Why Roosters?

I am curious as to why so many people keep a rooster and sometimes several roosters with their hens that they are using for egg production? I have seen this mentioned in post here on this fourm and also in many letters and articles in Countryside. It has been my expirence that having a rooster around your egg laying hens can actualy lower egg production. If ones intention is to produce some fertile eggs for replacing ageing hens wouldn't it be better to place 3 or 4 of your finer hens with a young rooster (12 - 16 months old) in a seperate pen during the peak breeding times to produce your fertile eggs? Once the hot weather arrives you can put the rooster in your stewing pot and put the hens back in reguler egg production. Maybe I have missed something along the way and their may be a reason for that folks do this. I would love to hear people's ideas about my thoughts. I am always willing to learn and try new ideas. THANKS!

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