When breeding laying hens, many farmers are interested in whether roosters are needed on the farm. What is their role, in addition to reproducing offspring, and can hens do without the participation of males? Further these and other interesting questions will be considered.
What is a rooster for?
It is generally accepted that hens that live with roosters carry eggs that are considered tastier and healthier than hens that live alone, although it all depends on the diet and conditions of detention, in the first place. But why then keep roosters?
The importance of having a male depends on the purpose of using the eggs:
- use;
- use and subsequent withdrawal of new offspring.
If the goal is only to use, then the economy can do without a rooster. Chicken can carry eggs on its own, because the rooster does not affect the formation of the structure of the egg - shell, protein and yolk.
But, in the case when the eggs are used for subsequent breeding of chickens, then the roosters are directly involved. It is practically impossible to breed offspring without a rooster at home, because they help the fetus to form, from which the chicken emerges.
Can laying hens do without a rooster?
As already noted above, the ability of chickens to regularly produce eggs is laid in them by nature. This opportunity appears in them to achieve six months of age.
Productivity of layers depends on certain factors:
- chicken breeds;
- her diet;
- microclimate features.
On average, chicken can be carried once every two days. This is provided for by the implementation of certain processes in the chicken body:
- the egg matures, after which it is excreted from the follicles and enters the oviduct;
- the formation of protein and shell;
- the egg comes out;
After completing the final paragraph, the body immediately begins to work on the next egg. Therefore, we can conclude that you can do without a rooster.
Benefits of keeping chickens with a cock
Despite the fact that for laying hens, the presence of a rooster is completely unnecessary, all the same, breeders keep at least one male in their livestock, due to several reasons:
- Breeding offspringa: only if the male is on the farm, fertilization is possible, which is necessary for hatching and subsequent incubation of eggs.
- Order and discipline in the economy. All hens obey their male - if he called, then all run to his call, and no one scatters. Roosters make sure that each chicken has its own place near the feeder and in the nest. Also, the rooster can find food - insects and grain.
- Protection and security - roosters are real fighters, so if there was a threat to his chicken coop, for this he has spurs, a sharp beak and claws. Also, roosters are very brave birds, they throw at the enemy of any size.
- Appearance. Roosters look very beautiful, unlike chickens, he also behaves unusually in relation to the female when she takes care of her.
Given the size of the rooster, it can be grown to receive meat in the future.
Shortcomings in the presence of a male
If only hens that carry eggs for consumption live in the chicken coop, and the owner of the chicken coop is able to put things in order on their own, then what is the role of the rooster? Indeed, some breeders believe that roosters have more trouble, both the owner himself and the hens. Consider the reasons why the presence of a rooster in the chicken coop is a minus:
- Aggression. An important task of a rooster is to protect its chicken coop from outside interference, and from anyone, therefore, even if the housewife approached the hens to feed, an embittered rooster could pounce. An embittered, attacking rooster is very difficult to resist.
- Chickens show less egg production. Regarding this point, disputes are underway, as some breeders say that on the contrary, roosters only help and do not interfere with the chickens to rush, while others argue that without a rooster, chickens behave much calmer and rush more often.
- Appearance of hens. Roosters regularly trample chickens, which does not add to their attractiveness, as the male scratches and plucks feathers for them, leaving wounds that could be infected;
- The desire to raise chickens. If fertilization has occurred, then the maternal instinct begins to wake up in the females, while they do not care about unfertilized eggs. But the minus here is that, trying to plant eggs, they occupy nests and thereby interfere with other chickens.
- The rooster was chosen and sent to the chicken coop incorrectly. Chickens may disregard him, which will cause aggression.
Comparison of simple and fertilized eggs
There are a large number of rumors saying that fertilized eggs contain more beneficial properties and are tastier than simple eggs, which is not true, since the effect on chickens from a rooster is purely physiological - within three weeks after intercourse, the chicken will only produce fertilized eggs. At the same time, according to the characteristics of the eggs, no differences will be visible.
The only difference is that eggs that have been fertilized are considered dietary for 5 days, and simple ones for a week. Both are stored for 25 to 30 days under the correct storage conditions.
How many cocks do you need per chicken coop?
A rooster is able to keep about a dozen chickens in one chicken coop. If the number of females exceeds this number, then the rooster may begin to appear darlings, whom he will not give rest and will offend those he does not like.
If there are more than 15 individuals in the chicken coop, it should be made from one family - two and for each introduce a male. In this situation it is very important to delimit the territories, to make sure that roosters from neighboring families do not catch one another’s eyes, otherwise you can’t avoid a fight that can lead to serious injuries and even death of one of the males.
In one flock, with a moderate number of chickens, a maximum of two roosters are able to coexist peacefully.
To start a rooster in the chicken coop should be only if the goal is to grow hens that will produce offspring. Without the need for breeding offspring, the need for a rooster disappears, especially if hens live in cages.
If your goal is to breed offspring in a chicken coop, then you should think about getting a rooster. Otherwise, the male is not necessary, especially if the hens live in cages, because then the rooster will be superfluous, and its presence in the chicken coop will not affect the total number of eggs.
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