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No Rooster Needed for Laying Hens
No. In fact, if you want eggs for food, you do not want any roosters because you probably want unfertilized eggs. However, if you want baby chicks, you must have a rooster with the flock.
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You will receive eggs from your "ladies" no matter what. Laying age is approximately 18 weeks. This is variable since all chickens are different, as one of mine just laid her first egg at 16 weeks to the day! Even if the egg is fertilized, it is still edible. The egg won't become a chick unless the hen sits and incubates it or you choose to incubate it. Otherwise, if you collect your eggs daily, there will be no chance of the fertilized egg growing to be a chick (which is especially true if you pop your eggs into the refrigerator after collection as I do).
Lots of eggs/No Rooster
Most eggs sold in Super Markets and grocery stores are laid by hens who have never been near a rooster. Market production farms do not keep the young rooster chicks. They are either killed outright or sold off for meat production. On the reverse side, the eggs you buy at the local farmers market or roadside stand are most likely fertilized. This does not add to or change the quality or nutrition value of the egg in any way as the eggs are collected daily and refrigerated within 24 hours. A fertilized egg takes about 48 to 72 hours under ideal temperatures and 80% humidity to start forming the embryo. After that begins it will take 21 days for the new chick to emerge from the shell.
No. A rooster is not required for the hens to lay eggs. Hens will lay whether their eggs are fertilized or not. On the other hand, there are many benefits to having a rooster. The fact that a chicken egg has been fertilized has absolutely no affect on it's taste, and as long as the egg hasn't been brooded for more than 24 hours or so, there is no embryo growing in it, making it safe to eat even for vegetarians. Also, having a rooster means that you can let the hens have chicks, and not have to buy them from a hatchery anymore. Lastly, one of the most important arguments for keeping a rooster is that many, many roosters are killed simply because they aren't wanted. Millions are killed in hatcheries alone, because the demand for pullets is much greater than for rooster chicks. Keeping one or more will save them from that fate. Also, in rare cases, without a rooster around, one of the hens (usually the lead hen) will take up the 'mantle' of rooster and start acting like one, sometimes even going so far as to start crowing.
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∙ 12y ago
Wiki User
∙ 13y agoThis is how it works ... roosters are needed for mating. but hens will lay eggs regardless if you want them to hatch a rooster needs to fertilize them if not the hen will just lay an egg and it will not hatch. for more info just discuss this( im always online)
Wiki User
∙ 15y agono they dont need a rooster to lay eggs, they lay eggs anyway but they need a rooster if you want the ggs to have chicks inside.
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∙ 14y agoNo, they can lay eggs on the ground outside roosters but it is useful to have a specific place for them to lay eggs.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoNo, you do not need a rooster--unless you want fertilized eggs.
Wiki User
∙ 11y agoYes or a hen will take the role and stop laying
Wiki User
∙ 10y agoNo, they are not. But they are needed for hens to lay fertilized eggs.
Wiki User
∙ 13y agono. only if you want to produce chicks
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How long after they mate do you see eggs?
Mine started mating yesterday and I found three eggs today. I have two Golden Comet hens, two Rhode Island Red hens and one Rhode Island Red Rooster.
What rooster would be best for Rhode Island red hens besides Rhode Island red rooster?
my rooster. if u know what i mean.
What do they use the Rhode Island rooster for?
To keep the Hens company until its time for Chicken and Noodles.
With Rhode Island Red hens do you need a Rhode Island Red rooster to produce RIR chicks or will any kind of rooster do?
yes and no. i you want to produce pure bred RIR you must get a RIR Rooster. If you don't care if they are purebred you can get any breed of rooster. ..prinsesrau answer.... hens can have part rir chicks if there rir or if the rooster is. yes it depends if u weant pure rir if that is the case hen and rooster need to be rir
Do laying hens need a rooster to produce an egg daily?
NO, hens don't need a rooster to lay at ALL. The amount of eggs laid, varys between the Age,Breed, and happiness of the hen. Good layers are Rhode Island Reds,Barbed Rock,Aracona,Americona,and many more. The only need for a rooster when it comes to eggs, is to fertilize them (threw Mating) so a chick will hatch.
How long is a rir rooster fertile?
Rhodies, or Rhode Island Reds are a favorite breed. The hens can continue to supply eggs up to and sometime beyond three years old and the roosters will often be active on the hens for up to five or six years.
Does having a rooster make hens lay bigger eggs?
They eggs are the same size as if there is no rooster in the flock.
Can a hen lay eggs without a rooster and are they safe to eat?
My hens are never left with a cockeral or rooster as I own only hens (except from my chicks) and the eggs are definitely safe! :)
Which Rhode Island farms sell Rhode Island Red Hens?
ducky farm
Do you need a rooster for hens to lay?
No. Chickens will lay perfectly good eggs without a rooster. In fact, many people prefer not to keep a rooster, because they don't want to find a fertilized egg that was a little too far along.
What do you mean by unfertilised eggs?
Eggs are fertilized by a rooster, hens do not need a rooster to produce an egg, they will do this with or without mating. Eggs available at the grocery store are produced by hens that never have contact with a male bird. Fresh eggs bought from a farm or roadside stand are likely to have been fertilized since most farms keep a rooster both to protect the hens and to renew stock as the hens age out each year..
Do you have to breed a chicken for it to lay eggs?
No, hens will lay wether they be with a rooster or not
