American serama thread!

[hokankai]

What is this I'm reading about manure balls on toes?! I'm about to hatch my first seramas and I'm trying to figure out what the heck the problem is, haha.

 

[Sumatra503]

What is this I'm reading about manure balls on toes?! I'm about to hatch my first seramas and I'm trying to figure out what the heck the problem is, haha.

If a pen gets really dirty, then poo can collect on the toes of the chicks and usually covers the nails. As long as you keep your pens clean and keep an eye on the chicks you won't have a problem with it.

 

[froggiesheins]

If a pen gets really dirty, then poo can collect on the toes of the chicks and usually covers the nails. As long as you keep your pens clean and keep an eye on the chicks you won't have a problem with it.

X's 2. You have to clean many times a DAY, those fuzzies are just pooping machines..LOL

 

[kukupecpec]

here's my girl! all bathed up and ready to go to school tomorrow!

im keeping her in a cage tonight so she stays clean! i use baby shampoo that smells amazing! people would think im crazy if they saw how much i smell my chickens after a bath! LOL

So pretty!!! I love the way they smell anyways! As long as no one has been roosting above them on pooping on them =P

I totally agree, but wouldn't want to take away the fun for people who want to compete for champion, to each his own i didn't know you could compete as best of variety, but I would assume that if a non acceptable color (currently, non-white) bird would win best of variety, it would take Serama out of the running for grand champ, or class champ, or whatever is next up or tops?! Still it would be cool to be able to at least win best of variety
I think it's ok as long as the soap isn't too harsh
I know! The first time I washed and blow dried my one girl, I couldn't stop laughing as she looked like a frizzle afterwards LOL

Isn't it great?! totally cracked me up! She went right out and "dust bathed" on the couch and de-frizzled. It was hilarious to see though.

kukupecpec, try not to bathe every week, it is very drying on the skin, instead take the time and brush and comb her, She will love the feeling and it will stimulate the skin and help draw out the natural oils. You can use a toothbrush and fine tooth comb for the wax tubes.

That is an awesome idea!!! I've heard of people combing their chickens but wouldn't it make their feathers all ugly and split like when you mess with a pretty feather you find?

Thanks guys! I'm kinda frustrated because she just cant seem to learn to drink from this waterer

do you guys have any ideas? and turns out one little chick (prob a roo) decides to be a hero and nip me every time i put my hand in the brooder!! and hes this tiny little pathetic class a chick who is just small as a button! all i have to do to find him amongst the other chicks is put my hand in the brooder and wait for him to nip me! i cant lie though, he has amazing looking features!

(this is not my picture)

Mine all use these inside now. My problem was that I was using a hamster bottle and they couldn't get their beak in the tiny little hole enough to get any water out. I switched to a rabbit bottle and now they go to town! I don't use a giant double wide bottle though, just a large-ish bottle with the rabbit sized spout.


Got my first indoor coop pictures uploaded. The second floor has a "bin" like the first floor now so they can hang out on the shavings or on the bar. Also blocked the small opening under the doors so I was able to remove the extra panels so it looks a little more clean now. Still need to get my hands on a bar for the first floor though and then I will start adding other fun things for them to play with! It will be nice once the brooder cage is out of the way and the top floor can have more play space. I took pictues before cleaning again after moving everything =P I should make a habit of cleaning BEFORE pictures, but there's usually a "look at my awesome built-thing! Let's take a nap..." rest before the cleaning happens LOL

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

So pretty!!! I love the way they smell anyways! As long as no one has been roosting above them on pooping on them =P Isn't it great?! totally cracked me up! She went right out and "dust bathed" on the couch and de-frizzled. It was hilarious to see though. That is an awesome idea!!! I've heard of people combing their chickens but wouldn't it make their feathers all ugly and split like when you mess with a pretty feather you find? Mine all use these inside now. My problem was that I was using a hamster bottle and they couldn't get their beak in the tiny little hole enough to get any water out. I switched to a rabbit bottle and now they go to town! I don't use a giant double wide bottle though, just a large-ish bottle with the rabbit sized spout. Got my first indoor coop pictures uploaded. The second floor has a "bin" like the first floor now so they can hang out on the shavings or on the bar. Also blocked the small opening under the doors so I was able to remove the extra panels so it looks a little more clean now. Still need to get my hands on a bar for the first floor though and then I will start adding other fun things for them to play with! It will be nice once the brooder cage is out of the way and the top floor can have more play space. I took pictues before cleaning again after moving everything =P I should make a habit of cleaning BEFORE pictures, but there's usually a "look at my awesome built-thing! Let's take a nap..." rest before the cleaning happens LOL

You don't plan to keep them on wire like that forever, do you? It's super hard on their feet and judging from the way their toes are curled they don't like it much either.

