Pros and cons of hatching your own chicks versus just buying them?

[HeathenHavenHomestead]

Oh no.. this scares me! Are there any benefits to having a rooster? I'm not really in it for fertile eggs as I don't plan on having more than 3-4 chickens but a part of me really wants a rooster.. just because they are so beautiful. Do they really protect their girls?

I have a set of Lavender Orpington eggs so if they do hatch, I'm hoping to have one (hopefully quiet) rooster.

There are pros and cons to having a rooster.
Some people feel they are useless since a hen can do the same job as a rooster without all the noise and breeding.
However I live in the deep woods and have 2 roosters for my flock and have seen them protect the girls. I’ve also seen my hens protect them as well.
The way I see it though I would rather have a hawk or fox or coyote take a rooster then one of my laying hens.
We’ve also had to cull Roos that came from a straight run for attacking my daughter and my husband. They made it right to the dinner table even though it was not our plan originally they had a 3 strike rule and they struck 3x.

 

[TheCluckyClucker2]

I find that it is a wonderful experience and the chicks that come out are typically more tame. As others have said you WILL have some boys.