I'm so sorry this has been such a challenge. Particularly because your kiddo is involved, that makes it extra discouraging. Chickens should be a joy primarily, with blips of things we need to deal with, not the other way around.
I love supporting local small breeders, but both times I've tried it it's not gone well. One of the times all five of my new birds died suspiciously at just 4 weeks old (thankfully they were quarantined), the other time all four "pullets" I paid a premium for were cockerels. Early deaths and inaccurate sexing happens with all chicks sometimes, but I can count on one hand the number of chicks I've lost *ever* when buying from a big hatchery, and while I've gotten hatchery rooster "pullets", never at that ratio. Chicken vent sexing is as much an art as a science, and if done incorrectly it can harm the chick so many people (including me!) don't do it. I get frustrated with small breeders that make sexing claims on non-sex link chicks (birds that hatch with males and females different colors) without knowing how to vent sex. I've gone back to buying my peeps from big hatcheries or feed stores on delivery day.
Is there somewhere locally you can get more pullets? Even if you rehome all but one rooster, the remaining rooster needs more than one hen or he will likely harm her through "overuse". If you cannot get more hens soon, short term you may need a saddle for your hen once your rooster hits sexual maturity.
I love supporting local small breeders, but both times I've tried it it's not gone well. One of the times all five of my new birds died suspiciously at just 4 weeks old (thankfully they were quarantined), the other time all four "pullets" I paid a premium for were cockerels. Early deaths and inaccurate sexing happens with all chicks sometimes, but I can count on one hand the number of chicks I've lost *ever* when buying from a big hatchery, and while I've gotten hatchery rooster "pullets", never at that ratio. Chicken vent sexing is as much an art as a science, and if done incorrectly it can harm the chick so many people (including me!) don't do it. I get frustrated with small breeders that make sexing claims on non-sex link chicks (birds that hatch with males and females different colors) without knowing how to vent sex. I've gone back to buying my peeps from big hatcheries or feed stores on delivery day.
Is there somewhere locally you can get more pullets? Even if you rehome all but one rooster, the remaining rooster needs more than one hen or he will likely harm her through "overuse". If you cannot get more hens soon, short term you may need a saddle for your hen once your rooster hits sexual maturity.
