American serama thread!

[kukupecpec]

1700+ pages and my answer is likely hidden somewhere inside, so sorry for the potential redundancy but...

How terrible are American Seramas in cold weather? I live in Virginia and winter temperatures can occasionally dip down into single digits. Is an indoor enclosure necessary? Insulated coop? Heat lamp in a outdoor coop?

I live in Arizona and my outdoor guys get a cookie tin heater =)
But most people say if you have a nice little flock and it doesn't get drafty in their coop, they snuggle up together and are just fine! I'm a big baby though and probably over baby my birds lol




I got my indoor coop (almost) done!
It's all put together, I just need to make another shavings bin for the top seramas. Pictures in the morning if I don't kill the boys for their crowing =P

 

[froggiesheins]

i hear ya. i personally had a better experience with charlie than any other breeder. the best part that i didn't mention is that charlie has a youtube channel that has all the how too's, and too do's that you would ever need for seramas. plus the 100% percent fertility cant be beat! all 8 chicks i got are different so also good diversity! i got silkieds, green Leger's, black Leger's. and pink Leger's! i think charlie is the way to go! especially because my b class serama has the weight of a c class. his birds are really healthy! and so are all the chick i get from him!

Curious, why would you care if your birds are B class or C class if you just want pets?? Also If a serama has pink legs, they are a mix, not pure serama.....

 

[theron]

1700+ pages and my answer is likely hidden somewhere inside, so sorry for the potential redundancy but...

How terrible are American Seramas in cold weather? I live in Virginia and winter temperatures can occasionally dip down into single digits. Is an indoor enclosure necessary? Insulated coop? Heat lamp in a outdoor coop?

I live in Michigan and let me tell you that even though they can't take the super harsh weather, they are pretty hardy. Best recommendation I can give you is a large insulated coop with a covered run. I would even have a flat panel heater in the coop that they can cuddle up to. As long as you aren't raising the frizzled or silkied seramas, I think you will do just fine. Don't forget to feed them TONS of scratch. That will help keep their body warmer. Also, if it is going to be a super cold night, try feeding them scratch right before they go to bed. That has seemed to help with mine.

 

[froggiesheins]

I live in Michigan and let me tell you that even though they can't take the super harsh weather, they are pretty hardy. Best recommendation I can give you is a large insulated coop with a covered run. I would even have a flat panel heater in the coop that they can cuddle up to. As long as you aren't raising the frizzled or silkied seramas, I think you will do just fine. Don't forget to feed them TONS of scratch. That will help keep their body warmer. Also, if it is going to be a super cold night, try feeding them scratch right before they go to bed. That has seemed to help with mine.

EGGSCELLENT info!

 

[artsyrobin]

Quote: make sure the scratch has the corn chopped, zoomummy lost a roo to impacted crop from a whole kernal getting lodged in his crop



show and tell

mystery girl








and Gizmo

 

[bowen012]

Thanks for the replies! Considering their size, I suppose a temporary indoor enclosure isn't that big of a deal. I just want to be informed as much as possible.

On acquiring birds. Many of the links I've followed from association websites are either dead, or link to 'breeders' who have evidently given up their Seramas for one reason or another. Any suggestions or direction here on finding a breeder? For the most part to be used as pets, but wouldn't be terribly upset at 'quality' birds either. A more accurate classification I guess is pet, with the possibility of having my 5 year old hatch some out in the future for a 4h project or such.

Thanks again...

 

[froggiesheins]

I am going to toss out some little kown info about the "american serama" that most of you do not know.
When Jerry S. imported the 135 [approx] original seramas from Maylasia back about 12-13 years ago they were actually AYAM KAPAN not AYAM SERAMA. The Maylasian [person who Jerry was dealing with] did not want to sell the "good stuff" to go out of the country. The importation of "seramas" is closed [because of the avain flu a few years back] so what we have here in the US is the WHOLE ball of wax. It pains me when I see people mixing other bloodlines with the serama to sell! If you do this for your own enjoyment that is one thing, but when they go to sell these mixes it dilutes the gene pool AND takes away from what the serama is all about. PERSONALITY PLUS AND THAT CUTE SOLDIER LIKE POSE.

A pure serama will never have pink legs. That more than likely means there is OEGB in them. This is just my 2cents worth.

 

[theron]

Thanks for the replies! Considering their size, I suppose a temporary indoor enclosure isn't that big of a deal. I just want to be informed as much as possible.

On acquiring birds. Many of the links I've followed from association websites are either dead, or link to 'breeders' who have evidently given up their Seramas for one reason or another. Any suggestions or direction here on finding a breeder? For the most part to be used as pets, but wouldn't be terribly upset at 'quality' birds either. A more accurate classification I guess is pet, with the possibility of having my 5 year old hatch some out in the future for a 4h project or such.

Thanks again...

What state are you located in bowen012? Nevermind. You are located in Virginia. I can find someone in your area. Give me a couple minutes.

 

[theron]

bowen012, there is always pixiechick from SC that usually has some decent birds. pixiechickens.com

 

[kukupecpec]

What color legs are serama (or American serama, since that's basically what we all have =) ) supposed to have??
I guess I never paid attention to the color of their legs! I'll have to check everyone out tomorrow! What fun for them! LOL

Speaking of serama crosses - does anyone remember a little bit back, someone hatched a "Serama" chick that was rumpless and bearded and looked like a tiny little araucana(sp?)??? I would love to know what became of that little chick! It would be fun to see if she comes out more serama or araucana! And what color eggs she lays!