Do I have to have a rooster?

[SkyAJK]

I replaced my rooster with one of his offspring (7 mo old cockerel)He was hatched and raised by a broody hen in the flock and free ranged since he was hatched so he's untouchable.
EDIT:
I've never raised one like him before so I'm not sure what to expect from him as a rooster.He is a legbar and leghorn cross and looks and acts like a leghorn

I wish all is well with your baby rooster. Find your way with him, spend sometimes and see what he is like and how you could influence his development - personality/behaviour toward human.

The Moonshiner member is the leghorn expert, you could tag and ask him more information on this breed.

From what I read that do not spend time with rooster, the less the better. I am not a chicken expert, but I spend a lot of times with my flock and including my roosters.

I found that my old rooster was adorable, love to hugs..etc...he became a protector of his flock and this mean...protected them from me also, but he also knew when I took the sick one out to treat, he just followed me and watched.

Take notice of his behaviour and personalities, there is a possibility that he inherit some of his mother/father personality.

 

[Farrari]

Do I have to have a rooster for my flock? I am not trying to have chicks. He is stressing my poor girls out because he will not leave them alone. It’s affecting some of them laying. I know it is in their nature, but it just really hurts my soul to see him pull on their necks like that.

No but if you do, a cock bird needs ten ladies

 

[2eggsfried]

Do I have to have a rooster for my flock? I am not trying to have chicks. He is stressing my poor girls out because he will not leave them alone. It’s affecting some of them laying. I know it is in their nature, but it just really hurts my soul to see him pull on their necks like that.

I've been chickens for almost 15 years and I've never had a rooster. I was traumatized as child as a rooster tried to attack me. So I never wanted one. So the short answer is no, keep in mind if you let them free range or don't have a proper fencing on their run and on the ground of the coop & run. This could be a problem. But I don't let mine free range, I have a large run and coop that is very secure. If you have similar situation, then you don't need a rooster. Best of luck

 

[Judy Todd]

Do I have to have a rooster for my flock? I am not trying to have chicks. He is stressing my poor girls out because he will not leave them alone. It’s affecting some of them laying. I know it is in their nature, but it just really hurts my soul to see him pull on their necks like that.

You don't need a rooster, only if you want to incubate the eggs. And they make a good guard chicken if you free range. I do not have one, as I lucked out each time and got a really mean one. Too old for that nonsense. I do let my hens out in the orchard for a few hours each day and have not lost any for years. So, no mean roosters.

 

[Judy Todd]

After months of dealing with a rooster with a nasty attitude I cooked him and fed him to my dogs.Waste not want not.

Absulutely!!!

 

[Judy Todd]

We’re going to get rid of him, trying to find him a home now. I was out with him tonight and he started messing with my Cochin, she’s my sweet girl. It tore me apart to see how he was with her. And she’s a large fowl Cochin so her fluffy self doesn’t move as fast as he does.

Dinner time

 

[Sherrie H]

I have 5 girls and then him. I got him and three of my girls at the same time and they were not sexed, so I had no idea that he was a rooster until he got older. My silkie roo, D’uccle and barred rocks are 6 months. My Cochin and silver laced Wyandotte are 2 years old.

I have a pretty decent size coop and run area. He is just young and can’t control himself I guess.

Plain and simple - NO. My girls do just fine without a male.