Why are Roosters Needed on the Homestead?

Why are Roosters Needed on the Homestead?
by Alexa Lehr | The Pioneer Chicks | August 6, 2024
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Roosters are not needed for hens to lay eggs, they are often thought of as being rough on the hens, and they can be mean. So, why are roosters needed on the homestead? Roosters actually have several very important roles in the homestead flock. If you are allowed to get a rooster where you are homesteading, then I encourage you to consider what a rooster would add to your flock. There are 3 main reasons why a rooster is important in the homestead flock: flock protection, flock reproduction, and flock dynamics. Roosters can help keep the homestead flock safe, make the homestead flock self-sustaining, and help keep peace within the flock.

#1. Flock Protection

Roosters are meant to be flock protectors. They watch over the flock, look out for danger, give alarm signals, and ultimately strive to preserve the flock. Much like a wild stallion with his band or a male lion with his pride, a rooster’s main job is to protect his flock.

Roosters have made a reputation for themselves as being excellent flock protectors. Often times, a rooster will even sacrifice his life to save one of his hens. I have heard of roosters fighting off hawks, coyotes, and dogs who attack their flocks. Having a rooster for a free-range homestead flock is especially helpful for keeping your flock safe as they forage.

Over the years, I have come to realize that certain roosters are better at protecting the flock than others. Light breed roosters tend to be more assertive and active, which can be beneficial when it comes to looking out for predators or warding off an attack. However, the rooster’s personality also plays a role in how well they take on the job of flock protection.

How to Encourage Flock Protection:

As with any animal, there is a variety of personalities even within one breed, and no two roosters are ever the same. In my experience, roosters who are given a flock of hens to watch over from a very young age tend to mature into their status as protector faster than if several roosters are all raised together in the same flock.

Also, when there are several roosters in one flock, the main rooster’s attention will be divided between watching his opponents and looking out for predators. When there is only a single rooster with a flock, the rooster can give all his attention to being on the look out for predators.

#2. Flock Reproduction

Another role that the rooster has in the homestead flock is the role of reproduction. Protecting the flock and ensuring reproduction are the top priorities of a rooster. These two roles are instinctual and would have ensured the survival of a wild flock.

On the homestead, the role of reproduction can be very important. If you have a rooster with your homestead flock, then you have a way of naturally replenishing the flock without buying additional birds. The early pioneers would see a rooster as being essential to their flock since finding other chickens would have been hard to come by.

In order to have a self-sustaining flock, you will want to ensure you have the right ratio of hens for your rooster. The average number of hens per rooster is ten. Light breed roosters can handle more hens and heavy breed roosters do better with less hens. The right ratio of hens will ensure proper fertility rates and will prevent hens from being overbred (resulting in feather loss from treading).

Also, if you don’t have an incubator, you will want to consider if any of your hens will go broody. A broody hen will take care of all the incubation requirements and is a great way to naturally raise chicks on the homestead.

Don’t worry! Just because you have a rooster doesn’t mean you have to stop eating eggs! Fertilized eggs only start to develop if they are exposed to the right incubating conditions for 24-48 hours.

#3. Flock Dynamics

Lastly, another important role that the rooster plays in the homestead flock is the role of peace-maker. Roosters are often though of as fighters and as being rough on the hens, but good roosters are actually the stabilizing force within a flock.

In a flock of one rooster and a bunch of hens, the rooster settles fights between the hens. He helps maintain a stable pecking order and even watches out for the lower class hens. I have found that when a rooster has the appropriate amount of hens, he doesn’t tend to single out a favorite. In small flocks, all the hens can be ‘favorites’. In a large flock, there are so many hens that the rooster will single out the most submissive hens and make them his ‘favorite’. However, choosing favorites can also be a personality trait in some roosters as well.

Flocks that have a rooster are more calm and stable. There are less fights between the hens and less bullying. The hens are less flighty and more easy-going. I have found this to be especially true of my Svart Hona breeding flock.

Since a rooster takes over the role of peace-maker and protector, the hens are less stressed out and can be more productive. Laying can be more regular and may even increase when a rooster is present to provide stability and protection. Having a rooster in the flock also makes introducing new hens into the flock easier. Integration will go smoother when a rooster is there to control any fights or bullying.

Benefits of a Rooster

Aside from the three main roles of protector, reproducer, and peace-maker, having a rooster (or roosters) on the homestead has some other benefits as well:

Natural Flock

Including a rooster in your homestead flock is a great way to mimic what nature intended. You may think that hens get fed-up with a rooster or are bothered by him, but actually hens seem to prefer when a rooster is around. They will willingly hang out with him and be around him. A rooster who is a good protector, moderate in his advances of reproduction, and who accepts the role of maintaining a stable flock will be readily accepted by the hens.

