what is the best meat bird u can hatch and raise yourself...

[chickenfever]

You can get Freedom Rangers at: http://www.jmhatchery.com/index.php
Edited to add*They are also called colored range broilers*


I just wanted to add that we butchered our three 17 week old cochins yesterday. They were smaller than I had thought, maybe 3-4 lbs. Our neighbor said we are officially rednecks now that we have killed our own dinner, that we raised, in our driveway.

Grayfields, I know what you mean by body shape, they were shaped much differently than any other chicken I have ever seen, it was kind of a hard thing to get past. It made great chicken noodle soup though!

 

[greyfields]

Used that coq au vin recipe last night with mine and loved every morsel of it.

 

[Patch of Heaven Farm]

Thanks chickenfever! I checked the site out and will probally order some this spring.

OK another question? Can I breed the rangers and the chicks have the same vigor and the same weight gain, etc. as the parents?

yumm that sounds good grey!

 

[greyfields]

No. They won't have the explosive heterosis as with the initial F1 pairings.

However, the results likely will be better than trying to breed purebred heavy breeds (and crosses). Your results will just be sporadic in appearance and performance.

 

[Patch of Heaven Farm]

Thanks for all the help. I really appreciate it.