Rooster damaging hens backs

[ranmar]

I have one Barred Rock rooster, two BR hens and a Buff Orpington hen (started with 6 chicks, 3 of each. racoon got 2 BO. Have since fortified pen). The BR hens have lost the feathers just above their tails and are getting pretty beat up from the rooster doing his thing. We are getting 3 eggs a day (+ or -), which is pretty good and works for us. My question is this: I like the rooster but am thinking of getting rid of him. It looks like most folks heve a rooster around. If we are not planning on hatching our eggs, why should I keep a rooster? The hens will lay without his input. I saw another post that said the nutritional value of fertilized eggs was the same as non- fert eggs; the difference from home grown and store bought is diet/conditions.
So, do I need to keep the rooster?

 

[Rare Feathers Farm]

I've never heard anything about the nutritional value of fertilized vs. non-fertilized eggs being any different. The ONLY practical reason to have a rooster is if you want chicks. Otherwise, there is no real "need" for one. Usually, it's about 1 rooster for every 10-12 hens. He will always have a "favorite" that he will devote most of his attention to. If he's otherwise a sweet rooster--trim his nails, the tip of his beak and get some good-quality hen saddles.

 

[AKsmama]

The rooster also watches for predators while the flock free-ranges, but if you don't free-range, don't want chicks, and can't or won't get more hens, then there's no real reason to keep him.

 

[ranmar]

Thanks for the input. They will be doing some free-ranging soon. I might need to keep him as the defender (Super Chicken?).