I originally planned to mix my Columbian Rock and Dark Cornish chickens to see if I got a decent meat bird from them, however this spring I was lucky enough to find a group of grown Freedom Rangers. A Rooster and four hens, all one year old. My new plan is to raise 3 groups of meat chicks by putting the Freedom Ranger, Dark Cornish, and Columbian Rock roosters over the Freedom Ranger hens. I then plan to record weights at 6/8/10 and 12 weeks.
I will also evaluate how the chicks behave. The freedom rangers don't really range much at all, they hang out at the feeders and would likely die if let out to free range. Both the Columbian Rock and Dark Cornish roosters have been free ranging for nearly a year. The Dark Cornish is an asshole, but he's got a great body, so I want to see what happens with his off spring, and the Columbian is a great rooster, very sweet. I also like all the white feathers for a cleaner looking carcass.
I expect that the Freedom Ranger offspring will vary greatly, but I plan to keep the best 3-5 chicks from each batch and either continue the line, or work on combining them. Since I am using the same four hens the results of each hatch will be staggered. I have the freedom ranger eggs set to hatch on March 22nd.
I'll need to get the weights of the Dark Cornish and the Columbian Rock, but the Freedom Ranger Rooster measured 13.5lbs and the biggest looking hen was 10.6lbs.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask. Or if you're interested in certain results, maybe let me know so I can start tracking that also.
I plan to track hatch rate, weights at the designated ages, chicken behaviors and then carcass pictures.
I will also evaluate how the chicks behave. The freedom rangers don't really range much at all, they hang out at the feeders and would likely die if let out to free range. Both the Columbian Rock and Dark Cornish roosters have been free ranging for nearly a year. The Dark Cornish is an asshole, but he's got a great body, so I want to see what happens with his off spring, and the Columbian is a great rooster, very sweet. I also like all the white feathers for a cleaner looking carcass.
I expect that the Freedom Ranger offspring will vary greatly, but I plan to keep the best 3-5 chicks from each batch and either continue the line, or work on combining them. Since I am using the same four hens the results of each hatch will be staggered. I have the freedom ranger eggs set to hatch on March 22nd.
I'll need to get the weights of the Dark Cornish and the Columbian Rock, but the Freedom Ranger Rooster measured 13.5lbs and the biggest looking hen was 10.6lbs.
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask. Or if you're interested in certain results, maybe let me know so I can start tracking that also.
I plan to track hatch rate, weights at the designated ages, chicken behaviors and then carcass pictures.