Whether you’ve had a flock of chickens for a while, or you’re just starting out, you may wonder if you should have a rooster in your flock.

The truth is, there are many reasons people can think of (quite quickly) to not keep a rooster in their flock, but there are even more reasons to keep the roos around. 

In this post, we’ll be doing our best to convince you that roosters are, in fact, a very important fixture in your chicken coop. 

 

Reasons You Shouldn’t Have A Rooster in Your Flock

 

Before we start gushing about all the wonderful things a rooster can do for your flock, we need to address the handful of reasons you might not be able to keep a roo in the coop. 

1. Ordinances

Some towns, cities, and counties may not allow residents to own roosters. Mainly this is a concern regarding noise, but sometimes it can revolve around fear of aggression from roosters (more on that below). 

 

So before you add a rooster to your flock, make sure you’ve checked with the local laws and policies to ensure you have the go-ahead to keep a roo on your property. 

2. Roosters Can Be Aggressive

Yes, some roosters can be aggressive toward people. There are certain breeds that tend to be a bit more rude around humans than others, but truthfully, behavior varies from bird-to-bird. 

In my 15+ years of owning roosters, I’ve only had one mean boy in the bunch. With that being said, aggressive roosters can be taught not to attack their human handlers. But beware that sometimes there’s just a bad egg in the bunch. 

If you have small children or close neighbors, it’s important to ensure that the rooster you’re keeping on your property is amicable and doesn’t bother people. 

3. Neighbors May Not Appreciate Roosters

Even if you’re allowed to keep roosters on your land, you may have neighbors that are less-than-pleased about their presence. 

If a rooster is the difference between a neighborly neighborhood or one that erupts into chaos at the slightest crow, it might be time to pick your battles and keep a roosterless flock. 

The Important Reasons You Should Have a Rooster in Your Flock

 

Now, on to the reasons you definitely need a rooster in your flock. So, if you now know you can keep one (after reading the cautionary fine print above) get ready to be convinced:

1. More Babies

While hens lay eggs without a rooster present, you’re going to need a boy to fertilize your eggs if you’d like to breed or incubate them. 

You simply can’t breed more baby chicks without a rooster on hand. 

2. Crowing Can be Cool

You might think I’m kidding, but crowing can be a great thing! 

Aside from the fact that I love the sound of a rooster’s crow in the morning (which most likely makes me crazy), there’s a lot of reasons to love the throaty crow of a rooster.

Crowing warns hens of danger…and alerts you to the fact that something might not be up to snuff in the coop, especially if the rooster crows in the middle of the night. 

A crow can also deter predators from eyeing up a juicy chicken dinner. In fact, it can startle a foe enough to make them completely forget their dinner plans. 

And if you love that morning wake up call, like I do, you’ll love the crow of the rooster in the wee hours in the morning. It may take some getting used to, but you might actually come to appreciate their call. 

3. Entertainment

Roosters are a hoot. If you’ve ever watched a rooster care for his hens by tidbitting or dancing around them, you’ll know they are priceless entertainment. 

Tidbitting is a little jig, with the addition of some clucky chatter, that a rooster performs when he sees something delicious that he knows his hens will enjoy. Roosters pick up the tasty morsels they’ve found and drop back onto the ground for their hens.  

Hens know that when they hear their rooster tidbitting, they’re in for a real treat and instantly come running. 

Lastly, roosters are gorgeous birds. They’re usually more brightly-colored and glamorous than hens. Having a proud, glistening, rooster in your yard is simply fun to behold during the hot summer days. 

 

4. Protecting The Flock

Perhaps the most important reason to keep a rooster in your coop is for your hens’ sakes. A rooster takes his job very seriously, and will fiercely protect his hens. In fact, a rooster will often give their lives to keep their hens safe. 

If a hawk flies overhead, your rooster will puff up, making himself appear larger, and gurgle or crow a warning to the predator…usually deterring it. 

When a raccoon or stray dog threatens the coop or the nesting box, a rooster will not only sound the alarm, he may also go to battle to protect his girls. 

When it comes down to it, roosters aren’t all that bad…and if you can have one in your flock, you definitely should. He will fiercely protect the girls, entertain you to no end, and, of course, give you more chicks.

Written by: Amanda Pieper