Do I need a rooster?

[langleylulu]

Should I have a rooster? I plan on starting small 3-4 hens. Just wondering if it is imperative to have a rooster with my flock.

 

[Mourningdove]

If they are to free range it would help the girls to have 1 around for protection

But if you aren't planning on reproduction no you don't need 1, me personally I had this need to see & hear them

 

[SimplyForties]

No rooster here! Makes for happier neighbors.

 

[langleylulu]

That was my thoughts too! They can be loud, I have a neighbour up the road and you can hear it. So I was thinking about the noise myself.

 

[Ridgerunner]

Welcome to this forum. You'll meet some nice people here.

I think Mourningdove said it all. Other than a need for fertile eggs, it is personal preference. They will lay eggs just as well without a rooster.

 

[Rhett&SarahsMom]

we have had roosters. had.
I prefer not having one. The girls seem happier without one. My daughter can come and go in and out of the coop/run safely. Both the ones we have had began to attack.
My neighbors claimed they didnt mind the wake up calls. But I did.

 

[lux_interior]

I don't have one... but I live in suburban Chicagoland, and I'm sure my neighbors would hate me for the noise if I did. I also don't have tons of space to occupy separate housing for the Rooster. My 14 hens are for eggs, so unless I wanted lots more baby chickens, I'd have to keep the roos separated until they were mating.

However, If I had lots of land, and/or lived on a farm, I would keep roos for sure! But If you are not breeding chickens or trying to make and only want eggs, then no, You do not need one!

 

[Smmcdn]

Don't need one but he makes an awesome alarm clock . He runs to the trees when the dogs tree a squirrel trying to bark with the dogs.

Gotta love it.

 

[cmom]

It’s a personal preference. I also prefer not to have any Roosters. I have neighbors that have Roosters and I can hear them. I gave my Roosters away. I have one hen in particular that is more of a protector than the Roosters were. All I ever really wanted was eggs and I don't need a rooster for that. I did have a neighborhood dog kill one of my hens. I now have an electric fence around their yard. I had a possum once try to get under the fence until it made contact with the wire.

 

[Anny]

You don't NEED a rooster. But the rooster does do a nice job warning the girl of danger. Although I only have hens and I think one of my girls took over the rooster warming calls.