The Freedom Ranger was first developed in France in the 1960s. They were developed to meet the standards of the French program, Label Rouge. Many restaurants in France use them. In 2000 these birds came to the United States via Canada but within two to three years the hatchery closed down and sold their stock. Small farms may choose to raise these chickens as an alternative to the Cornish Cross.
Red, bronze and grey are the colors of these birds' feathers. They are slower growing than the Cornish Cross, it takes them twelve weeks to grow to four or five pounds. However, due to this they have fewer health problems than the Cornish hybrids and can live in a free range environment.
Though less profitable, Freedom Rangers are said to possess a better flavour than the industrial Cornish hybrids, because of the more traditional methods used to raise them.
Most freedom ranger chickens follow traditional, sustainable and environmentally-friendly farming methods to ensure the highest quality chicken possible. Giving chickens free range allows them to move around opposed to caged chickens, which results in a more nutritious and better tasting chicken.