 

[froggiesheins]

So pretty!!! I love the way they smell anyways! As long as no one has been roosting above them on pooping on them =P Isn't it great?! totally cracked me up! She went right out and "dust bathed" on the couch and de-frizzled. It was hilarious to see though. That is an awesome idea!!! I've heard of people combing their chickens but wouldn't it make their feathers all ugly and split like when you mess with a pretty feather you find? Mine all use these inside now. My problem was that I was using a hamster bottle and they couldn't get their beak in the tiny little hole enough to get any water out. I switched to a rabbit bottle and now they go to town! I don't use a giant double wide bottle though, just a large-ish bottle with the rabbit sized spout. Got my first indoor coop pictures uploaded. The second floor has a "bin" like the first floor now so they can hang out on the shavings or on the bar. Also blocked the small opening under the doors so I was able to remove the extra panels so it looks a little more clean now. Still need to get my hands on a bar for the first floor though and then I will start adding other fun things for them to play with! It will be nice once the brooder cage is out of the way and the top floor can have more play space. I took pictues before cleaning again after moving everything =P I should make a habit of cleaning BEFORE pictures, but there's usually a "look at my awesome built-thing! Let's take a nap..." rest before the cleaning happens LOL

The set-up is very cute! LOVE the two wee ones sticking their heads out of the tray.. LOL The spacing on the wire shelves is way too wide for little serama feet. get some 1/2" hardware cloth or some non slip shelf liner for the floor...LOL P.S. combing & brushing the feathers is just fine, I have done it many times for my handicapped birds.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I wish I had seen those toes sooner. I'll have to keep an eye on them to make sure things don't get worse. Ugh, I guess I'll have to put the crippled one down. But that's life.

That really looks great, kukupecpec!

 

[Sumatra503]

I wish I had seen those toes sooner. I'll have to keep an eye on them to make sure things don't get worse. Ugh, I guess I'll have to put the crippled one down. But that's life.

That really looks great, kukupecpec!

They are only curling to grip the wire for balance. Smaller wire is better for their feet, but they shouldn't curl permanently from it.

As for the little cripple...If she is walking around fine and is showing interest in feed she will most likely be fine to keep on living. It is when they give up and just lay there chirping on the floor of the pen that they are suffering or have given up. If she is peppy and perky, then she will do fine. I have had several rescues with slipped tendons that have lived long and happy lives. It is common for the slipped tendons and crossed beaks and all of those sort of things to make them grow a bit slower and that'd be why she is smaller.

 

[onafixedincome]

I think once you relax, they'll do a lot better--I'd rather use mealworms for training than try to sedate my birds.

 

[onafixedincome]

Ugh, I just checked each of my chicks out and found two with hard balls of poop attached to their toes! They have a new clean coop, but these balls of poop, ugh! When I got them off, it seems that the tips of the toes may be dead? Blackened and smaller (like this happened so long ago, that part couldn't grow) I'm horrified! I wonder if it will fall off, or cause gang green and spread! I'm so worried. Has this ever happened to anyone else?

Poo balls aren't uncommon in my LF coop, darnit--they seem to enjoy walking in everyone else's fresh mushy poops, then in the dirt, and hey presto. Gotta keep up on them, since they are obviously uncomfortable. I use nail trimmers or small wirecutters with EXTREME care to gently chip the material away from the nail and toe, then they generally peel right off. The chickens are thrilled when this happens.

This year, I'm going to be putting large rugged rocks and small ragged stumps in the coops to see if that helps as much as I think it should; combined with lower flock density in each area and more consistent cleaning, I should see a marked reduction in occurrence. I think they need a way to sit up off the floor and groom, more than anything else but cleaning....and Froggie, vaseline--what a great idea for chicks!!