Breeding chickens - a profitable and fairly simple. Today, they are engaged not only in large farms, but also in private households. However, many poultry farmers in the process of laying hens face the problem of low egg production, which is associated with the absence of a rooster in the hen house. Do we really need a male chickens for good egg production - let's see.
Do chickens carry eggs without a rooster
The fact that chickens are not able to rush without a rooster is a myth. In reality, a number of factors affect the laying of eggs, and, above all, nutrition: its quality and standards. The number of eggs also depends on the breed of the bird, and not on the presence of the male individual.
Like all females, an egg is produced in the body of a chicken, and it is produced constantly in mature birds.
We recommend to find out what the life expectancy of chickens and roosters.
Egg formation is carried out as follows:
- egg matures in follicle, grows and forms yolk;
- when it reaches a size of 40 mm in diameter, the yolk leaves the follicle and enters the oviduct;
- the "body" moves along the reproductive system for 12 hours, during which a multilayer shell of protein is formed on it;
- the egg moves to the isthmus of the oviduct, where it is covered with a thin film. The process of film formation lasts about 1 hour;
- then the egg begins to "dress" in a hard shell - the shell, which takes 18 hours;
- a fully formed egg comes out, and already 40–50 minutes after laying, the next yolk begins to move along the oviduct.
Thus, the process of egg formation occurs in the body of a healthy chicken all the time, and the male cannot stop it. Laying with proper nutrition and normal conditions of detention can be carried daily. It should be noted that almost all the nutrients, minerals and vitamins derived from feed, are spent on the formation of eggs. That is why the decline in the quality of food will adversely affect the productivity of poultry.
Learn more about the process of rooster chicken fertilization.
Egg emergence mechanism
Did you know? There have been cases in world history when a hen laid eggs with double shells. The first case occurred in 1956 on an American farm, when a hen "presented" an egg not only with double shells, but also with two yolks. Its weight was 454 g.
Rooster in the hen house
On farms or in households where chickens are raised exclusively for eggs, do not contain a rooster. However, the views of the poultry farmers about the need to keep the male in the hen-house were divided. Some argue that his presence is of great importance for the health and livelihoods of the bird, others are convinced that he brings more trouble than good.
Benefits of keeping chicken with a rooster
Of course, one of the main roles played by the rooster is fertilized eggs. Without a male, hens lay unfertilized eggs, which are useless to put in the incubator, as the result will be zero. Therefore, serious breeders of chickens need to make sure that a male is in the company of hens.
Poultry farmers often experience poor egg production in chickens. Especially this problem is relevant in the winter. In order for the chickens to fly well, they need a properly formulated diet, which includes vitamins.
The presence of a rooster in a hen house has several important advantages:
- Discipline. A good male always puts things in order in the house, controls the behavior of his "ladies", strictly follows discipline, searches for food. At the same time the hens obey the rooster, quickly run off to his call, do not leave a certain territory, try to keep close.
- Protection. Like a real man, even a small dwarf cockerel can become a reliable protection for layers. He always acts on the side of the hens, can engage in a fierce battle with an opponent using sharp claws, beak and spurs.
- Aesthetic quality. Roosters have a spectacular, noble and luxurious appearance, thanks to which they can become an ornament to any chicken coop. In addition, they beautifully care for the hens, cluck loudly and rejoice when an egg is laid.
- Meat quality. Roosters, unlike chickens, are gaining weight much faster, so they are often grown by poultry farmers to produce tasty, valuable and flavorful meat.
Disadvantages of keeping chickens with a rooster
However, the content of the rooster in the hen house can cause a lot of trouble, which are associated with:
- aggression. Unfortunately, the rooster not only protects his charges from real danger, but is also able to throw at the owner, pecking him. Males are vindictive, and at least once having suffered a resentment, they will wait for a chance to revenge a man, attacking him in the most unexpected places;
- wounded birds. During the pleasures of love, the owner of the hen house can damage not only the plumage of the female, but also injure her skin, after which the wounds become infected, can inflame and bleed. In addition, the attractive appearance of the hen is lost, it becomes stripped and "naked";
Important! It is not allowed to keep a rooster in the hen house, which weighs 2-3 times the average weight of chickens. Such "grooms" can bring serious damage to the layers.
- the instinct of motherhood. If the egg is fertilized, then the layer "wakes up" the instinct to sit it. She constantly sits in the nest, not allowing others to carry out laying. Moreover, even if the bird turns out to be a good hen, a person will have to “mess around” with the chickens: organize food, maintain the necessary temperature regime, etc. If chickens are raised for the purpose of producing eggs, then such maternal worries will bring only extra trouble and waste of time.
Features of fertilized eggs
Many believe that fertilized eggs have a wider range of beneficial components and a more intense flavor. In fact, there is no scientific confirmation of this today. Nevertheless, most experts are inclined to believe that micro and macro elements, hormones, vitamins, which are necessary for the emergence of a new life, can also have a positive impact on the state of human health and help him in the fight against many illnesses.
Chicken eggs and even eggshells are useful products for human health, but before using this product it is worth checking it for freshness.
It is thanks to these properties, eggs are widely used and are still used in traditional medicine.
Did you know? The Slavic peoples had a custom: in the first spring pasture of livestock on pasture, the shepherd took with them chicken eggs, so that the cows would also round up and give a good offspring.As for taste, even a true gourmet will not be able to taste the fertilized eggs from those in the creation of which the rooster did not participate.
How many roosters need on a chicken coop
In order to have a quiet and calm atmosphere in the hen house, and the rooster to fulfill all the functions of protection and maintenance of order set out for him, it is necessary for one family of 10-15 hens to acquire one male. If the chickens will be less, then the rooster may appear favorite, who will get all his caress. With a large number of females, it is better to divide the group into several families and give each one their own chapter. At the same time, the territory between the families must be divided so that the roosters do not collide and see each other. Otherwise, expect a quiet life is not worth it.
Important! No more than two roosters can live in the same family, provided they were raised together.
VIDEO: WHAT TO DO IF A BIRDY DOOR LIVES TWO BREEDING COCKS LIVING ON THE BIRD'S YARD Despite the important role that the rooster plays in the lives of chickens, they are perfectly capable of laying eggs without him. The only thing that cannot be achieved without a male is to get a new offspring. However, even if you do not plan to engage in breeding birds and getting chickens, experienced poultry farmers still advise you to get a rooster who will take care of the hens, take care of them and protect them.
