Mikel Good Video very informative, like they say you learn something new everyday. Have a Good Weekend, you and Hanky 🐔🐓😉👍 Linda and Randy South Bend, Indiana
Love my Delawares. Great temperament, non aggressive roosters, egg laying machines, start laying sooner. There is also a Delaware broiler that is even larger.
we are trying to breed with dark Cornish and other breeds RIR or bard rock has been best crosses we have tried so far. this year going to weight them once a week to try to pick out a couple breeders defiantly tougher then Cornish cross but don't have to order them going to try with two Delaware hens and a roo of dark Cornish this year good luck to you and yours
Interesting and thanks for teaching me something I would’ve never thought to search for. I think a visual that listed the pros and cons of each type would’ve helped. Nevertheless, I’d maybe keep all three because I might get tired of eating the same type all the time
I didn’t like it as much as the Cornish Cross but it isn’t horrible. They are much more active and muscular than meat birds for sure. We usually spatchcock cook them. I bet boiling them would taste great also. I still have some in the backyard with the red rangers as egg layers right now.
@@MikelHunt thanks! Have you tried new Hampshire chicken meat? I'm trying to find a good dual chicken. I'm afraid none of them will be like a Cornish though ...too bad you can't breed and keep Cornish!
Any updates on how the deleware finished/ or are going? We personally hatched buckeye and some x w buckeye and they've taken more time than it's worth. Thanks
Ahhh yes, I need to make a video about this… we butchered 6 of the roosters and they weren’t as big as we thought, but they tasted good… we still have some of the hens and we purchased more Delawares along with some buff orphingtins. They definitely took longer, but I like that they can just keep living and become egg layers and not eat tons and tons of feed like the Cornish x…. I definitely should put together a vid on this. I’ll try to get something out soon!! 💪🏻
My granny back around 1980 had white chickens we butchered and their size was small like a broiler. I got some White Rock chicks to breed as possible meatbirds. The Freedom Ranger are much larger than the rooster pen with White-Rock & New Hampshire Reds. Its possible you got NH-Reds and not Ranger chickens.. The point is, Delaware are related to the White Rock and slower growing than typical meat-birds.. One of my Freedom Ranger Hens dressed out at 6-lbs around 13 weeks, and a NH Red was only around 4 lbs or less at mature ukn age (maybe 15 weeks). I did well with the hybrid meat-birds my first time and only put down one CornishX with a clogged crop from large grit.
I love the Freedom Rangers. We grow to 12 weeks and average 6 1/2 lbs fully processed. The cost is under $3 / lb. I want to try Delaware BROILERS to see if they do well as a true dual purpose that can, hopefully, reproduce true to kind by keeping the largest ones for breeding.
Good info, was leaning towards red rangers to start a meat program and breed my own meat birds but Delaware seem even better, is a meat tractor necessary or can you let them free range and coop at night like laying birds?
Sounds like the red rangers are more trouble overall but the Cornish crosses have to harder on your budget based on their feed intake. You might want to wait to decide after you butcher and eat both a Delaware and a red Ranger so you can also do a taste comparison as that might make a difference 🤷🏻♀️
Cross your Delaware broiler Roo's over a New Hampshire hen and you will have more Delaware broilers and have as many as you can hatch........ Good hatching
So, I haven't gone as far with this as I've wanted to. My plan was to find a hybrid I liked and possibly start hatching my own eggs for meat birds. But, In my opinion so far, I don't like the red rangers. Their meat is tougher cause they are pretty muscular birds and they don't get very big. AND, the roosters are loud as heck,,,,, crow non stop! The delawares are actually really good. They have decent meat and they get pretty dang big. But, the roosters are really aggressive. I've also tried the Buff Orpingtons and they are the same as the red rangers to me.... I plan to keep going with the delawares and try to get some eggs. But honestly i can't beat the cornish crosses.
@@MikelHuntI'm doing something similar but with the New Hampshire (usually less aggressive roos). I have 5 baby roos. In 5 months I'll pick the two largest/fastest growing and breed them with my Freedom ranger hens. I happened to get a good bloodline and a mediocre one, 4 hens total. One set of hens has the Cornish gene and grew almost as fast as they do; 7 weeks to 6.5lbs - for the hens. The two ladies I kept are 11 and 13lbs. Even if only some chicks get the growth gene, I'll get large birds. I can sell off the pullets and put the roos in the freezer before that 'post 10 weeks toughness' starts to set in.
