Do I need a Rooster for my chickens to lay eggs well?

[appps]

And just adding I've just realised this is a 2010 thread so time to let it fade back to the archives

 

[new breeder]

lost inhistory hoihihihihihii

 

[SeaGreen]

Dug this thread up while Googling "do I need roosters for hens"! Fantastic basic information for a beginning chicken farmer. Keep this baby alive!!! On topic, I think I'm leaning towards having a rooster to give the ladies something to cluck about while providing them a little roost protection/comfort. The noise shouldn't bother me much as I'm up with my 11mo daughter around 6-7a everyday. Guess the next step would be deciding on the output of that arrangement. Incubating, hatching, etc. Thanks folks!