A Comparison of Rainbow Rangers and Cornish Cross

When it comes to raising chicken for your freezer there are a couple of options available. Here at Meyer Hatchery we offer Rainbow Rangers, Sasso, Cornish Cross and Gray Rangers. I have raised Cornish Cross a few times, but I often ran into issues with being able to process them on time because their processing time is not very flexible. 

This year I decided to give Rainbow Rangers a try so that I could try out first hand to see how they would compare to Cornish Cross in terms of raising them and then later on processing them and of course, their flavor.

Raising the Birds

To best compare the two breeds I chose to keep the variables the same. They were purchased at the same time, both having hatched at Meyer Hatchery.  By raising them at the same time they would encounter the same brooder temperature,  weather and eventually access to pasture.

So first, let us get an understanding as to the two breeds that I am comparing. They are the Cornish Cross, sometimes known as Cornish X, and Rainbow Rangers, which can be similar to what is known as a Freedom Ranger.

Cornish Cross

Cornish Cross have a finishing time of approximately 8 weeks with a weight around 6 to 8 lbs. One can expect to use about 14 lbs of feed per bird to raise them for the duration of their life. This correlates to approximately 2 lbs of feed consumed per pound of live weight spread out through the duration of life.

They need a little extra care by limiting their feed to having access of 12 hours off, 12 hours on. This keeps them from being able to grow too fast. That growth can result in early fatalities as processing time approaches. 

The Results

Each option has amazing attributes that can make it a great choice. Cornish Cross are a perfect option for many. They have a quick turnaround time of just 8 weeks until processing. 

Behavior-wise, my Cornish spent a lot more time hovering around their food dishes and would consume more food in a sitting. This resulted in, as you can imagine, more poop which created a need to clean out the bedding more frequently. For this reason, I also had a little problem where they started to have issues with Coccidiosis, which I did not have with the Rainbow Rangers.

One thing I loved about the Rainbow Rangers is that I did not need to follow the 12 hours on, 12 hours off for feeding. They are not at risk for the same leg issues and heart problems that Cornish Cross can encounter. They were more active when they reached the pasture area and really seemed to love the ability to consume grass and bugs.

I also encountered a greater success rate compared to my experience with Cornish. I did lose several Cornish Cross chicks when they first arrived, without any losses on the Rainbow Rangers. 

Carcass-wise, I found Rangers and Cornish to be mostly similar with the Rangers having a longer breast, but still nice and thick like the Cornish. In my opinion, the flavor of the Rangers was better possibly because they were a little older or due to a diet that included more fresh grass.

Conclusion

Personally, I have decided going forward that Rainbow Rangers will be my go-to for filling my freezer. I love the flexibility when it comes time for butchering them. If you are like me and may be strapped for time and do not need fast turnaround time, you may very well love the Rainbow Rangers.  

If you have never tried them before, I highly recommend giving them a go and see what you think! You may find your new favorite meat bird to help reach any dreams and goals you have for sustainability, self-sufficiency or just having access to healthier foods through your own effort in homesteading. Raising backyard meat birds is a great way to access healthy homegrown goodness.