How early do you order your next batch?

[V-NH]

I'm curious how early you order your next batch of meat birds. My first batch of 25 are currently 4 weeks old. I plan to keep them around until they are 8.5 weeks and I have already planned a processing day. That will be my first time ever processing chickens, so it will be a learning experience. I am thinking about ordering my next batch of 25 and having it arrive one week before I process the first batch. Do you think I should wait longer than that or am I following a pretty typical routine? I have a 25 cubic ft chest freezer, so storage space isn't a concern.

I ordered my first batch from Welp Hatchery and I have had a 0% mortality rate so far. I was thinking about ordering from them again, but I want to order 10 pullets at the same time. Welp won't let you combine Cornish X and other breeds. I'm not into paying high prices for them, or shipping fees, so I spent the better part of today researching hatcheries. Privett seems to be fairly priced with no shipping fee and they will combine Cornish X and other breeds. Does anyone know of a better hatchery for meat birds, or should I just go for it? I paid $44 for my order of 25 from Welp, with shipping included. Privett would be $49 for 25 Cornish X, but their prices on layers are low enough that I would save money in the long term.

Thanks for your thoughts!

 

[StewedMammal]

Yes your idea would work as long as you keep them separate from each other. Other good hatcheries are Cackle, Meyer, and Ideal. Reasonably priced and have good birds and let you combine broilers and pullets.