thank you. People have been saying to me about freedom rangers as if they are the biggest and best.. they are nice if you like your chooks half the size I suppose.
They are more of a heritage breed and can be bred on the homestead - that’s why so many people like them. These are great for introducing people to homestead chicken that looks and tastes similar to what they are used to buying at the grocery store!
Thank you for a terrific video. I will be starting out with about 25 Jumbo Cornish Cross birds in April and the sequential time line helped a lot. New subscriber
When it came time for butchering, they were in excellent health judging by their organs (as gross as that may sound). We try to be as natural as possible and learn along the way. This year’s birds look even better! They are exited to move every day and thriving on their fresh salad bar each morning.
I put up a fence and run a electric wire 4 in above ground a another line at top of fence this has work well as I have not ever loss a bird to predators using this system
Appreciate the tip! We ended up building a more permanent structure with an A-frame roof that gave us no issues. This video was our first attempt and, boy oh boy, did we ever learn!
I'm a little bit lost here. I took my cornish cross outside for the first time. They're 3 weeks old. Outside was 85 degrees and cloudy. Late afternoon, I went to check on them, and they looked cold . I took them back inside with a heat lamp, giving the starter grover food, and they were starving the way they were eating. I'm not sure if I take them back outside they will gain weight to be ready for processing in 10 weeks. Please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong.
I never heard you say what you used for feed after you put them outside are you still using just chick crumble or have you Incorporated some kind of scratch or cracked corn
Great question! We kept them on a grower feed (higher protein) and then moved them more frequently as they grew so they could have fresh grass, bugs, scratch daily. They naturally fertilized our ground and we ended up making our garden spot where we tractored the first batch a year later!
That's what we were worried about at first. But in our second year, we fed our birds similar amounts and moved them on the same schedule and ended up with a much better yield! It was an insatiably hot time of the year and I think that played a huge part in their development.
@@TheGallowayFarm Not sure it was the heat, perhaps humidity? My guess is it's where you get your chicks and their gene pool that matters most on final weight and health, given plentiful food 🤔 My first batch this summer at 100 degs and 20% humidity, here in the high desert of Central Oregon, averaged 9.5lbs. The second batch is now six weeks, it's 35 degs in the daytime with snow on the ground, and they are 5.5lbs average with an expected 8lbs by week eight. I feed them 22 percent 3-5 times per day for 12 hours. Thanks for the "timelapse" of your experience 🤠
@@StephenPuddicombe1 that could have played a part as well. It’s was hot and humid and - despite moving them and watering them more frequently - things just didn’t go our way. Year 2 yield was completely different, but we were also more experienced. Thankful your yields have remained good and howdy from NC all the way to Oregon!
Hiya! The diet was fairly high protein, roughly 20% for the whole period, with plenty (and I do mean PLENTY) of water. We used a local feed store to supply the feed. Hope that helps!
Great question! We take their feed away for a couple of reasons. First of all, it prevents over-eating which some chicks are just prone to do. Secondly, it encourages them to forage more which is healthier for them in the long run. Another reason comes the day before we process them - it makes sure there is nothing in their crops and little in their intestines. This reduces the likelihood of tainting the meat if punctured.
We had a dual layer of protection from the elements for our birds. We had a tarp that went over the top of the tractor, as well as a canopy that we set up when we knew rain was coming. We did not have any issues with flooding, but that may be something you want to think about before building a unit that remains on the ground.
There are several, including ours, that sell locally. Reach out to your local cooperative extension and see if they can point you in the right direction.
Where can i get this type of breed in the Philippines? Idk if i don't know how to make them grow but i think i got slow growing broiler breed. It takes 5months to be that size.
We partnered with Meyer Hatchery to get our birds for the past few years. I’m not sure what the availability would be in the Philippines. The only difference between this and other broiler breeds is that others may take longer. Many people do freedoms rangers and prefer them - it’s all based on your needs and availability.
It’s my understanding that you won’t have much luck if they are Cornish cross. If they are just Cornish hens, you’ll be fine. But if they are broilers, they are never meant to make it past butcher day.
That’s a great question! We were moving them no less than twice a day and were offering starter twice a day as well. As far as the total quantity of food, I don’t recall what we were giving them but I do know that we upped the amount this year with great success. A good rule of thumb is, when you feed them, if they freak out then they are too hungry. If they get excited and start to eat immediately, you’re just right. And if they act disinterested or you notice food sitting on the ground after you move them, probably too much.
@@TheGallowayFarm thanks. I think everybody does it differently. Just what works, takes a couple rounds of doing them until u get it on point. One guy on here said he switches out (once they start getting big) to layer feed and alternates broiler and layer feed. That way they don't get too big too fast. I've had some die on me....think the heat, over eating, and the fact they are going on 10 weeks old! My plucker comes today 😂 so I can do them!
@@TheGallowayFarm my chicken coop is outside and is crude. Made of old fence panels. My reasoning on hanging feeders is I'm hoping mice can't walk up and down a strand of wire. So far I'm not seeing evidence of mice but they can't not be there.
