American serama thread!

[nchls school]

We are having a unique cold winter down here. So the coldest it's got it around 34F. Could I keep them outside without a heat lamp?

As others have already said, if the birds are used to being outdoors there should be no problem. If not, then a heat lamp for supplemental heat should be used or keep them indoors.

 

[Faraday40]

I had bought some tribbles from Ra in Florida. I lost them to a night-time flood. I envy you having some; if they came from Ra-even if they didn't.
Do you sell hatching eggs? (If I asked this already-sorry)

So sorry about your last hatch and I hope tomorrow's goes much better.

No my seramas are not "tribbles" from Ra. I just really liked the name Tribble for a silkied serama. I also joke about having an "incubation addiction" and let's face it, those little eggs are so cute! I sometimes find myself with a couple extra handfuls of serama chicks. In our house, seramas can reproduce quickly, so we might as well call one Tribble.

With the exception of Angel and maybe Solo, my seramas are more on the larger side. I hope to keep the silkied gene and continue to select smaller birds for breeding. The serama hatching is more for fun. My kids love their little pet chickens, and that's the real reason why we have them. They love the big fat orps too, but it's a lot easier to bring a tiny chicken along for companionship (to the family room, to the park, to a friend's house, etc.) the than a giant 10 lb bird. I also get a kick out of their quirky personalities.

 

[nchls school]

So sorry about your last hatch and I hope tomorrow's goes much better.

No my seramas are not "tribbles" from Ra. I just really liked the name Tribble for a silkied serama. I also joke about having an "incubation addiction" and let's face it, those little eggs are so cute! I sometimes find myself with a couple extra handfuls of serama chicks. In our house, seramas can reproduce quickly, so we might as well call one Tribble.

They certainly look like Ra's tribbles. But would you be willing to sell a clutch of Angel/Solo eggs; 6-7? In the spring when the weather makes shipping safer? My hens only lay 6 or 7 eggs to a nest. That's about all they can cover. I don't have any luck with incubators though I did just buy a small one in case something happens to a hen with a clutch. I had this happen twice this fall/winter.

Mine are basically pets too. Little Pablo lives mostly in the house, but has a new (1st) girl friend in the coop. I'm hoping the eggs will be viable. When the weather goes back to winter Pablo will, again, take up residence in the house. 40-60 degrees here; a beautiful sunny day today.

When I first started with serama I had C and D birds. Yes, they can reproduce fast. With those first serama hatch rates were near 100%. Now, my little ones are not so reliable; sometimes most or all hatch and...sometimes not. Most of the time the hatch rate is about 50%.

I'd rather have the little birds with the lower hatch as compared to the near 100%.

 

[GrayChickens]

Hey on

If your seramas were housed indoors (before you purchased them), then they could have trouble adjusting to outside. If already in an outside coop & from the same general area, then they should be fine. If chicks, then you'll go through the reg brooding process and gradually decrease the heat.

Hey one more thing. If I have them as chicks will I have to keep them under the brooder longer than most chicks?

 

[nchls school]

Hey on


Hey one more thing. If I have them as chicks will I have to keep them under the brooder longer than most chicks?

Actually serama grow fast. My hens wean their chicks between 3 and 4 weeks. If it were warm weather no supplemental heat would be needed at 3-4 weeks. If you keep them where it's fairly warm no heat lamp is needed at that age. Otherwise, supplemental heat is needed.

 

[nchls school]

Six new babies-yeah!

 

[nchls school]

Six chicks from seven eggs; I'm very pleased.

 

[GrayChickens]

Hi urgent question here! How big do the nest boxes for Seramas have to be? At how many months old do they lay? Is 3 months old , old enough to keep them outside? What are the best ways to ensure maximum egg hatch rates?

 

[nchls school]

Hi urgent question here! How big do the nest boxes for Seramas have to be? At how many months old do they lay? Is 3 months old , old enough to keep them outside? What are the best ways to ensure maximum egg hatch rates?

It depends on the size of the serama. I have hens that have nested in cereal bowls. Not knowing the birds' size I'd say at least 8x8 inch or larger. Mine start to lay between 5 and 6 months. Being kept outside depends on if the birds are acclimated to cool/cold. If they are, 3 month old can be kept outdoors as long as temps do not go lower than...Explain what you mean by outside. Unheated coop? If so, yes. A good diet is the best way to ensure good health and that is what it takes to get good hatch rates.

Serama need to be protected from drafts and temperatures below 30 or warmer if that's what they are used to.

 

[GrayChickens]

It depends on the size of the serama. I have hens that have nested in cereal bowls. Not knowing the birds' size I'd say at least 8x8 inch or larger. Mine start to lay between 5 and 6 months. Being kept outside depends on if the birds are acclimated to cool/cold. If they are, 3 month old can be kept outdoors as long as temps do not go lower than...Explain what you mean by outside. Unheated coop? If so, yes. A good diet is the best way to ensure good health and that is what it takes to get good hatch rates.

Serama need to be protected from drafts and temperatures below 30 or warmer if that's what they are used to.

By outside I do mean unheated coop.