how much will a rooster help to protect the hens? i have all hens, but was advised by one of my chicken-rearing friends that the hens are just generally happier with a rooster around.
we would rather have smooth relations with the neighbors, however, and have only gotten hens to date...
not...
I read the predator post, thank you. it explained most of them!
Here is a description of our setup.
There is a fenced pen, with 4x2 galvanized fence under the bottom, covered in sand, and 6' high sides. it is about 12' x 12' square, and there is a coop with a wood floor that closes...