Title: Too many questions!

[LoveHuevos]

My friend has an ameraucana or EE rooster that is about 3 months old. She bought them from a local guy before they were sexed and she can't keep him and wants to know if I can take him. I have about a dozen RR's that are about 2-3 years old. I was looking to get more chicks at the end of summer because I've lost 2-3 of them to the heat and I might lose more. I wanted to get some that laid blue/green eggs.
So here are my questions:
If I take her rooster and he mates with my hens, what color eggs will their chicks have? What age does he have to be to mate?
How soon will I have little chicks? Then I'd have to wait 4-6 months until those pullets start laying, correct? What would those pullets be called??
Do I have to introduce him slowly to my chickens like I would with other hens/pullets?
I'm wondering if it'll be easier if I just buy EE chicks at the end of summer? But then I'd have to take care of them myself, which is how I got all my RR's... Hmmm...

BTW, they're all free roaming around our yard if that makes any difference.

I feel like a little kid asking my parents about the birds and the bees.

Thanks!

 

[Terri O]

You wont have trouble introducing him like if he was a hen but there will be squabbling. You also should quarantine him to protect your flock should he be sick.
He can breed now but will take a bit of practice before he becomes proficient. Then you need a broody hen to hatch the eggs if you dont want to incubate them. RIR might go broody...I havent had much experience with them. THe pullets (down the line) would lay a greenish egg if he is an Ameraucauna. If he is an EE then they could be still brown...depending on what egg color genes he carries.
HTH--TerriO

 

[LoveHuevos]

Is three months old enough for him to be with my RIR's?
I have a broody hen right now.
There's no way to know for sure if he's an Ameraucauna or an EE?

 

[ChickenMack]

Here are my answers to your questions. I hope it helps.

If I take her rooster and he mates with my hens, what color eggs will their chicks have? Mud colored most likely- think mixing brown with green.

What age does he have to be to mate? 20 weeks

How soon will I have little chicks? If he fertilizes eggs and you have a hen that will set or you incubate, 21 days and then 20--22 weeks for them to reach sexual maturity.

Then I'd have to wait 4-6 months until those pullets start laying, correct? Yes.

What would those pullets be called?? A mixed breed

Do I have to introduce him slowly to my chickens like I would with other hens/pullets? No. They will set him straight soon enough whether introduced slowly or right away.


I'm wondering if it'll be easier if I just buy EE chicks at the end of summer? Yes

BTW, they're all free roaming around our yard if that makes any difference. Only if you have other roosters roaming around.

 

[LoveHuevos]

Thanks for all the info! Looks like I'll be passing on the rooster and to make sure I get green/blue eggs, I'll be getting little chickies soon.