Different breeds of chickens lay different amounts of eggs over the course of a year. Roosters … So, if you’ve been putting off getting a backyard flock because your town doesn’t allow cockerels and you think you need one to get eggs, you can breathe a bit easier. If you’d like some protection from chicken predators, a rooster’s the guy you need. Chickens can and do lay eggs without roosters. Roosters can be dangerous if they are mean, especially if you have children. I know I don't need a rooster for hens to lay, but I heard from an experienced chicken raiser, who heard it from her mom, who heard it from her mom, that hens will lay better with a rooster around the house. How many chickens do I need for eggs? When deciding which chickens to buy, this is something you will want to check for each breed you are considering. A rooster in your flock does have many benefits. I do not have the chickens, but a friend of mine does and she believes that hens can lay eggs with laying pellets and not have any roosters..I just want to find out so I can help her out with more information. Without a rooster, the eggs are infertile, so won’t develop into young chicks. This is one of the main reasons homesteaders that live in tighter spaces are able to have chickens. Your laying hen's body is naturally intended to produce an egg once every 24 to 27 hours and it will form the egg regardless of whether the egg is actively fertilized during its formation. While I have given you a few good reasons on why you do need a rooster for chickens to lay eggs, at the end of the day, a hen will still lay an egg without having a rooster around. A chicken cannot tell if an individual egg has been successfully fertilized or not. Why some hens laid blue eggs was a mystery that was not unraveled until 2013 following the mapping of the chicken genome. After mating, enough sperm may remain in the hen to fertilize her eggs for a week or more. I'm inclined to keep our rooster, although watching his mating behavior can be a little nerve-wracking. The presence of a rooster among your flock of birds is necessary for various reasons. The shell forms and hardens in the shell gland, and the egg is ready to be laid. Chickens lay eggs as long as they believe they need more to form a proper brood. This is one of the main reasons homesteaders that live in tighter spaces are able to have chickens. Most hens won't lay eggs in the evening, so if a hen's egg is ready then, she will likely hold it until morning. Join Backyard Poultry magazine in our video series, Chickens in a Minute, as we answer frequently asked questions about how to raise a healthy backyard chicken flock.This week’s video addresses a question many new chicken owners have, do chickens need a rooster to lay eggs? Hens can lay eggs without a rooster as long as they attain the right age to do so. Let’s take a closer look and answer some of those frequently asked questions about chicken eggs. Never fear – in short, yes, chickens can lay eggs without a rooster being present. This is a common misconception. If you have questions about how a chicken lays eggs, we've got answers. Any truth to this? One of the most common questions that gets asked about chickens is, why do they lay eggs even if there is no rooster present? Most birds tend to lay eggs only once or twice per year. If you only want to eat your eggs, then the answer is NO! If you want chicks, a rooster is a must-have to get fertilized chicken eggs. Having a rooster for your laying hens is not a necessity and many cities don’t allow roosters because of their noise. Related: Three Rare Chicken Breeds You Need To Raise; Are Heritage Meat Chickens The Best?