This morning, long before I was awake (8am), I received a call and voice mail from the Oak Grove post office. The 25 with one extra thrown in just in case so really 26 Freedom Ranger chickens had arrived! We'd been anticipating these little creatures for months and their arrival sparked a flurry of activity. Quick, finish putting together the brooder! Where's Stella? Stella, get the heck out of that duck brooder young lady and hand me that bag of pine shavings! Josh, mister, get off of that bike and track me down the heat lamp. Please! Jason... Jason... Jason... Jason, what the heck are you doing in the bathtub? And with all your clothes on?
We chose the Freedom Ranger chicken because we decided to make a commitment to our ethical belief in the sanctity of life. Freedom Rangers live a longer, healthier life than that of their counterpart the Cornish Cross broiler. The life of a Cornish Cross broiler is not what nature had originally drafted when in her
infinite wisdom she created the chicken. Nor is it the picture that I want to paint in order to feed myself and my family. When we
originally decided to raise our own meat,
Nik and I spent many nights hashing over which animal would be best treated within the confines of our care and land; which animal provided the most yield for the money to sustain and which animal was most readily available. Chickens resounded again and again. Unfortunately, finding a chicken breed comparable to the broiler for large backyard production proved difficult. Finally, after I had joined countless chicken and livestock forums and read uncountable accounts of broody hens and cocked cockerels, someone mentioned the Freedom Ranger chicken from J & M Hatchery in Pennsylvania. In my head there was a chorus of angels! And there we have it. 3 months and $70 later, our 26 Freedom Ranger chickens are happy and home. And it feels so good to be doing the right thing!!!
This morning, long before I was awake (8am), I received a call and voice mail from the Oak Grove post office. The 25 with one extra thrown in just in case so really 26 Freedom Ranger chickens had arrived! We'd been anticipating these little creatures for months and their arrival sparked a flurry of activity. Quick, finish putting together the brooder! Where's Stella? Stella, get the heck out of that duck brooder young lady and hand me that bag of pine shavings! Josh, mister, get off of that bike and track me down the heat lamp. Please! Jason... Jason... Jason... Jason, what the heck are you doing in the bathtub? And with all your clothes on?
We chose the Freedom Ranger chicken because we decided to make a commitment to our ethical belief in the sanctity of life. Freedom Rangers live a longer, healthier life than that of their counterpart the Cornish Cross broiler. The life of a Cornish Cross broiler is not what nature had originally drafted when in her infinite wisdom she created the chicken. Nor is it the picture that I want to paint in order to feed myself and my family. When we originally decided to raise our own meat, Nik and I spent many nights hashing over which animal would be best treated within the confines of our care and land; which animal provided the most yield for the money to sustain and which animal was most readily available. Chickens resounded again and again. Unfortunately, finding a chicken breed comparable to the broiler for large backyard production proved difficult. Finally, after I had joined countless chicken and livestock forums and read uncountable accounts of broody hens and cocked cockerels, someone mentioned the Freedom Ranger chicken from J & M Hatchery in Pennsylvania. In my head there was a chorus of angels! And there we have it. 3 months and $70 later, our 26 Freedom Ranger chickens are happy and home. And it feels so good to be doing the right thing!!!
Came across your blog when I did a search for FR's.I would be very interested in your feedback on them. Anything that you provide would be great. We did go with Cornish Roasters this year as they were supposed to be slower growing but I really feel they are too much like Frankenchicken. I too am looking for a more ethical meat bird for us. Thanks!Missy scooter4806@yahoo.com
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