Hello my name is Hassan and I live in the Netherlands. I am looking for hatching eggs of the breed Cornish Cross. Is there perhaps someone willing to help me and send these eggs to the netherlands. I cant find them here thanks in advance.
Hi Hassan and greetings from the US! Cornish “Cross” birds are crossbreeds (hence the name). This means they are crossed between a Cornish rooster and typically a larger bodied hen, such as Barred Rocks or something of the like. I don’t know if anyone with eggs besides hatcheries, but we have always had good luck dealing with Meyer Hatchery.
thank you.
People have been saying to me about freedom rangers as if they are the biggest and best.. they are nice if you like your chooks half the size I suppose.
They are more of a heritage breed and can be bred on the homestead - that’s why so many people like them. These are great for introducing people to homestead chicken that looks and tastes similar to what they are used to buying at the grocery store!
Wow, that’s awesome that your local cooperative extension has a loaner plucker and scalder!
Extremely helpful and not to mention how much of a time saver it is!
Thank you for a terrific video. I will be starting out with about 25 Jumbo Cornish Cross birds in April and the sequential time line helped a lot. New subscriber
Awesome - congratulations and best of luck! We’d love to know how they turn out!!
@@TheGallowayFarm I'll be sure to keep you posted.
Your birds look very healthy, your way of taking care of them is the correct way
I prefer natural and slim birds over unhealthy and oversize birds
When it came time for butchering, they were in excellent health judging by their organs (as gross as that may sound). We try to be as natural as possible and learn along the way. This year’s birds look even better! They are exited to move every day and thriving on their fresh salad bar each morning.
We had the same issue with ours. We found it was the feed percentage was not what they disclosed. We switched to turkey feed and they built out FAST 👍
Thanks so much for this info! We may try that with our next batch!
I put up a fence and run a electric wire 4 in above ground a another line at top of fence this has work well as I have not ever loss a bird to predators using this system
Nice! We are definitely looking at other options so we can hopefully have no casualties next time around.
Good and great show, more grace in Jesus name.
We appreciate the support and extending the same to you and yours!
Please I need your help
3” pvc pipe stand . Place in center so the tarp has a point and water will fall off . We do this for our boat tarps in the off season.
Appreciate the tip! We ended up building a more permanent structure with an A-frame roof that gave us no issues. This video was our first attempt and, boy oh boy, did we ever learn!
The freedom ranger looks like a green egger to me I’ve had some of both
She never made it to egg laying to find out, but she was a sweet ole bird!
I'm a little bit lost here. I took my cornish cross outside for the first time. They're 3 weeks old. Outside was 85 degrees and cloudy. Late afternoon, I went to check on them, and they looked cold . I took them back inside with a heat lamp, giving the starter grover food, and they were starving the way they were eating. I'm not sure if I take them back outside they will gain weight to be ready for processing in 10 weeks. Please let me know if I'm doing anything wrong.
I never heard you say what you used for feed after you put them outside are you still using just chick crumble or have you Incorporated some kind of scratch or cracked corn
Great question! We kept them on a grower feed (higher protein) and then moved them more frequently as they grew so they could have fresh grass, bugs, scratch daily. They naturally fertilized our ground and we ended up making our garden spot where we tractored the first batch a year later!
@@TheGallowayFarm so u never use crack corn or chicken scratch
You don’t think the weight issue could be from your limit of feeding.?
That's what we were worried about at first. But in our second year, we fed our birds similar amounts and moved them on the same schedule and ended up with a much better yield! It was an insatiably hot time of the year and I think that played a huge part in their development.
@@TheGallowayFarm Not sure it was the heat, perhaps humidity? My guess is it's where you get your chicks and their gene pool that matters most on final weight and health, given plentiful food 🤔 My first batch this summer at 100 degs and 20% humidity, here in the high desert of Central Oregon, averaged 9.5lbs. The second batch is now six weeks, it's 35 degs in the daytime with snow on the ground, and they are 5.5lbs average with an expected 8lbs by week eight. I feed them 22 percent 3-5 times per day for 12 hours. Thanks for the "timelapse" of your experience 🤠
@@StephenPuddicombe1 that could have played a part as well. It’s was hot and humid and - despite moving them and watering them more frequently - things just didn’t go our way. Year 2 yield was completely different, but we were also more experienced. Thankful your yields have remained good and howdy from NC all the way to Oregon!
@@TheGallowayFarm Howdy back from Oregon. Glad to hear the second year went better.
Hi there
Can you Share what diet/feeding you’re using for the meat chicken it made on farm or bought?
Hiya! The diet was fairly high protein, roughly 20% for the whole period, with plenty (and I do mean PLENTY) of water. We used a local feed store to supply the feed. Hope that helps!
Eso es lo que quería mirar para poner en practica mis pollos good megusta mucho good
Thank you!
hello i from Texas and start today with 20 cornish
Best of luck! Feed and water then well, protect them from predators, and make sure they have fresh grass and bugs - do that and you can’t go wrong!
