Why have a rooster at all?

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Bingo. You only need a rooster if you want fertile eggs, however, a free ranging flock is MUCH better off with one for protection, at least in the warning sense. I've heard loads of stories of roosters even fighting off hawks! (But they were gamefowl, which naturally are far more defensive of their flock and more intelligent and good at the free ranging lifestyle)
 
One other thing. I think sometimes you have to wait the cocky (pardon the pun) cockerels out. My turken cockerel, Impy, came this_________close to the chopping block many times. If he wasn't aggravating the pullets with his testosterone overload, he was bothering some other living being.
Now that some of the pullets are laying he's turned into a fine gentleman. Very watchful for danger. He even refuses to go into the coop at night until every single pullet is safely inside.
I have, at last count, 30 pullets and hens. Much too many for one roo to keep track of.
 
To tell a little story why you need a Roo! I was sitting in my back yard watching the Girls free range as I normally do this time of year! It was getting dark and just about to the point where I lock the flock away in the run and coup when I heard an Owl Hoot in the trees near the house! Immediately the Roo sounded the alarm and started to Round the girls up! He was very animate and serious about this to the Point that I didn't even have to help! When he talks everybody listens and knows he means business! When he sounds the preadator alarm you know It. Strange thing is he has never seen an Owl that I know of but he definetly knew the sound

Ernie
 
I agree with much that has been said as to the benefits of having roosters. We have 4 in total to 30 hens - 2 that grew up together and 2 older roosters that we brought in. Interesting enough, they have formed an alliance for protection of the flock. We free range some each day and it is constant communication between the guys when the girls are out. Just yesterday, one took after my neighbors dog who he thought was too close while the others gathered the hens. At other times, the roosters have provided cover for the hens to "hide" by staying in the open. Even without free ranging or wanting fertile eggs, I would still have a rooster. The coop actually has some order to it and you never know when a predator is going to come.

And I forgot to mention, I never wanted a rooster to begin with...but now I wouldn't be without.
 
Personally, I had a BR rooster and rehomed him soon after he starting chasing/mounting/plucking feathers from the hens...he was beautiful, loved to hear him crow, BUT the hens were always "fearful" anytime he came around. I personally did not want the hens to have to tolerate that chasing/mounting/pulling of their feathers every single day. I also had no desire to hatch babies. I figure if the day comes that I do want babies I will either buy fertilized eggs or baby chicks...I free range every afternoon when I am home and have had no problems with losing them to predators...
 

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