Question:

Do you need a Rooster for your hens to lay eggs?

Answer:

No you do not need a Rooster for your hens to lay eggs.  Hens will lay eggs without a rooster but if you want your eggs to be fertilised so that they can produce chicks then you will need a rooster. 

If you are planning on having a small backyard flock then it is best not to have a rooster as they can be noisy (crowing at daybreak) and some of them can get quite aggressive. For those of you that want to breed chicks from your hens then a rooster is necessary.