Would you buy my Mosaics?

[ShrekDawg]

I had always heard the shipped eggs thing too and there’s definitely good reason for it so don’t totally dismiss it but I think it also depends on how they’re packaged and stuff too because I got eggs from Meyer Hatchery for my first hatch ever last fall and I had a great hatch rate! They were also packed incredibly well and didn’t budge like at all. I also had a great hatch rate with my quail too and they were packaged well too. And had similar results as my broody hatch over this past summer. For my first hatch, I received 13 eggs, 10 made it to lockdown, 9 hatched. I’m not sure what was wrong with the last one as it was fully developed. I think it was malpositioned and possibly shrink wrapped. Of the others, I think one or two were clear and I had an early quitter. For the quail I think I got 30 and had 20 hatch but I think I only set 29. Some were clear and I think I had a cracked one I didn’t. With my broody, I had 4/7 hatch. So anyway, sometimes shipped eggs can have a horrible rate but you can still get results with them even for newbies and you can also get bad rates with a broody too. That said though, I definitely wouldn’t start with expensive eggs!

 

[ShrekDawg]

Yes, I am trying to make a new breed that is supper big fluffy and cuddly!

That’s awesome!!!

 

[MissMonty]

Yes, I am trying to make a new breed that is supper big fluffy and cuddly!

If you're looking into creating a new breed keep in mind it is going to take years and multiple generations before you get something that even remotely begins to breed true to what you're trying to achieve and it will take a LOT of culling. You likely won't get anything close to what you're going for right away it'll take a few generations of breeding to get there. Some people get some pretty cool things from their projects. Like these mosaics!

I am not sure yet. What do you think?

If you're looking at shipping eggs from what I have found expect about 80% hatch rate (a lot of people say about 50% is normal) or less. So figure out how many adults you'll want to get the project started, I'd get a few more than you plan to need. That way if they don't make it to adulthood or if they do then you can pick the best ones to keep for breeding.

Keep in mind also you may not get the genders you want so lets say you order 10 gets and lets say you get lucky and get 8 to hatch. Well if 6 of the 8 are roos that's going to be an issue and you'll have to buy more eggs or start with a much smaller project and build up slowly.

Regardless I'd probably plan on buying 2-3x the number of what you'll expect to need. Hopefully that will cover any that don't hatch, too many roos, and hopefully allowing you to pick the best candidates to use for the breeding project.

 

[ChickForLife]

That’s awesome!!!

Thanks!

 

[ChickForLife]

If you're looking into creating a new breed keep in mind it is going to take years and multiple generations before you get something that even remotely begins to breed true to what you're trying to achieve and it will take a LOT of culling. You likely won't get anything close to what you're going for right away it'll take a few generations of breeding to get there. Some people get some pretty cool things from their projects. Like these mosaics!

I know, I got it all planned out with the help of @MysteryChicken

 

[hysop]

I am not sure yet. What do you think?

Here is a table of what your hatch rate needs to be for them to be cheaper than having gotten the chicks to start with

Eggs Bought at $25 each	Hatch Any Less than this and you're paying more than $40/chick	Hatch Rate Percentage	How Much You end up paying per chick with these bare minimum hatch rates
2	2	100%	$25 per chick
3	2	67%	$37.50
4	3	75%	$33.33
5	4	80%	$31.25
6	4	67%	$37.50
7	5	72%	$35
8	5	62.5%	$40
9	6	67%	$37.5
10	7	70%	$35.71
11	7	64%	$39.29
12	8	67%	$37.50

That's for the first 12. Not sure if you're planning on more than 12. If my math is wrong anywhere please let me know.

 

[hysop]

Unless you get 100% hatch rate, you're really not saving that much money. I personally would just get the live chicks. But that's just me.

 

[ChickForLife]

Unless you get 100% hatch rate, you're really not saving that much money. I personally would just get the live chicks. But that's just me.

Okay, how many chicks should I get?

 

[MissMonty]

Okay, how many chicks should I get?

How many do you have room for where they could be in their own breeding set up not a mixed flock? That'll give you your answer. However many you want expect to at least by 2x that amount of chicks since they're straight run you'll likely end up with more roos than you need

 

[ColtHandorf]

Not sure, how big is full scale?

It sounds like the cart isn't even before the horse, it's careening down a hill and about to hurdle out into a field and crash. You need to do a lot more research on breeding. Not to sound judgmental, but from the tone of your posts it sounds like you like chickens, found some expensive, pretty ones that you like and you want to breed them and make money. I can almost assure that you won't be turning a profit any time soon. You have to spend money to make money and on top of that poultry aren't easy to sell for profit. You'll need to invest in some appropriate breeding pens. Something that holds a pair isn't conducive to breeding at all. Once you've researched proper breeding set ups and determine that is the route you want to go then proceed.

Also not to rain on any parades, but I'd seriously evaluate why and how you're planning on crossing 6-8 varieties of chickens to make something "big and fluffy". You're going to need to do a lot of research into genetics to even begin to understand what you're doing and how to accomplish it.

And to answer the original question, no, I wouldn't pay that much for what is essentially a pretty mutt. Mosaics aren't a true breed, they were created by Golden Feather Farms and are a fibro hybrid. While some of them are attractive, many of them are not. And I am a purist at heart and detest mixing breeds to create a Frankenstein of the parent varieties.