Your opinion on Fredom Rangers.

[chickendude]

I have a friend whose wife has 25 freedom ranger eggs in her school room bator. I was offered as many as I would like. I have 6, 2 1/2 year old RIR hens one 1 year old Polish RIR mix hen and a Polish RIR mix roo. I also have one of each 4 week old Speckled Sussex,EE, Bufff Orp and a Barred Rock ( all girls I hope ) in the brooder. I could add maybe 3 of the Freedom Rangers. How is the temperament of the FR's? Will they do well in a mixed flock? My small coop has 20 sq feet floor space and the larger coop has 60 sq feet floor space. They share a common dog kennel run that is 200 sq feet. So any opinions are welcomed. Should I go for it or not. Thanks for your advice in advance.

 

[chickendude]

No one has any input on Freedom Rangers? anyone?

 

[tandersphoenix]

Hi, my knowledge of freedom rangers are that they are raised for broilers on a free range growing system. If you are looking for meat birds they would be fine. They do take about 12 - 16 weeks to grow out if you want to feed them that long..

 

[chickendude]

That is what I have heard also. Not really interested in meat birds now. How are they along the lines for egg production?

 

[BigPeep]

The "Freedom Rangers" are originally known as "Poulet Rouge" or "Label Rouge" and were developed in France as a meat bird that would be more mobile than the Cornish/Rock cross. They have been renamed "freedom rangers" in the US, presumably by the same folks who now eat "Freedom Fries" rather than French Fries.

The breast is longer so the bird can carry more weight more comforatably.

They mature in 10 weeks, rather than the six for the CR Crosses, making them a bit more expensive to raise, particularly if you are using certified organic feed.

I have 25 now at 7 weeks and another 50 chicks. I have presold all of them for a poultry CSA at $4/lb and up. I have spoken to people who get $4.50lb which translates to about $20 per chicken at 4.5 lbs wt. However, they were growing theirs 16 wks which is not necessary as they will reach 4 to 4.5 lbs in ten or so.

If you are going to get these birds and sell them for meat, be sure you can recover the additional costs for feed. Mine are eating .4 lbs of feed per day per bird at 7 weeks, which, for certified organic feed, is about $.15 per day or a dollar per week. By ten weeks they will have cost you $6 to $7 using organic feed wholesale plus $1.50 for the chicks and $2.50 or more for processing so you will have over ten dollars into each bird not counting losses. If you carry them 16 weeks you will not make any profit.

 

[chickendude]

Well it kind of looks like I may just raise them to 10 to 16 weeks weeks and process them. I was initially looking to add to my egg producing flock but I don't have a problem adding them to my own freezer. I hope they will be a tender and tasty bird. Funny thing is my youngest son, 9 years old asked me the other day if we could raise birds to process. Maybe this is our opportunity to do so. Thanks for your help and info. It is much appreciated.

 

[Rebecky54]

You are right to process -- I wouldn't rely on them in my laying flock -- many breeds are more productive layers.

Becky