Do roosters need hens?

[neophyte17]

well I definitely don't have a flock I only have two roosters that are 3 years old now
I spend all of my free time with them. they do tend to get a little crazy and Crow a lot when I locked them up when I go to work.
my question is can they live out their lives without company of hens?

 

[Mountain Peeps]

They can but sometimes they start to mount each other and act as if they are in a gender crisis.

So hens are always helpful but not always necessary.

 

[happyhens1972]

It's a little late to be asking this if they are already three years old isn't it?

But yes, they need chicken company, not necessarily female company. If you got females now, you might find your cockerels would start fighting.

 

[neophyte17]

yeah I know it's a little late to ask after 3 years the people keep telling me they need hens. I'm almost afraid it will make them overprotective and would start attacking people that come in the yard

 

[bobbi-j]

How are they behaving? If they're not fighting, acting happy and are healthy, let them be. If it ain't broke, don't fix it. Whoever "the people" are don't know your situation like you do. I agree that if you get them hens now, they'll most likely start fighting.

 

[centrarchid]

They can live out their lives without the company of females just like human males can. Things could be better as far as the males are concerned.


Heck, if you have the resources get two hens and make so they can have separate little territories and even get into an occasional scrap. The entertainment and educational value of those roosters will shoot way up.

 

[neophyte17]

they seem happy. but then again I spoil them trying to make up for the fact that they are alone with no other chickens. I have the space and the resources to get more chickens but city ordinances don't allow it. I I was just wondering if anybody else had raised roosters just by themselves

 

[neophyte17]

I guess it's just really hard to predict their behavior, just wondering if they would crow less when I lock them up in the pen or coop if they had hens around them and if they would stop being so dependent on me for compan

 

[neophyte17]

For company. right now wherever I go they follow me , if i sit down outside, they want to sit on my lap, and if I go inside the house they will sit at the bench by the window and crow until i come out

 

[centrarchid]

I have keep them for extended periods (years) without hens. They generally quiter but if a hen is seen or herd they go overboard trying to attract her attention. They want the company of a hen if it can be realized have no doubts there.