Any Reason to Keep a Cockerel?

[MSgt Mike]

We have 5 - 3 year old hens and adding 17 chicks that we bought March 2 from Atwoods. The 17 are in an extended part of our coop with a barrier between so they can all see each other.
Today I confirmed my wife's suspicion that we have a cockerel. He's a beautiful black cochin with feathered feet. We've never free ranged our flock and don't intend to start because of predators and our coop is bullet proof. We have no need for fertilized eggs. That said, is there any reason to keep a cockerel? TIA.

 

[fluffycrow]

Other than fertilization and free ranging, keep them if you like 'em. First off, the crowing. I love it. Then we've got the looks. Where even to begin. Huge combs, bright colors, upright posture. Nothing can beat a beautiful rooster in looks.

As you can see, it's more of a personal thing

 

[Theorrin]

because you like them or think theyre pretty

 

[MROO]

We have 5 - 3 year old hens and adding 17 chicks that we bought March 2 from Atwoods. The 17 are in an extended part of our coop with a barrier between so they can all see each other.
Today I confirmed my wife's suspicion that we have a cockerel. He's a beautiful black cochin with feathered feet. We've never free ranged our flock and don't intend to start because of predators and our coop is bullet proof. We have no need for fertilized eggs. That said, is there any reason to keep a cockerel? TIA.

Having a cockerel will not really make a difference in your flock. It won't change the number of eggs you get. There isn't a real difference between the taste or nutritional content between fertilized and unfertilized eggs. As long as you're collecting eggs regularly, you won't have any unwanted youngsters hatching - although it is nice to have the option, if you want hatch later on ... or sell fertile eggs. A rooster also won't make your hens go broody more often. Hens will set a clutch of unfertilized eggs as quickly as they would fertile ones. Heck, mine try to incubate golf balls and rocks ... and I KNOW they're not fertile!
Cochins tend to be docile and the eye candy is rather nice. I enjoy the eye candy and find the crowing uplifting. For me, anyway, hearing the crows each morning are like a signal that "All's right with the world." So ... if keeping him is an option, ask yourself, instead, is there any reason NOT to? Sometimes it's easier to keep a lone boy than to try and rehome him. If your cockerel is well-mannered, it's all your personal preference.

 

[Shadrach]

The reason you should keep a cockerel is one day he will be a rooster and the hens will adore him. What your feelings may be about him are niether here nor there.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

If he is a quality guy and is no trouble to anyone, then keep him.

 

[Sally PB]

That said, is there any reason to keep a cockerel? TIA.

because you like them or think they're pretty

Yup, that's about the only reason. Some people wouldn't have a flock without one, however. Just because they like to have cockerels/roosters.

 

[Shadrach]

I realise it can be a horrible shock to some people on BYC but most hens I've known like having a rooster around. The cockerels not so much. They'll fuss over him, send him off to bath, rearrange his plumage so it's just right, groom the parts he can't reach and crouch for him if he so much as winks at them.
Shocking or what?
Hens like roosters. It's a natural thing.
Course, if you want to keep a bunch of bickering old biddies who draw lots for whose going to be the man around the place then perhaps a rooster may be too much of a challenge.

 

[TwoShepherds]

I keep a few mannerly roosters so I can hatch my own chicks. Other than that, they are pretty to look at, and I enjoy their crowing. You definitely don't need a rooster if all you want are eggs, but if you're allowed to have roosters where you live, and you have the space, and he's not causing any trouble, I vote keep him.

 

[Tired old Rooster]

I realise it can be a horrible shock to some people on BYC but most hens I've known like having a rooster around. The cockerels not so much. They'll fuss over him, send him off to bath, rearrange his plumage so it's just right, groom the parts he can't reach and crouch for him if he so much as winks at them.
Shocking or what?
Hens like roosters. It's a natural thing.
Course, if you want to keep a bunch of bickering old biddies who draw lots for whose going to be the man around the place then perhaps a rooster may be too much of a challenge.

A bit like humans in that way.