American serama thread!

[artsyrobin]

isn't that hard on the hens? extended brooding?

 

[Gardeningmama]

Last week I would have called their fighting sparring. This week my chocolate Roo grabs anyone by the back of the neck as they circle around screaming. I wanted to keep him, he's very good looking, but really having second thoughts.

 

[WildWorks]

You probably just need to go ahead and mail him to me...I will give him some hens to keep him busy!

 

[cluck-cluck]

My guys spar all the time. They don't hurt each other, just some chest butting and a few pushes and shoves. Even my girls get into it some. I have seen my box of 8 chicks all do it at the same time and they look like a sports team doing hi-fives.   They work out a pecking order that way and somehow...my little cochin mix pullet comes out on top. She is the Ruler of da Brooder.    These are about 4 weeks old. 

Uno and Scarlet are off to themselves. They hatched in November. They used to spar constantly, but have settled down into a nice pair. Uno has yet to crow, but he is very protective of her. I hope my new six-pack of chicks I got on New Yrs Eve will give me a nice harem for him. 



Does anyone use a hen for chicks? I have started a single hen inside on eggs and so far she has done great. She has some of her own and a couple from my fave hen outside for a total of 7 eggs. I candled today and at least 4 are perking. 2 are only about 4 days in, so I will check them later. This is my first try with Seramas under a hen. I just wondered if anyone knew of anything special I should watch for or see with them. Thanks!

I feel like a grandma, everyone's chicks are growing up so fast, then I look at mine and am simply blown away how fast it goes! Uno already protecting his Scarlet!

I have had 25 serama chicks hatch since 11-29-12, all of which were incubated by serama hens.  Number 25 hatched last night.  They are from 3 different nests.  Two nests each had one hen setting in it and the third nest had 3 hens setting in it together. This was their choice not mine.  Serama hens are really bad about wanting to steal or move into each others nests.  I have taken the chicks away as soon as they hatch.  It's really hard to get the hens to stop setting once all the eggs have hatched-that's been my only problem.  Because I take the chicks out as soon as they hatch and add eggs from other hens as they are laid, I have had chicks hatching from these nests for weeks.  The hens do all the work--I don't have to worry about turning, temp, or humidity.  And I have had a very good hatch rate.  The hens have been setting in the basement and now the chicks are in my living room.  I haven't figured out yet what to do with all them as they get older--I wasn't expecting so many to hatch.  I really hope we have an early spring this year!!!   

Wow, I guess I won't need a silkie like I was thinking!

I, too, take the chicks away as soon as they hatch.

Why is that? Do you think they will hurt the chicks?

isn't that hard on the hens? extended brooding? 

I was wondering that as well?

Last week I would have called their fighting sparring. This week my chocolate Roo grabs anyone by the back of the neck as they circle around screaming. I wanted to keep him, he's very good looking, but really having second thoughts.

I've been reading about it. It seems cockerels are pretty clumsy at first. Check and see if you see any damage on the hens. Mine don't show a scratch and I'm wondering if the pullets are crying more in annoyance than in pain?

 

[Aschenfire]

Ok... just popping on quickly to post a pic of my new little pullet. Here is Kahlua!

 

[WildWorks]

Certain

Last week I would have called their fighting sparring. This week my chocolate Roo grabs anyone by the back of the neck as they circle around screaming. I wanted to keep him, he's very good looking, but really having second thoughts.

You probably just need to go ahead and mail him to me...I will give him some hens to keep him busy!

 

[alexandraintn]

Ok... just popping on quickly to post a pic of my new little pullet. Here is Kahlua!

She is so cute and I love her cute orange anklet.

Perfect name for her colorin. What color is she? I think my youngest 'Cocoa' is gonna be a pullet about the same color as Kahlua

 

[alexandraintn]

I have had 25 serama chicks hatch since 11-29-12, all of which were incubated by serama hens. Number 25 hatched last night. They are from 3 different nests. Two nests each had one hen setting in it and the third nest had 3 hens setting in it together. This was their choice not mine. Serama hens are really bad about wanting to steal or move into each others nests. I have taken the chicks away as soon as they hatch. It's really hard to get the hens to stop setting once all the eggs have hatched-that's been my only problem. Because I take the chicks out as soon as they hatch and add eggs from other hens as they are laid, I have had chicks hatching from these nests for weeks. The hens do all the work--I don't have to worry about turning, temp, or humidity. And I have had a very good hatch rate. The hens have been setting in the basement and now the chicks are in my living room. I haven't figured out yet what to do with all them as they get older--I wasn't expecting so many to hatch. I really hope we have an early spring this year!!!

Wow congrats! I am glad your girls did so well for you. You have to post some pics. I want some of them to come and play with my babies. I only have 3 and have my hands full. I cant imagine that many. Whew more power to you girl!

 

[Lorilyn Farms]

Cluck- the few times I have left the chicks with mama, she was picked on unmercifully by the others protecting her chicks. I don't have separate quarters and everyone free ranges during the day. I do have a large pen built around an apple tree and has grape vines growing over the top. When the top is completely enclosed by the fencing I'm putting up,(for raptors) and the weather is better, the babies will go in there with a mama or two.
In fact, I have usually found that the hens that don't like much attention from the males go broody, and the hens that get constantly bred just pop out eggs and leave the nest as soon as possible. Going broody seems to be the way a hen takes a "vacation".

 

[Fuzzybird]

My 4 little ones at 5 weeks old finally learned how to drink from their hamster bottle!