Delawares are not hybrids. They will breed true to the breed. I've never raised them before, But am going to try them this spring. I've raised White Rocks from Meyer hatchery and they attain good sizes, while laying well. I'm thinking a Delaware rooster over a White Rock hen would be an improvement, both for laying and meat.
@@Mr.D_homsteds They may not breed true, but breeding the hens with a dual purpose roo is going to make a big bird, even if it doesn't quite grow as fast. I'm going to find out what happens when I breed my two rockstar freedom rangers (11 & 13 lbs) with a New Hampshire roo here in a few months. Should be interesting.
Those Red Rangers don't look right at all. I've had Freedom Rangers once and Red Rangers once; the FRs grew similar to Cornish, as they had the gene mixed in with about 3 other heritage breeds. The Red Rangers were actually MMs big red broilers. They were bad, but not as bad as your RRs. Only half of mine looked like a normal bird. Yours look like plain old Road Island Reds. I was lucky to get 3.5-4lb carcasses @ 8-9 weeks, and those were the roos.
Mikel
Good Video very informative, like they say you learn something new everyday. Have a Good Weekend, you and Hanky 🐔🐓😉👍
Linda and Randy
South Bend, Indiana
Love my Delawares. Great temperament, non aggressive roosters, egg laying machines, start laying sooner. There is also a Delaware broiler that is even larger.
How to the Delaware taste? How to you cook them ? Are they tough?
Ty for the info. I’ve raised the Cornish cross , turkeys, snd other breeds. I might try the Delaware’s .
Very informative.... way to go in explaining the difference....
Good video. Been trying to decide between ranger and Delaware's
Thanks man
we are trying to breed with dark Cornish and other breeds RIR or bard rock has been best crosses we have tried so far. this year going to weight them once a week to try to pick out a couple breeders defiantly tougher then Cornish cross but don't have to order them going to try with two Delaware hens and a roo of dark Cornish this year good luck to you and yours
So green with envy, but thrilled for y'all. Delaware seem to be best of both worlds. Meaty, and pretty 😊 👍
Interesting and thanks for teaching me something I would’ve never thought to search for. I think a visual that listed the pros and cons of each type would’ve helped. Nevertheless, I’d maybe keep all three because I might get tired of eating the same type all the time
How did you like the Delaware chickens meat? Was it tender or tough? How did you cook it? Are you still happy with them? Thanks!
I didn’t like it as much as the Cornish Cross but it isn’t horrible. They are much more active and muscular than meat birds for sure. We usually spatchcock cook them. I bet boiling them would taste great also.
I still have some in the backyard with the red rangers as egg layers right now.
@@MikelHunt thanks! Have you tried new Hampshire chicken meat? I'm trying to find a good dual chicken. I'm afraid none of them will be like a Cornish though ...too bad you can't breed and keep Cornish!
@@TacklingTheGiants I’m trying buff orphingtons
But yes, I don’t think there is anything like Cornish cross
@@MikelHuntthey say the American bresse is amazing. That might be another one to add to your list to try. I personally don't know though.
Any updates on how the deleware finished/ or are going? We personally hatched buckeye and some x w buckeye and they've taken more time than it's worth. Thanks
Ahhh yes, I need to make a video about this… we butchered 6 of the roosters and they weren’t as big as we thought, but they tasted good… we still have some of the hens and we purchased more Delawares along with some buff orphingtins.
They definitely took longer, but I like that they can just keep living and become egg layers and not eat tons and tons of feed like the Cornish x….
I definitely should put together a vid on this. I’ll try to get something out soon!! 💪🏻
My granny back around 1980 had white chickens we butchered and their size was small like a broiler. I got some White Rock chicks to breed as possible meatbirds. The Freedom Ranger are much larger than the rooster pen with White-Rock & New Hampshire Reds. Its possible you got NH-Reds and not Ranger chickens.. The point is, Delaware are related to the White Rock and slower growing than typical meat-birds.. One of my Freedom Ranger Hens dressed out at 6-lbs around 13 weeks, and a NH Red was only around 4 lbs or less at mature ukn age (maybe 15 weeks). I did well with the hybrid meat-birds my first time and only put down one CornishX with a clogged crop from large grit.
