This is the second year that Polyface Farm has offered Freedom Rangers to our customers. These broilers originated in France through the Label Rouge program in the 1960′s. The program’s vision is to produce heritage-based, healthy livestock. They are double-breasted, dressing out at 4-5 lbs.
The butchering season is finished, so come on out to the farm!
Here’s some fun pictures! Thanks Brie!
From pasture…
… to finished product!
Did you like this? Share it:
About Kristen Long
Kristen Long came to Polyface as an intern in the summer of 2010. She enjoyed the lifestyle and work here and is now freezer organizer and inventory manager. Kristen was born and raised in Virginia and was homeschooled most of her school years. As a teen, she began raising dairy calves and milking cows before coming to Polyface. Kristen is blessed to be engaged to her best friend, Ben Beichler. They will be married in 2012 and manage DoubleB Acres, LLC.
Love the concept, but how do you move them?
It looks like an awful lot of work to move the fencing.
They look stunning though
Love the flavor or those pasture fed birds! and I’m a fan of the dark meat!
How do your customers feel about the Freedom Ranger vs. the Cornish Cross? I have read Joel comment previous times in his books that he would love to raise a more heritage bird than the CC but did not feel that customers would accept them as readily. Thoughts?
Background: We are currently raising pastured CC birds in Nashville, TN for the second year and find they are in high demand.
Hi Kelly,
We encourage everyone to try them both! 
We have some that like them better and others that like the CC better. It all depends on the customer.
What a good-looking broiler bird. I’ve been considering raising meat chickens this coming spring, and although I’m unable to get Freedom Rangers, I will definitely consider them in the future.
I completely support Polyface’s practice of not shipping their products…and supporting local farmers but it sure is a bummer for those of us who don’t live within driving distance (i.e. Southern California LOL) that I’ll never have a chance to taste this product.
Wishing you continued prosperity on your farms and a very happy upcoming wedding day and marriage. Happy Farming and God Bless!
Hi Ellen,
Happy hunting!
Please try http://www.eatwild.com or http://www.localharvest.org for a farmer in your area. There are many wonderful farmers, you just have to find them
I thought hatchlings came from a place in PA?
Dear Suzie, it’s very simple to move the Freedom Rangers. They are in a feathernet, and have a shade structure that is moved by tractor. It takes about 45 minutes for one person to move them, and they are moved every two days. You can follow us on Facebook at DoubleB Acres LLC ~ we will be posting more moving pictures soon!
P.S. A HUGE thank you goes to Brie for the beautiful photos!
Ellen, thank you for the well wishes! All the best to you, and I hope you may find some local, pasture-raised broilers in your area!
Dear Suzie, it’s very simple to move the broilers. They are in a feathernet with a shade structure, which is moved by a tractor. It takes one person about 45 minutes to move the broilers, and they are moved every two days.
Thanks for answering, Kristen. I will follow as we are very keen on giving the chicks more space than the chick tractor is currently giving.
All the best!!
So glad to see you’re offering an alternative to the Cornish Cross. I have serious doubts about whether birds like that should be raised.
How many weeks does it take to get the Freedom Rangers to slaughter weight?
Dear Bill,
First, it is important about how an animal is raised, and for broilers, it’s imperative that they be outside on clean, nutritious pasture, rotationally grazing. Cornish Cross and Freedom Rangers are two options for broilers at Polyface – one is not better or worse than the other. They are both healthy, pastured birds.
On average, Freedom Rangers take about 10 weeks to grow to slaughter-size.
Best,
Kristen
Where do you order your Freedom Ranger chicks please? How old are they when you put them on pasture?
Would like to raise them next year.
Thanks,
Becky
KY
This is the first time I’ve seen Polyface using the day range model, instead of pasture pens, for broilers. Are you doing this only for the Freedom Rangers? Have you also raised them in pasture pens?