Will I get less eggs if a rooster is in the flock?

[newtoallthis]

Stupid question I know but when I google it I can't find the answer. I have a rooster that I was trying to keep that is mean and needs his own area. I am in the process of building my girls another much bigger coop and planning on giving their old small to the mean rooster to live in by himself. Problem is I believe one of my girls is another rooster and this one is a gentle, loving docile silkie rooster (if she's a he). I don't want 3 chicken coops in my yard as two is one more then originally planned as it is. So if the silk is a he then it will be getting the smaller coop for itself instead of the mean one.

Then I got to thinking..... if I keep the docile rooster with the pullets he grew up with and loves instead of separating him now will he put a dent in their egg production by mating? Should I keep him separate or can he be with them? I will let the girls have a clutch of eggs eventually but I want the eggs for now so should I separate the silkie rooster or keep him caged with his flock? Thank you guys!!! Happy Memorial Day Everyone!!! =)

 

[sourland]

Unless a rooster is extremely aggressive and stressing the hens, he will have no impact on egg production. I would leave the mellow rooster with the hens. Fertile egg are fine to eat.

 

[newtoallthis]

Thank you for answering because I really wanted to keep them all. This is my first batch and I read how people don't want or need roosters and how you shouldnt have to many in a flock but that is foreign to an inexperienced chicken keeper. I love the mean rooster and don't want anyone to cull him just because when I could provide him a home but thought I would need the extra coop for the new found rooster and if I had to pick one of course I would take the docile one because I have kids. So I feel much better knowing that I could keep both and that I can eat fertile eggs because I did not know that! Thank You Sourland!!!

 

[sourland]

Fertile eggs will not start to develop until they have been incubated (temperature raised to 100 F). Collect your eggs daily, and they will be fine. A human aggressive rooster around children is a scary situation. Frequently a rooster will fly at the face of small children. Keep your kids away from the mean rooster.