Should I get a rooster?

Wow!! I had no idea. How in the world did anyone ever get baby chickens without human intervention, one would wonder? I do know chickens are so incredibly important to so many cultures all over the world as a food source; and that's been true for thousands of years. I'm sure humans have intervened on the breeding process in all sorts of ways.

Yeah. I'm not really sure my hens are that broody. They are hanging out on the nest a bit longer than usual but mostly they're out playing and foraging.

bluegreenegg said:

Yeah. I'm not really sure my hens are that broody. They are hanging out on the nest a bit longer than usual but mostly they're out playing and foraging.

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What breeds are your chickens?

We have neighbors with two or three random breeds of hens. Last year, one of their Barred Plymouth Rock hens disappeared. They thought a fox or something had gotten her. A month later she showed back up with 13 chicks in tow! Yes, newer breeds and strains of chickens have had the broodiness bred out of them and daily egg laying bred in, but there are still loads of breeds which WILL go broody. And if you have a rooster around, your eggs WILL get fertilized (well, not always--you'll sometimes wind up with a rooster or hen who has poor fertility or a rooster who doesn't show an interest in mating, as a friend of mine has discovered with one of her roosters). Obtain a breed known to be a good broody and put fertilized eggs under her. Silkies are well-known for their broodiness and good mothering instincts.

There are also many people in this country working at bringing back the heritage breeds which have been rendered nearly extinct due to the advent of factory farming. The state of chickens and how eggs become fertilized and broodiness and mothering chicks is not nearly as dour as the previous poster made it out to be, IMHO.

@roostersandhens I am well aware not ALL roosters begin crowing at 4:30 in the morning...but MINE DOES! And after you have a rooster that is irritating the neighborhood, there is only one thing to do with it as no one will want a 1 year old rooster, which is chop it's head off!
Have you ever chopped one of your pet chickens heads off? I HAVE and it is NOT FUN!!!!! Not worth it! And roosters DO NOT make hens happy! The hens do not need a rooster at all! My hens spend alot of time running from and avoiding the roosters attention. they would be more happy without him!

OP - let me get this straight. You're already breaking laws or at the very least your HOA rules by having too many hens. Now you want to add a forbidden rooster? Good way to annoy your neighbors into turning you in, and putting yourself in the heartbreaking position of having to get rid of some (if not all) of your pets. If you want to hatch chicks with a broody, get some fertilized eggs from someone, and be prepared to find your "babies" a new home when they outgrow your limited space or start crowing. Your neighbors have been tolerant so far. Do you really want to push your luck?

Unfortunantly that is how covenants against chickens get written. I agree following the rules and not pushing it would be best. Not to mention a rooster can be a nightmare! I am in a situation right now where I am planning to cull my rooster because of his behavior...and it isnt THAT bad but I still feel he could do damage to my kids. I would be happy with the way things are until you could move and then get whatever you want.

I just wanted to update to the OP that I did end up being attacked by my roo again and I butchered him. If you get a rooster you need to be prepared to butcher him if he becomes a problem. Mine was fine until he turned a year old, then he started attacking when I least expected it. I may have a rooster again, I really enjoyed having him around. But the minute they dont mind their manners they will be dealt with swiftly. I do believe my hens are more happy without the rooster.

I know that this is kind of late, but I have a banty rooster with my full size hens and he keeps them fertile. He is very sweet (he will even sit with you and cuddle) and his crow is a lot quieter than a full size rooster. The other plus to bantams is that if they do become mean, in my experiences you can just laugh at them as they fly up to about knee level and bite your pants. I was worried at first that my girls would beat him up, but he took charge right away, and they all respected him like he was two feet tall.