Hi everyone, I'm a complete newby to chickens. I have a hen house on the way and the O/H is building a new run over the weekend, it will be 15ft x 9ft. I want to give them as much room as possible as I do work & I want to keep them safe from Cats, Rats and any foxes in the area. I'm planning on giving them range of the garden when I'm at home so I can keep an eye on them.
I have looked scoured the internet, read books and asked as many people as possible about the pro's and con's of ex-batt, hybrids & full breeds. I am thinking of getting a couple of ex-batt and a couple of the Old English breeds to give a little variety. My 12yr old Daughter wants a couple of the colourful ones with the feathers on their feet.
The one thing I'm unsure of is a cockerel. Emma (my daughter) has asked for a cockerel but I'm unsure. We have a farm at least a 11/2 miles away and when the wind is in the right direction we can hear their cockerel. I live in a row of ten houses and I think it would be too close. Could anybody give any advice?
My husband wants to know at what age do they normally develope their crow as well.