6 Reasons to Keep a Rooster in Your Yard

Raising Baby Chickens and a Rooster

When we first moved to the country, we wanted to plant a garden. The second step in “ruralizing” our life was to get a few chickens. Eggs go so well with vegetables, after all.

When you buy baby chicks, the people at the local feed store may tell you that the chickens are a “straight run.” This means that there will likely be 50% males and 50% females. Or they will tell you that the little birds have been “sexed” or tested and sorted to assure that you will get all (or mostly all) females. There is still a chance that an impersonator or two will get through.

Our first flock of five baby chicks turned out to include one rooster, who was promptly named Comet by our grandchildren.

The hens were of different breeds, including Rhode Island Red, Araucana, and two others. We got brown, tan, white, and blue eggs.

Comet was a handsome bird. His shiny black feathers had an iridescent green glow in the sunlight, which complemented the blood-red comb.

6 Excellent Reasons to Keep a Rooster

Below, you'll find six good reasons to have a rooster in your flock, as well as a few reasons not to.

1. Fertile Eggs

Maybe you want to raise more chickens. If you want your hens to nest and set on eggs to hatch, or if you want to use an incubator, you will need to have fertile eggs. In that case, you will need a rooster.

Will Hens Produce Eggs Without a Rooster?

If you have a small backyard flock without a rooster, your hens will still produce eggs. If you don’t have a father bird, the eggs won’t be fertile, and that is fine. The eggs are perfectly good for all your cooking needs, with all the qualities you would want.

Some people think that fertilized eggs are more nutritious, but others are freaked out by the idea of eating unborn chicken. In any case, the eggs look and taste the same.
If you are concerned, refrigeration halts any potential growth inside the shell. Almost all store-bought eggs are produced by hens that have not mated.

Will Hens Be Happy Without a Rooster?

We have had small flocks of three to five hens, and they seem perfectly happy without a rooster. In fact, hens tend to be better “pets” and more people-friendly when they are not constantly being chased by a large feathered and spurred suitor.

2. Protection

Hearing a commotion in the garden yard one day, I went out to discover that two stray dogs had gotten into the fenced enclosure, and they had met Comet in mortal combat.

The rooster was fearlessly taking them both on, and the feathers were flying. When the dogs saw me, they ran for the fence and exited by the hole they had dug under the wires. Comet was a bit disheveled, with random feathers sticking out in odd directions, but otherwise, fine.

The four hens were cowering in a far corner. The dogs didn’t come back, and I suspect their adventure left them with several painful scratches on their noses.

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If you have several hens, and especially if you free-range them part of the time, your rooster tends to be the shepherd or “manager,” keeping them together for protection.

3. Aesthetics

Roosters are proud, elegant, and attractive birds. They are more colorful and more charismatic than hens. As the iconic farmyard symbol and rural alarm clock, they can be quite appealing.

Comet knew he was a "looker" and was always ready to puff up his feathers and show his confidence.

Depending on their breed, roosters can have different colors and showy plumage, but all usually have a bright red comb, eye ring, ear lobes, and wattles. They strut around proudly as if they own the place. They do.

4. Pest Control and Garbage Management

Though you will want to feed your chickens a commercial feed or pellet to make sure they get the necessary calcium and nutrients, they can also help dispose of kitchen scraps and peelings.

They love tomato worms and other garden pests, as well as an occasional low-hanging tomato. Some people are surprised to find that they are not total vegetarians. Chickens will eat small frogs and even mice if they get the chance. They love meat scraps, though their usual feed is more grain and vegetable-based.

They can contribute to your compost management and help produce better garden fertilizer. On this point, I have to say that hens do as good a job as the males, though the roosters are usually larger and thus eat more.

5. Entertainment

Chickens are fun to watch, and even though roosters tend to be less people-friendly than hens, some of them can be docile and friendly. This is especially true if they have been handled and picked up, starting when they are young chicks. This applies mostly to hens. Roosters may object to you picking up their hens, so be careful.