Hope you and your family are doing well, we miss you guys and your videos.
Yes we are. Thank you. Hope to post more soon😀
I love the Freedom Rangers. We grow to 12 weeks and average 6 1/2 lbs fully processed. The cost is under $3 / lb. I want to try Delaware BROILERS to see if they do well as a true dual purpose that can, hopefully, reproduce true to kind by keeping the largest ones for breeding.
Good info, was leaning towards red rangers to start a meat program and breed my own meat birds but Delaware seem even better, is a meat tractor necessary or can you let them free range and coop at night like laying birds?
That’s great! Delawares do just fine free range and in a regular coop🙂
Sounds like the red rangers are more trouble overall but the Cornish crosses have to harder on your budget based on their feed intake. You might want to wait to decide after you butcher and eat both a Delaware and a red Ranger so you can also do a taste comparison as that might make a difference 🤷🏻♀️
Cross your Delaware broiler Roo's over a New Hampshire hen and you will have more Delaware broilers and have as many as you can hatch........ Good hatching
How long did the Delawares take to get to butcher weight compared to the red rangers
Bought the same…but delawares did get there a little faster or because they are just much bigger breeds
hello i was wondering if you had any updates on these meat birds?
So, I haven't gone as far with this as I've wanted to. My plan was to find a hybrid I liked and possibly start hatching my own eggs for meat birds. But, In my opinion so far, I don't like the red rangers. Their meat is tougher cause they are pretty muscular birds and they don't get very big. AND, the roosters are loud as heck,,,,, crow non stop!
The delawares are actually really good. They have decent meat and they get pretty dang big. But, the roosters are really aggressive. I've also tried the Buff Orpingtons and they are the same as the red rangers to me....
I plan to keep going with the delawares and try to get some eggs.
But honestly i can't beat the cornish crosses.
@@MikelHuntI'm doing something similar but with the New Hampshire (usually less aggressive roos). I have 5 baby roos. In 5 months I'll pick the two largest/fastest growing and breed them with my Freedom ranger hens. I happened to get a good bloodline and a mediocre one, 4 hens total. One set of hens has the Cornish gene and grew almost as fast as they do; 7 weeks to 6.5lbs - for the hens. The two ladies I kept are 11 and 13lbs. Even if only some chicks get the growth gene, I'll get large birds. I can sell off the pullets and put the roos in the freezer before that 'post 10 weeks toughness' starts to set in.
@@forced4motorsports that’s awesome
Where did you get the Delawares from
Mcmurray hatchery
Delawares are not hybrids. They will breed true to the breed. I've never raised them before, But am going to try them this spring. I've raised White Rocks from Meyer hatchery and they attain good sizes, while laying well. I'm thinking a Delaware rooster over a White Rock hen would be an improvement, both for laying and meat.
Yes, I meant to say they are dual purpose 😄
Delawares are a established breed, they will breed true. Rangers are a hybrid, they will not breed true.
I think he means dual purpose
@@Mr.D_homsteds They may not breed true, but breeding the hens with a dual purpose roo is going to make a big bird, even if it doesn't quite grow as fast. I'm going to find out what happens when I breed my two rockstar freedom rangers (11 & 13 lbs) with a New Hampshire roo here in a few months. Should be interesting.
the regular Delaware is only good as a slow cooked bird for soup, not intended to be a broiler.
Have you baked them(like one you would buy from a store) ? How do they taste that way?
Those Red Rangers don't look right at all. I've had Freedom Rangers once and Red Rangers once; the FRs grew similar to Cornish, as they had the gene mixed in with about 3 other heritage breeds. The Red Rangers were actually MMs big red broilers. They were bad, but not as bad as your RRs. Only half of mine looked like a normal bird. Yours look like plain old Road Island Reds. I was lucky to get 3.5-4lb carcasses @ 8-9 weeks, and those were the roos.
Yea, I see your point… I may need to make sure I’m getting what I think I’m getting!
Delaware 's are dual purpose not hybrid
That’s right
Yeah, I find Cornish cross to be disgusting fat bodies. I like the rangers so much more better.