Do hens lay more eggs if there is a rooster around?

[Chicken Jimmy]

Do hens lay more eggs if there is a rooster around?

 

[DianeS]

Nope. A rooster makes no difference at all in the frequency of egg laying. The hens will lay their eggs on their schedule regardless of whether a rooster, or other hens, or anything is there. The only difference he makes is if he's mating the hens then the eggs will be fertile, and if he's not mating the hens the eggs will not be fertile.

 

[Chicken Jimmy]

Thanks, that's what I thought. One of my dad's friends insists that his hens produce more eggs when a rooster is around.

 

[speckledhen]

Lots of old farmers' tales floating around. That one is not true, as the other poster said.