Can I ask, did you add grit to their diet at any point?
Great question! No, we moved them daily so they had access to natural grit and didn’t supplement
I know this is a older video but why do you take the feed away at night?
Great question! We take their feed away for a couple of reasons. First of all, it prevents over-eating which some chicks are just prone to do. Secondly, it encourages them to forage more which is healthier for them in the long run.
Another reason comes the day before we process them - it makes sure there is nothing in their crops and little in their intestines. This reduces the likelihood of tainting the meat if punctured.
What to do in rainy season
We had a dual layer of protection from the elements for our birds. We had a tarp that went over the top of the tractor, as well as a canopy that we set up when we knew rain was coming. We did not have any issues with flooding, but that may be something you want to think about before building a unit that remains on the ground.
For some reason I was thinking jumbo shrimp but you hooked me at pasty butt.
By chance do you know any organic farm that sell chickens like yours so i can buy to eat.
There are several, including ours, that sell locally. Reach out to your local cooperative extension and see if they can point you in the right direction.
08:49 So you're gonna turn it into a chicken strip?🤣
Lol ya know, we never thought of it that way, but that's exactly it!
Where can i get this type of breed in the Philippines? Idk if i don't know how to make them grow but i think i got slow growing broiler breed. It takes 5months to be that size.
We partnered with Meyer Hatchery to get our birds for the past few years. I’m not sure what the availability would be in the Philippines. The only difference between this and other broiler breeds is that others may take longer. Many people do freedoms rangers and prefer them - it’s all based on your needs and availability.
I got 8 cornish x today and I was hoping on not to process them and just keep them as egg layers what's your opinion on that idea!?
It’s my understanding that you won’t have much luck if they are Cornish cross. If they are just Cornish hens, you’ll be fine. But if they are broilers, they are never meant to make it past butcher day.
I have read that they can get too big and break their own legs. I have my first batch right now at 5 days old. Learning as much as I can.
no le des mucha comida con hormonas si quieres dejarlos crecer para hacer crias dala de comer solo maíz eso evita que crescan tan rapido
So near the end....you had roughly 55 chickens or so.....about how much feed were you giving them each day?
That’s a great question! We were moving them no less than twice a day and were offering starter twice a day as well. As far as the total quantity of food, I don’t recall what we were giving them but I do know that we upped the amount this year with great success.
A good rule of thumb is, when you feed them, if they freak out then they are too hungry. If they get excited and start to eat immediately, you’re just right. And if they act disinterested or you notice food sitting on the ground after you move them, probably too much.
@@TheGallowayFarm thanks. I think everybody does it differently. Just what works, takes a couple rounds of doing them until u get it on point. One guy on here said he switches out (once they start getting big) to layer feed and alternates broiler and layer feed. That way they don't get too big too fast. I've had some die on me....think the heat, over eating, and the fact they are going on 10 weeks old! My plucker comes today 😂 so I can do them!
@@26Marlow we’ve had really great success moving them more frequently (if you have the time and space to do so). It really makes all the difference
I always thought Cornish were processed at 10 weeks. They looked small at 9 weeks
We don’t like huge birds ourselves; you could let them go a little longer but 10 weeks would be the top end I believe.
How much do your jumbo cornish cross weight at 10 weeks
They were on the smaller side, weighing in at 2.5-3lbs on average. We are hoping for bigger birds next year!
@@TheGallowayFarm mine turned out 15lb at 10 weeks...
@@sustainableliving1454 were they tough at that big?
Have had best luck using hanging feeders. They hardly spill any and it's just easier.
We'll be using hanging feeders this next time around! Definitely agree that they will be easier.
@@TheGallowayFarm my chicken coop is outside and is crude. Made of old fence panels. My reasoning on hanging feeders is I'm hoping mice can't walk up and down a strand of wire. So far I'm not seeing evidence of mice but they can't not be there.
Hello my name is Hassan and I live in the Netherlands. I am looking for hatching eggs of the breed Cornish Cross. Is there perhaps someone willing to help me and send these eggs to the netherlands. I cant find them here thanks in advance.
Hi Hassan and greetings from the US! Cornish “Cross” birds are crossbreeds (hence the name). This means they are crossed between a Cornish rooster and typically a larger bodied hen, such as Barred Rocks or something of the like. I don’t know if anyone with eggs besides hatcheries, but we have always had good luck dealing with Meyer Hatchery.
@@TheGallowayFarm thanks for the information. I will try to get in touch. I need to find a fast growing chicken and maybe cross with jersey jaint 😊
As soon as I saw you put those chickens out with no electric fence I told myself that you are definitely going to lose some to a predator.
Unfortunately we learned the hard way. Ever since then, 0 lost to predation and never had to use electric wire 😊
TURKEYS!!!!!!!
Ahhhhhhh!!!!!!!!
You talk to much.Show me the birds.
The video is meant to be informational. Feel free to skip to the parts you find most informing!