how to help cockerel at the bottom of the pecking order

[BeckyEggy]

Hi

I have 3 hens, one serema, one silkie and one pekin. The serema hatched this year along with a cockerel serema. The other two hens are both a year old. The two serema's were introduced to the other two slowly over the space of a month. Both older chickens were not happy to have new flockmates. However the female serema has integrated fairly well, and while she did get the odd peck she wasn't terrorized. The cockerel however has had such a hard time, they would really go for him. He would try to get away from them by hiding his face in a small hole, and would get himself trapped under things. I have no removed all the things he can get himself stuck in getting away but he doesn't use the things I've put in the coop to hide behind. He's not the brightest bulb. When they're not free ranging he often goes up to the roost to stay away from them. The female serema will often join him. The pekin has backed off him now but will join in once she see's the silkie going for him, and she does every chance she gets. She'll try and be sly, by slowing walking up to him making it look like she's searching for food and then runs at him. She only has to look in his direction now and he runs away. He is getting enough food and water, but never gets any treats as he won't go near the hens.

He's 4 months old, he started crowing around 2 months old. Other than crowing he doesn't display cockerel behaviour. I'm hoping when his hormones get strong he will be able to challenge the mean hen a bit more. He is also the smallest of them all which I think might be why he's getting picked on. He weighs about 300g, which I believe puts him in the class A serema category though I might be wrong. They've been living together now for about 7 weeks.

Has anyone else had this happen with a cockerel that has been introduced to the flock.? Will he get more confident and dominant when his hormones increase? Anything more I can do to help him? Unfortunately I don't have the space to separate them and have two coops and runs.

 

[azygous]

What's happening in your little flock is quite normal behavior, especially when the older crew is still very young and inexperienced.

While it's a bit unusual that a cockerel is being so mercilessly bullied, it does happen. Yes, when he experiences his hormones coming in, which may not happen for another month or two, they could give him a boost of self confidence. However, there is a danger of learned victimhood causing him to remain in this pathetic role long after he feels his hormones, and it could prevent him from assuming his proper role in the flock.

I've done a lot of observation of chicken behavior and I've learned that it's a good idea to short circuit the bullying cycle or else a bullying victim will come to believe that being a victim is all they deserve as their role in the flock. The biggest, very real danger of this is he will allow himself to be bullied away from the feeder and will waste away and die of starvation.

So I suggest you read my article on this subject and consider rehabilitating your cockerel before he becomes a permanent victim. https://www.backyardchickens.com/articles/chicken-bully-chicken-victim-a-two-sided-issue.73923/