Virginia

[Maeschak]

Freedom Ranger hatchery is awesome, we get 225 Freedom Ranger broilers there every year. Unfortunately, not into meat ducks at the moment though.

Bummer! My plan is to actually get a test batch of meat ducks then once they are done do my first test batch of Freedom Rangers. (I just eat my DP right now- looking forward to trying something that can be done it about 12 weeks). Do you have them shipped to VA or do you pick them up? Do you have any tips for FR once I get them? Do they really take 12 weeks or do you butcher early? If my FR are in a 'night only' coop how many FR could I keep in an 8x8 hoop coop?

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Bummer! My plan is to actually get a test batch of meat ducks then once they are done do my first test batch of Freedom Rangers. (I just eat my DP right now- looking forward to trying something that can be done it about 12 weeks). Do you have them shipped to VA or do you pick them up? Do you have any tips for FR once I get them? Do they really take 12 weeks or do you butcher early? If my FR are in a 'night only' coop how many FR could I keep in an 8x8 hoop coop?

welcome to the Virginia site. I allow atleast 4 sq feet per bird in the coop and atleast 50 sq feet per bird in their run as well As they all get to free range also. I don't think it is humane to cramp them.

 

[Maeschak]

welcome to the Virginia site. I allow atleast 4 sq feet per bird in the coop and atleast 50 sq feet per bird in their run as well As they all get to free range also. I don't think it is humane to cramp them.

Thanks so much~ Im near DC so VA isnt too far off and I spent quite a bit of time in Charlottesville as a kid and still go to Chincoteague every summer.
4 sq feet per bird sounds good for the night coop (pasture during day). I can get about 15 FR to start off with. Good test amount I think. (Plus I process myself by hand so 15 is manageable for now).

Thanks for the info~

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

I am not sure what the going rate is for the industry standard

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

Happy Valentine Day

 

[vachick15]

Happy Valentine's Day, Virginians!

 

[CuzChickens]

Red Rangers are good Broilers but Hubby will be doing Bresse only because we have goats and towards the end, the last 4 weeks they need goats milk and cracked corn although we don't believe in locking them in a run during that period of time,
We Plan to let them free range also.

I wish we could free-range ours. Hawks and dogs would have them picked clean. Do Breese require goats milk and stuff, or do you just give it to them to fatten them up?

Bummer! My plan is to actually get a test batch of meat ducks then once they are done do my first test batch of Freedom Rangers. (I just eat my DP right now- looking forward to trying something that can be done it about 12 weeks). Do you have them shipped to VA or do you pick them up? Do you have any tips for FR once I get them? Do they really take 12 weeks or do you butcher early? If my FR are in a 'night only' coop how many FR could I keep in an 8x8 hoop coop?

I have them shipped. I've ordered over 1,000 birds from them all in all and only ever had 1 DOA, but they always send bunches extra, so it was not a loss in the long run. I find the FR's to be much hardier than Cornish crosses, they have awesome foraging abilities, and overall just act more chickeny than CX. Umm, don't think I've got any tips for them.....I brood them just the way you'd brood any other chicks. I usually process mine 11-13 weeks depending on the batch. We keep 50 birds in a hoop house that is 10' x 12', so you could probably fit 40 in a eight by eight coop. We move our hoop houses twice a day since we have so many to a pen. If you like non GMO, FR hatchery offers chicks from non-GMO parent stock, and we get that every time. Also,I wrote an article on raising broilers you might like to skim over--http://www.backyardchickens.com/a/raising-broilers-in-your-backyard. If you have any additional questions, ask away!

Happy Valentines day to you guys as well!

 

[ApiaryandAviary]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bresse
Will see how it goes.

 

[CuzChickens]

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bresse
Will see how it goes.

I'll be interested to hear how it turns out.

 

[Maeschak]

Thanks so much @CuzChickens

I will def check out your thread on raising slower growing broilers. I am very excited to get this year's meat birds, both ducks and chickens!