Yesterday fifty Freedom Ranger chicks came from the Freedom Ranger Hatchery! I was expecting them this morning, and not yesterday afternoon so my schedule had to do some acrobatics, but I am happy to say all are doing well. It does take some adjusting, since that one little box from the post office basically doubled the animals in my care at the farm, but it is a happy adjustment. No part of me is nervous by addition.I am also happy to share that the laying hens are now fully free ranging at 6 weeks. They are out in the hedges, chasing bugs and learning the way of the farm. The meat birds that were in the brooder in the barn are now in the small tractors on grass at the age of four weeks. The fifty new meaties are in the brooder, chirping away and enjoying their heatlamps and feed. I wanted to share this picture of Cornish Cross birds halfway to harvest and out on grass! It's a rare and special sight in these modern times! These are the same birds raised in commercial chicken houses.
I won't be keeping all of the Freedom Rangers. Ten are going to a neighbors farm, twenty are staying here, the other twenty will be bartered as a finished, fresh birds. Regardless of all their futures it is a really good feeling have so much happy and healthy food outside my front door. Chickens are so much more than grain-converters. They add their own energy to a homestead, turning backyards into living farms. They give you the courage to get those meat rabbits, try milking a goat, or buying that deep chest freezer. They are game changers.
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