Do Chickens Need a Rooster?

Hens will lay eggs with or without a rooster. Without a rooster, your hens' eggs are infertile, so won't develop into chicks. If you do have a rooster, eggs need to be collected daily and kept in a cool place before being used so that they won't develop into chicks.

Are hens happier with a rooster?

A happy and stress free environment will give you the best egg laying chickens. This said, having a rooster around to act as security guard, as well as serve as an established leader of the pack frees up hens to forage, scratch, and eat without fear of being bothered by predators or, in fact, each other.

Can you have chickens without a rooster?

If you can't have roosters in your area, don't sweat it. A small flock will get along just fine without a rooster. The eggs will still be plentiful, the hens will still be content and you'll spend less on feed.