Is a Rooster necessary to protect a backyard flock?

[elisavet68]

I have a small backyard coop and only 4 hens and 1 over active rooster, who seems to protect the flock. However, he is over-mating them and I don't have room for more hens. It wasn't my intention to have a rooster...he's a good one thought and he does do his job well.
But I'd rather have another hen for the eggs.

Just wondered how hens faire without a rooster protecting them from predators. Is it necessary and advised to keep him for that reason, or do you think hens are fine surviving without a roo around?

I don't need to fertilize eggs since we don't have the space.

 

[Spikes Chooks]

I certainly wouldn't keep a rooster for this reason alone. There are other ways of protecting the hens, depending on what are the threats in your area, and how large an area might need protection.

Roosters can easily get taken themselves, anyway. So it wouldn't be wise to rely on him alone. Mine are in a run covered on all 6 sides. When they free range each day, I am always close by and our suburban back yard has high fences on all sides. Sure, something could get over the fence (like a fox) and a hawkcould fly in, but that's unlikely where I am.

If the hens are getting too much attention from him, they'll do better without him!

 

[fried green eggs]

A rooster may be able to protect them from some predators but, they would probably be happier without him. Do some research on the site about how to introduce a new hen to a existing flock so your girls will accept one. If you decide to keep the rooster? you could get or make saddles to protect the hens backs. The saddles work pretty well and they don't seem to mind waring them at all.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

A rooster can be a good early-warning indicator for your flock, but let's just say that I've lost a lot of hens to hawks but never even one rooster over the years.

Protection for the flock is not a sufficient reason to keep a rooster, especially since he's over-mating and stressing your hens. I'd get rid of him.

 

[BuffOrpington88]

A rooster can cause more stress to the hens than protect them. Although they may give a slightly earlier warning to the presence of a hawk or other predator, but, in my experience, the hens keep a look out for these also and run or hide.

 

[elisavet68]

Thanks,
I did go ahead and order some saddles for the hens while I ponder about what to do with the rooster....I don't know if I could butcher him or even eat him. I've never had a relationship or raised an animal that I was going to eat before. It feels strange to think about, I'm so new to this and wasn't raising chickens for the meat, but for the eggs.

 

[elisavet68]

I certainly wouldn't keep a rooster for this reason alone. There are other ways of protecting the hens, depending on what are the threats in your area, and how large an area might need protection.

Roosters can easily get taken themselves, anyway. So it wouldn't be wise to rely on him alone. Mine are in a run covered on all 6 sides. When they free range each day, I am always close by and our suburban back yard has high fences on all sides. Sure, something could get over the fence (like a fox) and a hawkcould fly in, but that's unlikely where I am.

If the hens are getting too much attention from him, they'll do better without him!

Thanks for the input. My backyard is enclosed, and I do have high fences all around my backyard and tree and shrub cover on the edges of the yard, but we do live in Texas so even though we're in the suburbs, we see fox, raccoons, opossums, rat snakes, hawks, and I hear coyotes at night, I have cats, and my neighbors dog is raring to dig under the fence. So the predators are out there. I only let them out when I'm at home, and their run is completely enclosed. What other suggestion do you have to secure my backyard against predators?

 

[BuffOrpington88]

Hanging CDs may help deter hawks, but I am not sure how well this works.

 

[WalkingOnSunshine]

Thanks for the input. My backyard is enclosed, and I do have high fences all around my backyard and tree and shrub cover on the edges of the yard, but we do live in Texas so even though we're in the suburbs, we see fox, raccoons, opossums, rat snakes, hawks, and I hear coyotes at night, I have cats, and my neighbors dog is raring to dig under the fence. So the predators are out there. I only let them out when I'm at home, and their run is completely enclosed. What other suggestion do you have to secure my backyard against predators?

A fence with an electric wire strung a few inches above the ground will deter anything that wants to dig under. Have a tight chicken coop, with no spaces larger than 3/4" (weasels can get through anything 1" or bigger, snakes can get through smaller cracks)--just put hardware cloth (NOT chicken wire) over any holes. Make sure you always, always, always close the chickens' pop door at night.

As far as hawks--we've had very good luck with a couple of goats as deterrents. I know that won't work for everyone, though!