Silkie or Serama or Both?

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Originally Posted by LV Chicks 

My husband and I have begun our plans for our urban chicken coop here in Las Vegas. Being the nerds we are, we've sought out all knowledge possible on the best way to keep our new family members healthy and happy. We have, however, hit a point of contention.

Our plan began with three or four Seramas and I am still very fond of them but.... Bantam Silkies or Sizzles have scratched their way into my brain and now all I can picture is a fluffy lap chicken. I know Seramas are very much lap chickens too but... fuzzy would be nice.

So, my question may come down to personal preference but, from a more practical point, are Bantam Silkies and Sizzles any more upkeep than Seramas? Is there any actual reason to choose one over the other?

Any help is greatly appreciated....

We will be getting three or four hens. Is it feasible to house one or two of each breed all together?

If you aren't breeding, and you don't have a rooster, there is no reason why you couldn't house silkies and seramas together.  The only reason I would keep them apart is if I was doing a breeding project and needed to keep my lines clean and separate.  Silkies/sizzles are not flighty at all and won't even really try to fly.  Seramas will, so you have to watch that a bit. My sizzle is an absolute lap chicken.  Comes running when she sees me.  My silkie a little less so, but will still want to be around me. 

As far as eggs go, I am not positive, but I think that serama eggs are significantly smaller than average.  Silkie/sizzle eggs are just slightly smaller than average.  Just something to keep in mind if you want eggs.

As far as upkeep, other than having to clean muddy feathered feet on occasion, they aren't really any more upkeep.  And I guess heat.  Silkies are can overheat very easily which you will need to keep in mind in Las Vegas....but Seramas, being small, I would worry about the heat with them too.  I live in CA where it can get 110 on some days and my birds do fine, if I make sure to take some precautions.  Some people use misters, some use fans, frozen bottles of water, pans of cool water, etc.

I have 6 birds right now.  A silkie, a sizzle, an orpington, a plymouth rock, a bantam polish, and a bantam cochin...and they all live happily together.

Do realize that silkied and frizzled seramas are fairly easy to find.

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Originally Posted by LV Chicks 

Brilliant! Thank you so much! Yes, regardless of breed, we have a misting system and plan on keeping a cool water flow system much like we have for the horses. Looking forward to a move to the San Luis Obispo area, myself in a couple of years... Less planning around the heat....

The cleaning aspect is one of my husband's sources of ammo but, with only three or four hens and according to the litter we use, keeping their area clean shouldn't be a big deal and I when needed, I would simply throw the silkie(s) in on bath day schedule for the dogs (separate bathing, of course).

I want a bantam sizzle so so so very much! I worry about shipping in the summer though and was hoping to find some close enough to pick up personally.

So glad to hear all of yours live as one big happy family!
 

I've only ever cleaned my silkies feet before a show and maybe once when she got into a mud puddle....but I had to clean EVERYONE's feet.  It really isn't a big deal. I don't have to clean them regularly, just make sure they don't have clumps of nasty in them.

I know someone in the Sacramento area that I got my smooth sizzle from if you are ever out this way.  Mine is smooth but she does frizzled feathers as well.  Also, as Sonoran pointed out...silkied and frizzled seramas aren't hard to find.  I saw hatching eggs for them on eBay just yesterday.

My Smooth Sizzle:

My serama does wonderfully in the heat.  Since they are lightly feathered, they don't seem to mind the heat at all.  The cold is more of a problem. 

Silkies, however, do not like the heat at all and don't really do well in high heat.  Silkies lack the ability to shed water so they should not be out and about in rain..they turn into mop chickens :)  Mine love to play in the rain and get brought in regularly to dry off under a heat lamp :(

I've found my serama to be much more of lap chickens then my silkies.  Somehow, though, I always end up with silkie roos...my last 8 were all roos :(

Good luck with the babies you decide to get.  I really do love them both :)

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Originally Posted by LV Chicks 

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Do realize that silkied and frizzled seramas are fairly easy to find.

As far as the Seramas, I'm afraid it's all or nothing for him. He wants the clean, neat little "chicken-looking chicken". Your line of compromise is admirable.... Just doesn't tend to fly in in our household.

Just to be sure, you do realize I am talking pure serama looking serama, not cross-breeds?

Sonoran Silkies...I just absolutely love the chicken in your avatar