangers.

Oh okay, thanks so much! Yeah I'll probably actually do a spot cleanup a few times a week when I do it for my layers anyway so hopefully it doesn't get too bad. And yeah, looking forward to trying the Rangers.