American serama thread!

[Ra_]

I tried to take a portrait of Dorothy and she's gotten her chest all dirty.
Tribbles are usually self-cleaning.
I've got them packed in a pretty small day cage.
Worf stays with them most of the time too.
He terrorizes my larger pullets that are his future mates
but he's like a hen with these 8 week old birds.




2 of Dot's Sisters who are also pretty small.
Ha, I just realized how fitting Dorothy's nickname is.

 

[shahtir101]

I tried to take a portrait of Dorothy and she's gotten her chest all dirty. Tribbles are usually self-cleaning. I've got them packed in a pretty small day cage. Worf stays with them most of the time too. He terrorizes my larger pullets that are his future mates but he's like a hen with these 8 week old birds. 2 of Dot's Sisters who are also pretty small. Ha, I just realized how fitting Dorothy's nickname is.

Adorable!

 

[shahtir101]

A mixed bantam went broody. So that means serama eggs will be set under her next week

 

[formerchickenlass]

yes! Welcome! I am about to ask a question so Keep your eyes open!


Ok here is the Question... I just set 6 serama eggs, I know the hen/rooster combo, There is one egg that looks like it is a little darker, which probably means that it is from my hen that died a few days ago. Naturaly I want this hatch to go very well, what kind of incubation things do you do for your guys's eggs?

I have a brinsea octagon 20 advance with the additional humidity pump. My most recent hatch was my first time with the pump and gotta say, I liked it a lot. I use the auto turner so that plus the pump made it nearly a set and forget hatch. Hatched 66% of fertile eggs set. I'm in Oregon and we're still running the heat cause I like to be warm, so it's pretty dry in the house. Temp at 99.7, took them off the auto turner at day 17, I ran the humidity at 50% till day 18, then bumped to 70% for the rest. I thought that might be high but it went swell. 12 of 14 that made it to lockdown hatched.

 

[formerchickenlass]

My little peanuts:





These are all from Laura Castle's eggs.

 

[formerchickenlass]

I'm breeding the World's Largest, World's Smallest Chickens.

It's like being the world's tallest midget.

I've often wondered whether getting away from the tiny ones and breeding up in size would improve lifespan. Have you seen that so far in your line?

 

[formerchickenlass]

Yes, I am pleased that the fertility of all my birds has improved dramatically. Do you know anything about the causes of eggs that have no shell that are not calcium/dietary related?

I think stress and old age. Other than that I don't know. I know smaller seramas can be infrequent layers and I imagine might also have other issues laying. I've heard (but have no experience) that hens with shorter backs might have issues laying as well.

Related story: we have an older EE hen that we took in last summer after neighbors told us her previous owners had moved away and left her behind. She only laid a few eggs right after we got her, and I believe two of those had no shell. Nothing the rest of the year. Then all of a sudden out of the blue she started laying again last week and is laying consistently now. Big beautiful blue eggs. Just wasn't the right time for her body? Or was something going on internally that resolved? Stress? Age? No clue. Just pleased she's decided to become a contributing member of the flock.

 

[formerchickenlass]

I found this picture not mine but i was just wondering, can anyone tell me what color she is? she kind-of looks like a wheaton color but i dont think she is...

There's a group on facebook called Serama Colours where someone will know the answer. https://www.facebook.com/groups/287660808055290/

Good luck!

 

[formerchickenlass]

I have not shown him yet. About 10 years ago I had multiple flocks of show quality birds an participated in shows all over CA but had to rehome them due to a nasty motocross crash where I nearly culled myself lol I'm just barely getting back into breeding/raising poultry and am realizing I am far out of the loop these days. Not sure where I would even begin to look for shows to show him at...

There's one in the San Diego area June 4th. The gal who runs it, Chaili Baldwin, is quite nice. I'm sure you could chat her up on Facebook for more details. There's also a group for the club here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/WildWestSC/

 

[Ra_]

I've often wondered whether getting away from the tiny ones and breeding up in size would improve lifespan. Have you seen that so far in your line?

No but I'm seeing vastly improved vitality in Micros, which was my original inspiration to attempt modifying the body type without crossbreeding.