You do not need a rooster too get eggs. Unless you want the to hatch. Roosters only fertilize the eggs. Raccoons are definitely a problem. They reached in my small hols and grabbed some chicken.. :D Good luck!
Today is day 7 and I candle my buff Orpington,maran,Andalusian,leghorn eggs. I really didn't see any veins though :( my hen was broody for a week and then I put the fertile eggs under her because I was gone for a week. What do I do!? I really want chicks from these eggs! :(