Working at dark, is the least disruptive. I would pull them off the roost, grab by the feet, turn upside down, and use a broom stick. Put the bird in a 5 gallon bucket. It helps contain the flapping. It is the flapping that upsets people, but really if the bird is flapping, then you have done it...
I agree with debid. I would fence off a corner, put the baby chicks there, with feed and water. Leave them there for the morning. Let things calm down. Then, I would just lift the fencing off the ground a few inches. So the chicks can get out, and get in, but the bigger girls cannot. The chicks...
First I think you have some unrealistic expectation on the age of chickens should live. Every living thing, gets a life. No living thing knows the length of the life. That is beyond our control. Now, if you were killing birds with neglect - no feed, no water, no space...that would be different...
As for being guilty, do know that you are going to enjoy having chickens again. It really is not a human fault, it is just a fault in their genetic wiring. Most of us keep the first one too long, and then later realize we don't deserve to be attacked. Or constantly vigilant and worried.
Set up the feed, before you open the coop. Or have someone else do it. However, she might not ‘fit’ with the flock. Sometimes you have a bird that doesn’t. If so, sell her- gives you a bit of room for chicks this year.
Mrs K
What was space for past behavior, is not the space of now. IMO - The coop is big enough for 2 chickens possibly 3.
As for the run, which is big enough, take a look at how it is set up. All your chickens can see all of your chickens 100% of the time. I would add some pallets. Some leaned against...
What was more than enough space when they were chicks, might not be enough space now that they are full grown. Being raised together has almost no influence on their behavior.
It might be best to sell a bird, but post a picture of your set up, and we can give better advice. Almost always, when...
Multiple roosters work together...until they don't. Generally you need to make changes - which you did. I would not expect it ever to go back. That is how roosters are.
I am rather amazed that you got it to work as long as it did.
Mrs K
Wait, wait until the pullets are laying, and the other cockerels are gone. Roosters tend to be easy to come by. So while these are pretty, there are a lot of pretty roosters.
If these are gone by the time they are laying, contact your local 4-H clubs, your county extension office, looking for...
Being raised together has almost no influence on adult birds. 2 months apart- they will be strangers. A lot depends on your set up, post some pictures.
A lot depends on your space. I too am not in favor of adding a single smaller bird to an established flock. It can be done, but it is hard and a lot of fiddling. I have done it. If you want directions, I can give them.
And I too would have them into the flock at this age.
If you have a large...
What part of the world are you in? In the dark days and long nights of winter, the hormones are typically lower. In a month, the 'sap will start to rise'. If he is not showing much better characteristics and traits by then, I would cull then and try again.
Mrs K
In SD, it is not uncommon to go from -10 to 60 degrees, and vice versa. I think we hold the record for the greatest temperature drop, 58 degrees in 27 minutes.
My point is it does not phase chickens. Dogs and other mammals adjust their winter coats according to the weather, as it gets colder...
Look at their legs and their beaks. Older birds, tend to look old there. The beak is thicker, and so are the legs. Separate two or three at a time. And then see what they lay.
The older girls will be laying less often, if at all this time of year, but larger eggs. The younger girls will come...
I do hope that you are very careful, and other people should probably never be around this bird, if he is not contained.
Personally, what I have found, is that they will bide their time, they are opportunist. In my experience, he will wait until your arms are full, you have bent down, or you...