Over the years I have bred poultry but never shown, this year however I am planning to show my rare breeds. I have around 22 Rare Breed pullets and hens running around free range but no cockerels or roosters. 

It makes for a quieter start in the mornings and the girls can get on peacefully and lay their eggs. 

Recently I became the Secretary for the Christchurch Poultry, Bantam & Pigeon Club which started in 1867 (a very long time ago) and I have had to learn a few new things quickly, like I have had to stop calling everything a chicken because this only refers to a very small baby chick and not to poultry in general. 

Also a pullet is a female under 1 year of age, an a hen is a female over 1 year in age and the same rule applies to cockerels and roosters.

I have always had a fasination for incubating eggs and currently own and use an RCom20 Incubator and highly recommend them.  I have hatched everything in them from Poultry, Guinea Fowl to 92 Quail Eggs for a friend.  They are what I refer to as "Set & Forget Incubators" which have digitally controlled temperature and humidity settings.