Why have a rooster at all?

[trinityfly]

We just lost our rooster and to my surprise the flock of hens seem to be doing just fine. In fact the hen house is down right calm. True they tend to hang about the house and run rather than head out into the free range but they do go out to do their chicken thing daily. In the past 10 years we have always had at least one rooster for our little flock. Maybe we don't need a rooster!..... . What do you think?

R.I.P Sarge

 

[Ridgerunner]

There are several threads on why you might want a rooster. The only reason you need a rooster is if you want fertile eggs, a rooster is pretty much required. Other than that, it is pure personal preference.

 

[aka Rachel]

Probably not

I do incubate my eggs, but even if I didn't want to do that, I think I would keep my rooster.

Reasons are he's a great rooster. Never attacked or even came at us. He's gentle with his girls. He's very entertaining to watch with his flock and does get them to go out more

But really he seems to be mostly entertainment. Me and the girls don't need no stinkin rooster...but we'll keep him anyway

 

[7L Farm]

The first 4 months I had 10 hens & didn't even want a roo. Friend came over & had a roo that had the exact same markings as mine. At this time I was planning on the next coop & wanting more chicks. My friend than tells me he has an incubator I could use. Now my mind is racing. My chicks are good layers, easy going, & gorgeous red heads. My friend is also telling me how protective roos are to their girls while free ranging. Mind racing again. Bingo , bring him over. This roo is really friendly so far he's young but seems to be a fast learner. I have around 12 eggs that are fixin to go to the bator today. That's why I have a roo.

 

[gritsar]

As much as I usually agree with ridgerunner, this time I disagree.

I free range. I feel my roosters are vital to my free-ranging flocks. When all my hens & pullets have their butts in the air, busy eating, it's my rooster and cockerel that are keeping their eyes to the skies for predators.

 

[abhaya]

I have a roo who is an absolute gentleman. He watches the flock and defends them. I have never had a problem with him hurting the girls or pulling out fethers. I have been very lucky with roo roo. But I do know people who do not have roos and the flock is fine just no fertile eggs. And they do not free range.

 

[HorizonSon]

I simply wouldn't have a flock without atleast one rooster.

 

[Jessiewoodard57]

we had just hens for a while and one of my RIR hens took the rooster's place...It wasn't long before she was being mean to the point of drawing blood on one of my white rocks. we pulled the white rock and nursed her back to health. We added her back but all the RIRs started picking on her. So I built another coop and moved the 5 RIR hens to it and peace returned to the original coop. After a few days the same dominate RIR hen started attacking her sisters so I put a young roo in with them and she beat him up too change the roo to another and the same story. Well, I went to another person I do business with and bought the biggest RIR rooster I could find put him in the coop and wa la peace restored ..That was 2 months ago and no problems from that coop.

 

[SilverPhoenix]

I think when free-ranging your birds, it's important to have at least one rooster. They keep an eye on things and alert the girls if something is wrong. Have you ever seen a rooster do the aerial and land predator calls? It really makes a difference.

Personally, I love having roosters. They're beautiful, they take good care of their flock, and I enjoy having them around.

If your girls were cooped, I'd say it's completely up to you (though I'm still on the side of having a rooster because I think roosters are great), but because they free-range I think it's safer for you to have a good roo to be your flock guardian.

 

[dandelionheart]

I would like a roo... but we live in the city. I would love to see the flock dynamics change with a fella in there. But in the meantime, Hubby and I are the roos. They squat and we pat them on the back. I give better treats and they squat more for me. Our RIR doesn't like him, but she things I'm fab. But really, in our situation, they have a fully protected run and a roo would just be an unproductive mouth to feed.