American serama thread!

[Piper26]

I'm picking up 9 serama hens and 2 roosters this weekend...advice?, new to the breed.

 

[homeschoolin momma]

advice?, new to the breed

Have everything ready to go! Be prepared to spend every hour checking on them. Take LOTS of pictures and post them here.

Seriously, I find seramas pretty easy to care for. They are really no different than any other chicken. They are a little more delicate as chicks than bigger chickens, but quite tough once they get past the itty bitty stage. If you are in a cold climate, they will need supplemental heat. Mine live in a coop in the garage and go outside when the temp is above 30.

 

[nchls school]

In addition to above accurate post, watch the roosters for aggressive behavior towards each other and feed needs to be in smaller pieces to accommodate their small size. Serama are also good fliers; at least mine are so watch them closely at first should you allow them outside. Also, predators are a bigger concern; predators that would pass over larger breed chickens.

 

[CatWhisperer]

My seramas are outdoors when temps are in the 20’s. I have a bachelor flock of 8 that are the cuddliest birds I’ve ever had.

 

[nchls school]

Mine also go outside when in the 20s and sunny. When getting new serama I guess you have to look at the conditions they were kept. If they were kept in warm quarters I would not put them out when it's cold.

 

[nchls school]

Mine also go outside when in the 20s and sunny. When getting new serama I guess you have to look at the conditions they were kept. If they were kept in warm quarters I would not put them out when it's cold.

 

[Piper26]

I live in missouri, high 30's right now, subject to drop temps, supposed to be picking up 11 almost a year old seramas this weekend, what is your advice for their coop needs?...they've been kept in a pole barn prior

 

[nchls school]

Scotts Hill TN here and our weather is the same. If they've been kept in an unheated pole barn they should be acclimated to cooler temps. Actually, serama are quite hardy, well able to take cold in the teens for short periods. 30s should not be a problem. The coop I have is out of my imagination and relies on solar heat. The south side faces south which is covered with plastic for the winter. It has gotten down in the low 20s at night and the coop stays fairly warm.

The lamp inside the coop is low wattage and meant more for a night light than anything else. Some hens are brooding and with cats, dogs, armidillos, opossum, etc. prowling the yard I don't want the hens frightened from the nests at night and loose the eggs/chicks.

 

[Piper26]

That's awesome, very creative! I have 20 standard breed hens and 2 roosters now and their coops are not insulated per se....and have done great for the last few winters...but I have heard the serama are a bit delicate, trying to get something set up for them by this weekend... but dont want to go overboard, unless truly needed! Lol,

 

[nchls school]

I'm sure this you know, but... Don't be tempted to put serama with large breeds. If possible make a "coop" that is draft free and stays (most of the time) above freezing. Mine cost very little. Started off as a screened run and then heavy plastic was added. Over the last five years it has evolved into what you see in the pictures. My serama lay, brood, and raise chicks year around.