Commercial egg laying operations have thousands of hens in their flocks and zero roosters. Many people on this forum have flocks with no roosters, especially people in city limits where roosters are not allowed, and get plenty of eggs without the added expense of feeding a rooster or breaking the law.
Since chickens were first domesticated and probably before people have been eating fertilized eggs. Since this country was settled practically every small farmer that had chickens had a rooster with their flock. The eggs they ate were fertilized. Unless the eggs are incubated you won’t know they are fertilized unless you know what to look for when you crack one open. Once you cook it you can’t tell.
The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertilized eggs. Anything else is pure personal preference. I always recommend you keep as few roosters as you can and maintain your goals. That’s not because you are guaranteed problems with roosters, just that you can.
