American serama thread!

[cluck-cluck]

Hey guys, when you put your eggs on lock down do you put them on anything so when others are hatching and hoping around they will not roll the other eggs? I don't go on lock down for 9 days, but I don't want to just lay them flat on the bottom of the incubator. Any advice of something to put them in that will allow them to wiggle around and hatch, but not get knocked around in the incubator by hatch mates. 

I just put down some paper towels and lay them down on that. It makes clean up easy.

Hey all! Another question here -- I'm retrofitting the barn to make cages for incoming seramas (yay!!!) I'm planning on four to a cage, one male, three females. How large would the cages need to be to comfortably accomodate four seramas?

I plan on 2 square feet per bird in the coop and 5 per bird outside (half of what the bigger birds get). If they'll always be in the cage, well, I'm sure you can get away with less? They're so small, I bet they would be ok with half that, 2X7 or 3X5?

 

[Lunar]

So you just lay them on their sides in styrofoam egg cartons and they are able to wiggle out and hatch ok?

sent you a PM

 

[cluck-cluck]

Oh gosh, Here is the best pictures I took (out of 40?) of my babies, LOL. Little wiggle curious buggers wouldn't look at the same time, and wouldn't stand up! But here is the family portrait as it is

Oh, and they have names! From left to right we have Harriet, Sirius Black, Hermione and Luna (last two based on personality rather than color, LOL)

 

[Mr MKK FARMS]

Aww they are so cute!!

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Okay I was checking my hens this morning for more eggs...my gray serama hen was huddled up on the ground all puff up and kinda panting and seemed to be pushing...could she be egg bound? If so...what do i do? She is also sneezing often...she may be sick....any advise would be appreciated.

Did u post in emergency section??

Here is my own egg bound notes....

http://fresh-eggs-daily.blogspot.com/2012/06/egg-bound-hens-how-to-recognize-treat.html

http://www.chickenvet.co.uk/health-and-common-diseases/egg-laying-issues/index.aspx


http://www.keepingchickensnewsletter.com/site/egg-bound-chicken-symptoms-and-treatment

http://www.grit.com/the-chicken-chick/chicken-egg-binding-causes-symptoms-treatment-prevention.aspx

http://thechickenkeeper.wordpress.com/2010/05/04/egg-bound-chicken-treatment/

a few threads https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/278870/hen-w-ruffled-feathers-lethargic-advice

sorry I cant offer any more : (

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Oh gosh, Here is the best pictures I took (out of 40?) of my babies, LOL. Little wiggle curious buggers wouldn't look at the same time, and wouldn't stand up! But here is the family portrait as it is

Oh, and they have names! From left to right we have Harriet, Sirius Black, Hermione and Luna (last two based on personality rather than color, LOL)

OMG I so hope Harmonys hatch look how cute? how old are they? so tiny!

 

[cluckitall]

I just put down some paper towels and lay them down on that. It makes clean up easy.
I plan on 2 square feet per bird in the coop and 5 per bird outside (half of what the bigger birds get). If they'll always be in the cage, well, I'm sure you can get away with less? They're so small, I bet they would be ok with half that, 2X7 or 3X5?

Thanks, cluck-cluck! And hi!

 

[gabrielle1976]

Thank you everyone for you responses I have one more qustion , I have them in a converted cardboard box its one of the super heavey duty wardrobe boxes you can get when moveing and can actually hang colthes in and stuff, I have it laying on its side with wire mesh window in front thats about 2 1/2 feet long and 1 1/2 tall? . They have been in this since they were out of the brooder that needed heat , these guys are house chickens they stay indoors and come and and play often,Im in the process of getting diapers for everyone so they can stay out more . My question is I want to replace there cage and I saw some really big dog kennels at the local Coastal , could I use one of those for there cage since they are mosty only gonna be n it whenIm gone or at night to sleep ect?? I dont know the deminsions but I could crawl in there and turn arund an stuff no problem and Im 5'9" and a big girl.
Also wanted to let you all know I have 6 serama eggs on day 19 that are starting to pip (2 so far) and I have a web cast going.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kilis-hatching-channel

 

[Sally Sunshine]

Thank you everyone for you responses I have one more qustion , I have them in a converted cardboard box its one of the super heavey duty wardrobe boxes you can get when moveing and can actually hang colthes in and stuff, I have it laying on its side with wire mesh window in front thats about 2 1/2 feet long and 1 1/2 tall? . They have been in this since they were out of the brooder that needed heat , these guys are house chickens they stay indoors and come and and play often,Im in the process of getting diapers for everyone so they can stay out more . My question is I want to replace there cage and I saw some really big dog kennels at the local Coastal , could I use one of those for there cage since they are mosty only gonna be n it whenIm gone or at night to sleep ect?? I dont know the deminsions but I could crawl in there and turn arund an stuff no problem and Im 5'9" and a big girl.
Also wanted to let you all know I have 6 serama eggs on day 19 that are starting to pip (2 so far) and I have a web cast going.
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/kilis-hatching-channel

I am trying to follow it, but for some reason doing so with FB it just keeps spinning loading, must be my wireless net : (

 

[kukupecpec]

Originally Posted by Lunar


Could someone please re-post the link to the cookie tin heaters? pretty plz. I thought I had it marked, but I can't seem to find it now.

Thank you.



The tin heater is this
http://www.homedepot.com/h_d1/N-5yc1v/R-203247092/h_d2/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10053&langId=-1&keyword=light+chord&storeId=10051#.UIyN3VHsZTY

with a small watt bulb - I use 15 ad 25 watt bulbs

and a cookie tin with a hole drilled in the side =)

here are the threads I used - i like the small cendelabra base rather than full size because i can get smaller (less deep) cookie tins and I use less watts for the same heat.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/107951/cookie-tin-water-heater
https://www.backyardchickens.com/t/117287/hats-off-to-inventor-of-cookie-tin-heater-thanks


I got my cookie tins at Big Lots for $3 ea. They are even rectangular so they fit really nicely up against the wall in the corner. We've put ours on a timer now too so that just makes life even better! I am even using them around my three drawer meal worm set up in the under=area of my serama coop to keep my mealies thriving over winter! These are great for so many things! And pretty darn cheap.