Rooster Dilemma - one very unhappy bird.

[GreenHaven]

I am new to this. I have 14 7 week old roosters (Buckeyes, Marans, and Easter Eggers) that I moved from the brooder to their new enclosure a few days ago. It went reasonably well with the exception of one very distressed bird (a Buckeye) who was calling out with a very loud chirp for a long time. This bird nearly froze with fright when placed in the pen, whereas all the others seemed fine. After a few hours, I brought this bird back to the brooder, and the panicked chirps stopped. Lots of low contented sounds. At first I thought the bird might be sick, but it is eating and drinking and pooping normally. It is a little quiet, but then it's all alone. It has been 2 days now. I am wondering if this might be a hen, and that this was the source of the distress?
I'm including a pic of the bird in question.

I was going to try to return the bird to the pen tomorrow to see how it goes - but if it is a hen that might be a very bad idea. But it can't be good for the bird to be all alone either, I'd think. There is not sure fire way to determine male or female at this age, as far as I've read. Suggestions?

 

[nuthatched]

Chickens do not like change, any new environmental will be scary. And yes, there are sure ways to see the sex, please take a picture of the bird front on

 

[Prince and Pavo]

Hello! I just saw you in your introduction thread!

At only seven weeks old, your chick’s comb seems too dark and red to be a female. I’d say it does look like a cockerel.

I think you said in your introduction that these are your first chicks and you don’t have any older ones, correct? It seems strange that he would act distressed without anything to be upset about. I would just let him out there but stay with him for a little while to see how he does. Let him explore and investigate things by himself (unless he’s going to get hurt, of course), but stay near him so he has the option of coming to you whenever he wants. Slowly and gradually he should become more independent and you can back off a little, and eventually leave him out there with the others.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

Do they have a coop in their new pen? Or any enclosure that might resemble the safety and familiarity of the brooder? It might work if he/she has a place to go that feels 'safe' instead of an open pen.

Even if it is a pullet, I doubt that its gender is the cause of the distress. Probably just fear of the unfamiliar. Chickens have personalities and unique quirks, too.

If you want help to ID it as a cockerel or rooster, we need more photos. Specifically, we need to see one or more photos of the whole bird from the side, and clearly see the legs, tail, back feathers, comb and wattles.

Edited to add:
About two weeks ago, I moved a group of 26 chicks, 8 weeks old, from a small 'nursery' coop into a much bigger pen and proper coop with roosts. I left them locked inside the coop for two nights and a day to get used to it. Then opened the door to their pen. They slowly ventured out, but often ran back inside to 'safety' and their roosts. After a few days, they freely ventured in and out - but still raced back inside whenever they heard a new noise, or felt any sort of threat. I've spent quite some time in the pen with them, and they are far more comfortable now than the first few days.

 

[GreenHaven]

Chickens do not like change, any new environmental will be scary. And yes, there are sure ways to see the sex, please take a picture of the bird front on

Here are some more photos.

 

[GreenHaven]

Do they have a coop in their new pen? Or any enclosure that might resemble the safety and familiarity of the brooder? It might work if he/she has a place to go that feels 'safe' instead of an open pen.

Even if it is a pullet, I doubt that its gender is the cause of the distress. Probably just fear of the unfamiliar. Chickens have personalities and unique quirks, too.

If you want help to ID it as a cockerel or rooster, we need more photos. Specifically, we need to see one or more photos of the whole bird from the side, and clearly see the legs, tail, back feathers, comb and wattles.

They have a roosting tractor - partially open in front and enclosed on three sides. Its 8 x 6, and has roosting poles. It has a bedding box in it to help with the transition and all of their familiar feeders.

 

[GreenHaven]

Do they have a coop in their new pen? Or any enclosure that might resemble the safety and familiarity of the brooder? It might work if he/she has a place to go that feels 'safe' instead of an open pen.

Even if it is a pullet, I doubt that its gender is the cause of the distress. Probably just fear of the unfamiliar. Chickens have personalities and unique quirks, too.

If you want help to ID it as a cockerel or rooster, we need more photos. Specifically, we need to see one or more photos of the whole bird from the side, and clearly see the legs, tail, back feathers, comb and wattles.

I put a few more in the thread from the front. Here are some more.

 

[GreenHaven]

Hello! I just saw you in your introduction thread!

At only seven weeks old, your chick’s comb seems too dark and red to be a female. I’d say it does look like a cockerel.

I think you said in your introduction that these are your first chicks and you don’t have any older ones, correct? It seems strange that he would act distressed without anything to be upset about. I would just let him out there but stay with him for a little while to see how he does. Let him explore and investigate things by himself (unless he’s going to get hurt, or course), but stay near him so he has the option of coming to you whenever he wants. Slowly and gradually he should become more independent and you can back off a little, and eventually leave him out there with the others.

Thank you!

 

[GreenHaven]

Hello! I just saw you in your introduction thread!

At only seven weeks old, your chick’s comb seems too dark and red to be a female. I’d say it does look like a cockerel.

I think you said in your introduction that these are your first chicks and you don’t have any older ones, correct? It seems strange that he would act distressed without anything to be upset about. I would just let him out there but stay with him for a little while to see how he does. Let him explore and investigate things by himself (unless he’s going to get hurt, or course), but stay near him so he has the option of coming to you whenever he wants. Slowly and gradually he should become more independent and you can back off a little, and eventually leave him out there with the others.

Thank you! Can do.

 

[BarnyardChaos]

I can't be sure, but I think it's a cockerel from the shape of the tail feathers and color of the comb. A few more weeks and it will be easier to see the rooster features.