Do I Need A Rooster In My Laying Flock

[staggerlee]

I have a small flock of 12 laying hens [RIR and rocks]. I had a rir/game mix rooster that we liked along with a dominique and barred rock rooster. the mix flew out of the pen and was lunch for my dog. i then moved the dominique and barred rock roosters to another pen. now my laying flock has no rooster . is this ok or do the hens want the rooster there? also the roosters dont seem to like the solitaire pens and arent eating much . is this bad for them ? seems like i read somewhere that the hens will lay better with a rooster present . is this true ?
thanks

 

[waynesgarden]

Can't speak to the emotional needs of the hens, but, no, they don't need a rooster. Maybe they want one, but my girls have been laying up a storm even though I sent their only alpha male of to freezer camp.

Wayne

 

[Ducklove334]

not unles you want babies, but I would imagine those hens would get awefully lonely LMAO

also, should anything ever get into your hens, they look to the rooters to protect them.

 

[seminolewind]

I would always have a roo with my hens. He protects them, calls them to lunch, warm their nest for laying, he will not take a snack till all the hens have had a snack. He's amazing, he even makes a round at dusk to make sure everyone is in the coop. I would let the girls have the guy.

 

[gritsar]

I wouldn't have a flock without a rooster, for all the reasons seminole gave.

 

[Gazinga]

i totaly agree, i would always have a rooster. Mine is a great little guy. He calls em to meals, protects teh m and also does his rounds at night to make sure everone is in teh coop.

 

[chook pen jen]

they also break up fights between the girls and make it easier to add new girls to the chook pen .

 

[Kim_NC]

For years I never kept a roo. Always ordered pullet hatchery chicks for egg laying only and didn't want a roo.

Then I got interested in breeding, selling chicks, having rarer breeds and of course started keeping roos. I really enjoy them! Their behaviors and function in the flock are quite interesting.