Is a rooster essential to your flock?

The biggest reason to have a rooster is to get fertile eggs. A good rooster also acts as a guard sounding off when danger is around. Two roosters fight and may over breed the hens. If you don't care about fertile eggs, I'd still recommend one rooster in a free range flock. My roosters have saved many hens and chicks from predators (especially hawks) with their loud alarm calls. It's quite humorous to see the flock run for cover when a vulture flies overhead. Obviously the roosters can not tell the difference between vultures and hawks.
 
There are a lot of problems with having a rooster. The rooster will usually pick on one hen, and they can be very aggressive. They crow two hours after dawn too. Unless your a morning person, that would be annoying. The good thing with having a rooster is that you end up with baby chicks. The rooster also keeps the chickens in line. The rooster makes the hens feel same, therefore they will lay more eggs. One cool thing that the roosters do, is that they make different noises to warn the hens. So if something was going to attack them they would be warned. In the end there are good things, and bad things. It’s all up to you. I hope this helps with your decision.
 
Hello.

I currently have 22 hens that are free-range during the daylight hours. Should I add a rooster to the flock? What are the pros and cons of having/not having a rooster? Thank you!
There are a lot of problems with having a rooster. The rooster will usually pick on one hen, and they can be very aggressive. They crow two hours after dawn too. Unless your a morning person, that would be annoying. The good thing with having a rooster is that you end up with baby chicks. The rooster also keeps the chickens in line. The rooster makes the hens feel same, therefore they will lay more eggs. One cool thing that the roosters do, is that they make different noises to warn the hens. So if something was going to attack them they would be warned. In the end there are good things, and bad things. It’s all up to you. I hope this helps with your decision.
:welcome :frow
 
I have my males for breeding. You do not need a male. The biggest reason would be for fertile eggs especially if you plan on hatching out chicks. They can be good at guarding their flocks but they can be had too. Sometimes a male will have a favorite female and over breed her until he wears the feathers off of her back but I haven't had that normally. My males do crow and each male is different. Mine don't tend to crow after dark and luckily don't start too early in the morning. Once in a great while they will be a bit noisy at night but that usually tells me there is a predator roaming around out by the coops. I have electric wire around my coops and pens and most of the predators know it's there and don't bother the birds. They do crow some when I go out in the mornings to check the game cameras and check on the birds. They think if I'm out there they should get some treats so they are just letting me know. Good luck and have fun...
 
Is a rooster essential to MY flock? Yes. I breed chickens, sell hatching eggs, raise chicks. We also have a serious hawk problem and he does a good job keeping the girls alert and under cover. He's also very pretty.

Is a rooster essential to YOUR flock? Probably not. A rooster might help reduce depredation losses especially from hawks, or he might break up squabbles, or help you have baby chicks. If none of those things are relevant then a rooster is probably irrelevant.
 
I like roosters a lot. They will crow all day, help the hens find food, and with 22 hens you could easily accommodate two roosters. They won’t fight much, maybe once or twice until they’ve decided who’s top rooster. As they are unnecessary for eh production, you don’t really need one or two unless you want fertile eggs. But if you want some, there are many places where you could get free ones.
 
I have my males for breeding. You do not need a male. The biggest reason would be for fertile eggs especially if you plan on hatching out chicks. They can be good at guarding their flocks but they can be had too. Sometimes a male will have a favorite female and over breed her until he wears the feathers off of her back but I haven't had that normally. My males do crow and each male is different. Mine don't tend to crow after dark and luckily don't start too early in the morning. Once in a great while they will be a bit noisy at night but that usually tells me there is a predator roaming around out by the coops. I have electric wire around my coops and pens and most of the predators know it's there and don't bother the birds. They do crow some when I go out in the mornings to check the game cameras and check on the birds. They think if I'm out there they should get some treats so they are just letting me know. Good luck and have fun...

Very good input. Thanks!
 
Hello.

I currently have 22 hens that are free-range during the daylight hours. Should I add a rooster to the flock? What are the pros and cons of having/not having a rooster? Thank you!
Since you Free-Range.
Do you have young children?
Some Cockerels/Roosters can be aggressive to children and adults.
I currently have 6 hens and no Rooster.
My hens are in a large pen most of the day. I only let them out to Free-range an hour before sunset daily, weather permitting.
I have room for up to 10 Chickens.
I only want them for eggs. I buy sexed day old Chicks when I need to replenish. GC
 

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