Some people think roosters are too noisy because they crow loudly - sometimes even in the middle of the night - and they think roosters are too aggressive, literally attacking the hand that feeds them. And although there may be the occasional brawl if you keep more than one rooster, most roosters find a way to live in harmony with each other. Despite these shortcomings, the truth is that there are many good reasons to keep a rooster with your hens.
Roosters are the guardians of the flock. They are constantly on guard against predators in the air and on the ground. If they see something that worries them, they sound the alarm and the hens take cover. When the predator approaches, the rooster does not back down and fights to the death to protect his hens. If you have chicks in the flock, the rooster will work even harder to make sure they are protected.
Hens can be beautiful, but nothing is as striking and regal as a good-looking rooster. A rooster's large comb, draped waddles, and gorgeous tail feathers make any chicken yard look even better. This is especially true for the larger breeds, where roosters can grow into truly magnificent creatures.
Free-ranging flocks are less likely to stray too far from the yard if a rooster is present. Roosters keep hens from straying from the home base by herding them back to more familiar ground if they stray too far. In this way, the rooster protects the hens from predators that may be lurking in unfamiliar territory.
While some consider the rooster's tendency to announce the day a detriment, people who enjoy living in a rural environment would not trade that sound for anything in the world. In addition, many roosters crow when a predator approaches the flock at night or when a stranger enters the property. They can be as effective as watchdogs in letting you know that someone unwanted is lurking nearby.
The wild red jungle fowl, from which domestic chickens are descended, lives in small flocks with a dominant rooster. This way of life is genetically programmed in today's chickens. If you observe a rooster with his flock, you can easily see that nature created this arrangement for a reason. The ease with which the sexes live together, the way the rooster takes care of his hens, and even the visual balance you notice when you look at your flock are all evidence that there is a rooster.
Chickens are among the most economical animals to raise. They are a good investment. Do you keep roosters? If not, why not, and if you do tell us about your experiences in the comments section below.
Further Reading:
1. Fertilized Eggs
Fertilized eggs are considered more nutritious than unfertilized eggs by some people. Science has not proven that, but that does not mean you can not get more buyers for your eggs just by advertising that they are fertilized. If you want to sell your eggs, you will soon find that having a rooster in the flock that fertilizes the chickens is a boon to your business. Of course, if you want to raise your own chicks, a rooster that will mate with your hens so you get fertilized eggs is a must. Some interested buyers even have their hens hatch the eggs themselves.2. Protection
Roosters are the guardians of the flock. They are constantly on guard against predators in the air and on the ground. If they see something that worries them, they sound the alarm and the hens take cover. When the predator approaches, the rooster does not back down and fights to the death to protect his hens. If you have chicks in the flock, the rooster will work even harder to make sure they are protected.
3. The Shuffle Dance
If you have not seen a rooster perform the shuffle dance for a hen, you have been missing out. The shuffle dance is an adorable move that a rooster performs as a courtship ritual. In the shuffle dance, he drops a wing and takes small steps in front of the hen to get her attention. The hens seem to ignore him, but that does not stop most roosters from putting on a show. Some roosters also do this for their human handlers when they are excited about food or coming out of the coop. In fact, you are most likely to see the Shuffle Dance first thing in the morning.4. Looks Good
Hens can be beautiful, but nothing is as striking and regal as a good-looking rooster. A rooster's large comb, draped waddles, and gorgeous tail feathers make any chicken yard look even better. This is especially true for the larger breeds, where roosters can grow into truly magnificent creatures.
5. Finds Treats For Hens
Roosters are known for their cavalier behavior when it comes to food. Free-ranging roosters scour the ground for tasty morsels, especially bugs. When a rooster finds something delicious, he calls out to his hens. When he has caught their attention, he picks up the tidbit, drops it on the ground in front of him, and makes a clucking sound. When the hen comes to him to see what he has, he picks it up and drops it on the ground in front of her. If she does not eat it the first time, he does it again until she is convinced it is worth eating. Only rarely does the rooster take the food himself: he eats only when there is more than enough of the treat to go around.6. Staying Close
Free-ranging flocks are less likely to stray too far from the yard if a rooster is present. Roosters keep hens from straying from the home base by herding them back to more familiar ground if they stray too far. In this way, the rooster protects the hens from predators that may be lurking in unfamiliar territory.
7. Harmony in the Flock
A flock of chickens without a rooster is more likely to suffer from discord. Roosters protect the weaker hens in the flock from the more dominant hens and often settle fights between females. Without a rooster at the helm, a hen will try to assume the role of leader and be challenged by the other hens. As a result, fights break out. Situations where weaker hens in a flock are bullied to the point of near death are less common when a rooster is part of the group. He will put an end to any hen pecking.8. Crowing
While some consider the rooster's tendency to announce the day a detriment, people who enjoy living in a rural environment would not trade that sound for anything in the world. In addition, many roosters crow when a predator approaches the flock at night or when a stranger enters the property. They can be as effective as watchdogs in letting you know that someone unwanted is lurking nearby.
9. More Fun
Roosters create a dynamic that makes watching the flock more fun. The personalities of different hens come out when a rooster is in the group. Some hens are enamored with him and spend most of their time near him, while others want little to do with him. In situations where there are multiple roosters as part of the flock, things can get even more interesting. Some hens will sometimes sneak off to mate with a less dominant rooster, and may even develop a liking for a rooster that really should not be allowed to mate.10. The Natural Order
The wild red jungle fowl, from which domestic chickens are descended, lives in small flocks with a dominant rooster. This way of life is genetically programmed in today's chickens. If you observe a rooster with his flock, you can easily see that nature created this arrangement for a reason. The ease with which the sexes live together, the way the rooster takes care of his hens, and even the visual balance you notice when you look at your flock are all evidence that there is a rooster.
Chickens are among the most economical animals to raise. They are a good investment. Do you keep roosters? If not, why not, and if you do tell us about your experiences in the comments section below.
Further Reading:
