Can't make a decision...

[enggass]

What would you do...?
There are 4 breeds I'd like to hatch this Spring. I'd like to do it all in one batch, that way I do not have different age chicks to acclimate to not only one another, but my older birds as well... etc.
I have the Eco 20 which only holds 24 eggs. Given the success rate of shipped eggs and the 'Roo' factor I am not sure if I should just settle on 3 breeds getting a 1/2dz of each(+extras) which will probably give me 24 eggs in all... OR go with 4 breeds, 6 of each and hope I get some good results.

I am thinking that I will have a better chance getting some quality results out of more eggs for fewer breeds than fewer eggs of more breeds. Am I making any sense?
What would you do?

 

[midget_farms]

It all depends on how many hens you want. Figure 6 eggs of one breed is 3 hens. Then figure an 80% success rate & you could be looking at 2 hens per breed. If you want more hens you need to set more eggs.

Besides you can always come back in 3 weeks & set another mess of them. 3 weeks apart is not that much.

 

[coltssuperbowl83]

I would go with more breeds. Not really sure why but thats what i would do.

 

[minihorse927]

I would just set 3 breeds and see what hatches. 3 weeks is not that far apart. I have newborns running around with 2 week olds and never have problems.

 

[gryeyes]

I have mixed chicks together which are three, three-and-a-half weeks different in ages. But if possible, I would hatch any bantam breeds first, so those will have grown some, rather than being the littlest, youngest chicks added.

 

[speedy2020]

Quote:
I would put as much as I can stuff in the incubator. I got 14eggs and only 5 developed. The shipping eggs reduce amount develop and hatch rate is low.

 

[enggass]

The bator will be full... My question was If it were you, would you put in 6 eggs of 4 breeds? or 8 eggs of 3 breeds? - I'd like to end up with 2 pullets of each, but due to shipping hatch rates I'm wondering which would give me better odds?