A rooster is only needed for two things, fertile eggs and free range flock protection. Poultry produces fairly even numbers of males to females. Wild, free range or feral poultry uses that for a specific reason, roosters protect the flock, find food and fertilize eggs. Only one rooster is need for many girls. In the wild or free range the roosters often die protecting the flock, they defend the hens and are often eaten for their efforts. However because of the fairly even birth numbers there is always another rooster to replace him. So in the wild or free range situation roosters are pretty much cannon fodder for the safety and well being of the group.
dont get me wrong, I would be very sad to see a rooster die, but thats exactly what nature has designed them for. A good rooster who is gentle to his hens and well behaved around his humans is worth his space in the coop and flock.
