No, you do not need a rooster in order for your chickens to lay eggs. A happy, healthy hen will begin laying eggs at about six months old and continue laying until all of the eggs that they are born with have been laid. Your hens may actually prefer not to be constantly “bothered” by a rooster. Most breeds slow down egg laying in winter unless you simulate longer days with an artificial light on a timer, however, they may outlive their egg laying ability in the long run, resulting in a mouth to feed with no eggs in return.