They can be expressive and silly. I was shocked when I realized that the tune of the Chicken Dance song is actually based on a hen’s clucking pattern. This means, of course, that the composer of this song basically stole the tune from real chickens, and they have no way of filing a copyright infringement suit. They also know the dance.

6. To Annoy the Neighbors

I tried to think of a sixth positive reason but could not. Despite their procreative talent, their protective nature, and their attractive looks, they also have a few negative traits.

They are loud and annoying. They don’t just crow at sunrise, as you may have been led to believe. They crow at any time of day just because they can. I think my hens are deaf.

They can also be aggressive and dangerous, especially toward small pets and children. Take care to protect chickens, pets, and people with a sturdy enclosure.

Roosters develop sharp spurs on the back of their ankles, and they know how to use them. Rudy once attacked me and left big bruises above my knees. Luckily, I had heavy Levis on at the time. He has since been taught to reluctantly respect a person holding a five-foot length of a small-diameter PVC pipe.

Your local ordinances may prohibit noisy roosters as a general nuisance. If there is no law against them where you live, you may still have nearby neighbors who are highly displeased at having their peace disturbed.

I have heard of people who have friendly, approachable roosters who still look after the flock and perform other rooster duties. I had high hopes for Rudy but have not had a real friendly one yet.

Rudy, our current rooster, is rather “feisty,” but we have many predators here. Over the years, we have lost several hens, so we take precautions and tolerate his pugnaciousness.

Finally, a Reason Not to Keep a Rooster

As far as I know, there is no good reason at all to keep a rooster if you don’t have hens. Cockfighting is illegal here, as well as being cruel and unusual.

I am fairly convinced that the eating of chicken meat started with the realization that no one needs more than one or two roosters unless you are running a commercial chicken-raising ranch.

Comments

Adrienne Farricelli CPDT-KA, Dip.CBST from USA on September 05, 2020:

We had roosters and they did a wonderful job in protecting our hens. They sometimes didn't even want us near, but we bribed them with goodies.

S.P. Greaney from Ireland on August 06, 2020:

It seems like they definitely have their own little personality. It was interesting reading this because no one I know has roosters or hens, so I dont know much about them.

But the rooster seems to be a good little guard protecting his girls.

Steve daniell on July 07, 2020:

Great article. I agreed with everything said. Thank you for a fun read

Rochelle Frank (author) from California Gold Country on March 24, 2020:

It was probably a Bantam breed. My mother-in/law used to have one that was very friendly. It liked to sit on her lap.

Mel Carriere from Snowbound and down in Northern Colorado on March 24, 2020:

As a mailman I see a lot of craziness. I had a house on my route with a rooster that was half the size of his hen. I often wondered about the logistics of mating in this affair. Anyway, this rooster was perfectly docile. He never tried to attack me when I went into the yard. Perhaps his short man's complex had killed his mojo. Great article.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on April 17, 2018:

I hope your new chicks get along with Rudy and the others. I never realized that it could pose a problem. I guess they are just like other animals. Some get along and other perhaps do not.

Rochelle Frank (author) from California Gold Country on April 16, 2018:

We just got two new chicks,but they are not yet read for formal introductions, Hope they all get along. Thanks for the read, Peggy.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on April 16, 2018:

It was interesting to read this although our subdivision does not allow the raising of chickens much less roosters. Nice to know that your Rudy helps to protect your hens.

Rochelle Frank (author) from California Gold Country on February 19, 2018:

Glad you liked it. I wish our rooster was a little more friendly.

Shyron E Shenko from Texas on February 19, 2018:

Rochelle, I lived with my grandparents for some time and always enjoyed watching the chickens and roosters, one rooster use to follow my brother everywhere and would even sit in his lap if he sat down, but there is an ordinance against having Chickens in the city, although my hubby wanted to have a few anyway before he got so ill.