Raising backyard chickens has become a trendy hobby in recent years, but what about backyard geese? Keeping and breeding a variety of goose breeds has a long tradition in the United States. We know that George Washington had geese on his farm at Mount Vernon, and records indicate that he was given three Chinese geese in the time he lived there.

But why keep geese instead of or in addition to chickens, whether it be the graceful and exotic-looking Brown Chinese Geese or other breeds? Well, backyard geese are incredibly versatile. They can provide meat and eggs, though they are also extremely good at “guard dog” duties and even weeding gardens! In fact, the Brown Chinese Goose breed can also be referred to as “Weeder Geese.”

Read on to learn just a bit more about Brown Chinese Geese, which we hatch and ship across the USA!  Continue reading “Breed Spotlight: Brown Chinese Geese”

In a previous post, we talked about the common bacteria known as Salmonella, and more specifically, how it could affect your chicken flock. We discussed how you can identify it in your flock and what you can do to prevent it. And while the details of that post haven’t changed, there is some new information that has come to light about the bacteria.

During a recent study published by Penn State College of Medicine, it was found that “meat from conventionally raised poultry was twice as likely to contain multidrug-resistant Salmonella compared to poultry labeled antibiotic-free or organic.” In layman’s terms, that means organic poultry is half as likely to have Salmonella contamination than its non-organically produced counterpart.

While we are strong supporters of healthy, naturally raised chickens, we also know that organic poultry farming is not for everyone. Regardless, no one wants their flock to be infected with Salmonella. In today’s post, we want to break down some of the information presented in this study to help you and other poultry businesses alike better understand how to take care of your flock. Continue reading “Organic Poultry is Half as Likely to be Salmonella Contaminated”

If you are an experienced poultry producer, you likely already know that a debate has been heating up in the past few years over the growth rate of chickens raised for meat. And if you’re newer to growing broilers, or are considering jumping into the business soon, you may also be familiar. Of course, you probably still have questions, starting with, “what are the issues and arguments in this broiler chicken growth rate debate?”

As with many things in our culture at this moment, concerns about long-term sustainability and safety fueled by information (and perhaps some misinformation, too) made available online likely created the debate. However, some broiler producers had also begun questioning whether the idea that “faster growth is always better” when it comes to their chickens was totally right.

Today’s blog post highlights a few things broiler producers should know now as they look to the future of their business with regard to growth rate concerns. Continue reading “What to Know About the Broiler Chicken Growth Rate Debate”

The age-old question, “Which came first—the chicken or the egg?” may forever go unanswered, but when you’re looking for the best brown egg-layers, we suggest starting with the chicken. And in this instance, it’s the Novogen Brown!

In today’s post, we’re highlighting one of our favorite (and best) egg-layers that we have in stock here at Freedom Ranger Hatchery. Keep reading to learn more about the Novogen Brown chicken, and what owning a few of these could do for your egg-laying business. Continue reading “Breed Spotlight: Novogen Brown”

When you’re first starting out raising chickens, you may not think you’ll get to the level where you’d be turning a profit. Most farms start with only a few chickens, and then slowly turn into a broiler farm over time, or at least start to entertain the idea.

If you’re reading this, you may be thinking about taking the next step in your broiler business. But there are a few things you should consider before you spread your wings and think about leaving the coop. We’re here to talk you through those considerations and the steps you should take before purchasing your Freedom Ranger chicks! Continue reading “How Many Chicks to Order to Fit Your Broiler Farm”

It’s all in the name—our Freedom Ranger Chickens are the reason our hatchery has the name it does. These birds are the crème de la crème, the cream of the crop—or should we say, the “cream of the flock”—when it comes to high-quality broiler chickens.

There’s a reason our Freedom Ranger Chickens are one of our top-selling birds, and in today’s post, we wanted to shine a light on why that is. So keep reading to learn more about this month’s chicken breed spotlight—Freedom Ranger Chickens! Continue reading “Breed Spotlight: Freedom Ranger Chickens”

When you’re looking to get started with broiler chickens, you may not know what exact breed of broiler chickens will be best for you. And that’s okay!

Here at Freedom Ranger Hatchery, we’ve been in the chicken business for over 15 years, so we’re here to do some of that decision-making for you. While you can always contact us to learn more about what broiler chicken breed will work best for you, we wanted to offer a few statistics about a few common breeds.

This chart is an excellent guide on determining which chicken breed will be best for you to raise. We’ll take into consideration your meat-growing needs, egg production, climate, and even budget! Continue reading “What to Look for When Choosing Your Breed of Broiler Chickens”

In our recent blog post about what to consider when starting an egg-laying business, we talked a bit about determining the market you want to target with your products.

As a new business owner, you’ll more than likely sell your eggs at a roadside stand on or near your property instead of across the seas in the export market. However, a recent trade deal that the United States signed with Japan back in October 2019 has now created a lucrative time to begin an egg-production or other poultry-focused business, no matter your business goals.

Today’s post highlights the details of this new trade deal and provides a look into why US poultry farmers have applauded this move by the US and Japanese governments. Continue reading “What the New Trade Deal With Japan Means for US Poultry Farmers”

There’s something inherently rewarding about having your very own farm-fresh eggs every day. When you raise your chickens from the egg to chick to egg-laying hens themselves, there’s a sense of pride and accomplishment in what you’ve helped cultivate. And as your egg production increases, you may be wondering if you should start an egg laying business. If that’s the case, you’ve come to the right place.

At Freedom Ranger Hatchery, we believe in traditional, sustainable, and environmentally-friendly farming methods. As a result, we’re always happy to help local chicken hobbyists dip a toe into the egg business. While Freedom Ranger is a more extensive hatchery operation in Reinholds, Pa., we started just as simply as you—with a love for raising chickens. Here are a few things to crack into and consider before you get started. Continue reading “5 Factors to Consider When Cracking Into the Egg Laying Business”

When you hear the words “lice,” “fleas,” or “mites,” if you’re anything like us, you likely already start to feel itchy. Just the thought of those tiny eight- or six-legged pests crawling anywhere near you, your family, or pets probably has you on edge. But did you know that your chickens can also contract pests called chicken mites or chicken lice?

With all of the possible illnesses or diseases your flock can get, a lice infestation can be one of the most annoying to get rid of. Even if you get new birds from a reputable source like Freedom Ranger, you always want to practice good biosecurity and check your chickens before introducing them to your flock.

In today’s post, we’re going to take a look at different types of chicken mites or lice, the symptoms to look out for in your flock, and a few other common questions you might have. Continue reading “How to Get Rid of Chicken Mites and Lice Naturally”