Why have a rooster at all?

[FlipFlopFarmer]

I keep roos because i am HOOKED on hatching eggs and raising babies!

 

[ThePolishPrincess]

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I totally agree with this. I like the 'feeling' that comes with having a rooster. As well as all the other benefits they bring.

 

[gritsar]

Ever seen two hens get into a knock-down, drag-out fight? I have. My brahma girls sometimes get irritated with each other. My roo doesn't tolerate the fights. He steps in and breaks them up, even if it means he gets hit in the process.

 

[Delmar]

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This is a newbie question. How do you have a rooster with your chickens, without the eggs getting fertilized?

 

[HorizonSon]

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This is a newbie question. How do you have a rooster with your chickens, without the eggs getting fertilized?

I must be missing something here? More info please. I don't understand the relevance of the question. Maybe its just naivity on my part.

 

[Judy]

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You don't. What's the problem?

 

[Delmar]

Quote:
This is a newbie question. How do you have a rooster with your chickens, without the eggs getting fertilized?

I must be missing something here? More info please. I don't understand the relevance of the question. Maybe its just naivity on my part.

I just assumed that if you wanted fertilized eggs you would run a rooster with the flock and if you want to eat the eggs you would not have a rooster with the flock, but it sounds like some people have a rooster with the flock and the eggs don't get fertilized, or did I misunderstand.

 

[GAchick]

You misunderstood. There is no difference in the unfertilised eggs and fertilized eggs, basically. If you collect your eggs every day, and don't have a broody hen, anyway, the eggs aren't going to turn into baby chickens. In other words, it's okay to eat fertilised eggs.

 

[HorizonSon]

Aaahhhhh... Sssooo, the REAL question is: Can one eat fertile eggs?
Answer: yes

Historically; pretty much every egg eaten WAS fertile. People traditionally didn't have flocks of chickens without roosters. How would they reproduce? Go back just a few decades and people's kept chickens actually survived via neglect and "sloppy" farm life

 

[Egghead_Jr]

I've heard both online and personally that a rooster aids in general happiness of your flock. And we all know that happy chickens give you more eggs. The closest I can say personally is from my cousin that has a 2.5 year old flock. I've not seen there set up but by description does'nt sound like a very happy go lucky enviornment. They added a rooster this past spring and saw a marked improvement in eggs. I've read this trend of improved egg laying online too. So if your girls are not doing as well as you'd hoped then try introducing a good natured roo to make em feel like this whole business of egg laying they do means something

If your girls are doing as well as expected, better than breed then no worries. They be happy and you've no worry of finding a good natured roo.