Meat

On the homestead, roosters can be a good source for putting food on the table. Whether your flock reproduces using natural methods (aka. broody hens) or whether you purposely buy or hatch chicks, at some point you are bound to have too many roosters on the homestead.

Butchering extra roosters is a great way to put meat in the freezer and is a sustainable solution for dealing with too many roosters. You will want to make sure you plan on butchering the roosters while they are still young. Older roosters have passed the ‘stag stage’ and are tougher and less tasty.

If processing your extra roosters doesn’t sit well with you, check out these other options that I have tried for dealing with my extra roosters.

Coop Training

Fitting right in the with flock dynamics, the rooster also helps coop train the flock. As long as he is taught that the chicken coop is a safe place to roost for the night, he will teach all his hens that too. I have noticed that my roosters determine when the flock goes in to roost at night.

If they are free-ranging, the rooster is one of the last ones to go in to roost. However, I have noticed that my rooster may go in for a little bit with some of the hens, but then come back out to round up the stragglers. Roosters show the flock where to sleep at night and ensure that every one makes it to the coop for the night.

Smooth Re-integrations

Since flock peace-making is a vital role of the homestead rooster, he helps with smooth re-integrations. Sometimes a hen has been removed for an illness, injury, because she was broody, or for some other reason. If she is gone for a long period of time, there is a chance the other hens could pick on her.

However, I have noticed that my rooster prevents any bullying of re-introduced flock members. Of course there will be the initial pecks and reminders, but the rooster breaks up anything that could get serious.

I have also found that introducing new flock members goes smoother when there is a rooster. Roosters are pretty accepting, especially of more hens. If the rooster accepts the hens, he will look out for them as they establish themselves in the pecking order.

Free-range Monitor

Going right along with the flock protector role, a rooster also makes a great free-range monitor. Not only does he protect the hens and warn them of danger, but he also manages them as they free-range.

An assertive rooster will keep all his hens together. He will show them where to forage and keep them altogether. I have found that this flock mentality behavior is somewhat dependent on the rooster’s personality. Some roosters like to have all their ducks, I mean hens, in a row. Others seem content with letting the hens break off into groups and then he flits between the groups as he wishes.

How well a rooster can monitor his flock also depends on the age of the hens, how long the rooster has been with the flock, how big the flock is, and how big of a free-range area they have.

In the evening, a rooster will round up his free-ranging hens, make sure no one is missing, and show them where to roost for the night.

Morning Alarm Clock

It wouldn’t be right to discuss roosters without mentioning their natural ability to be an alarm clock…. at any time of the day. Personally, I enjoy this aspect of having a rooster. Over the years, I have gotten used to hearing my boys start the day at four-o’clock in the morning (or sometimes earlier).

Anybody who believes a rooster only crows in the morning is in for a reality check if they spend time around a rooster for a little while. Roosters are not particular about when they crow. It makes since though, because crowing helps establish territory, assert dominance, and is a way of communication. Having a natural alarm clock on the homestead can be beneficial and fun!

Diversity & Personality

The last point I would like discuss about why roosters are needed on the homestead is the fact that they add diversity and a fun personality to the homestead flock. Roosters can come in all shapes and sizes, just like hens. Each rooster has his own personality too. You thought your hens were entertaining to watch? Wait until you add a rooster to the mix! Roosters are a great way to add diversity to your flock in both colors and personality!

Personality is a big factor in adding a rooster to the homestead flock. There are many roosters of all different breeds that are friendly, docile, and downright cuddly. Some are awesome protectors, others seem to act more like jerks. Breeding and upbringing can play a big role in the personality of a rooster.

I believe there are more good roosters out there than bad roosters though. A well-bred, properly managed rooster will not only be a valuable asset to the flock, but you will quickly fall in love with his unique personality too!

Why are roosters needed on the homestead? They protect the flock, provide a way for the flock to be self-sustaining, and help maintain a stable flock. A stable, peaceful homestead flock is a healthy and productive one! Once you find yourself an independent, stable, and mature rooster, you will find he is a valuable addition to your homestead flock.

Interested in learning more about raising a homestead flock? Or just homesteading in general? We would love to share our resources with you! You can get our Modern Pioneer Package for free by just signing up for our bi-weekly newsletter! Also, feel free to check out the pioneer resources in The Trading Post!