American serama thread!

[Chicklette 1]

Hi,
I am still new to the breed and I really need some input from more experienced breeders. I have my original trio (purchased from Jerry) and I have let the three breed and have hatched 18 babies with more coming, just to see what I would get. I will now be separating the roos so that I can control breeding and breed what I want. I think I have some very lovely babies so far. It , of course, is hard to really tell type yet but I see some of the faults and some of the pluses on them already. I am breeding mostly for type at this point as I do not have a color project but I do like the frizzles. This is what I need to know:
I am trying to grow them out to see what I really have before culling some birds to sell. How old would you suggest they be when making that decision?
I have never shipped a bird before, (received them) so I would need some advice besides weather, about shipping and what cartons to use.
What days to ship and what time of day and any other prep for shipping. It is overwhelming to me at this point.
I wold appreciate it if you could PM me as to pricing of the Seramas. Good quality, Med quality and strictly pet. I do not have any green legs, crossed beaks, spraddles or other major defects. I do handle my birds every day so they are going to be somewhat tame.
I wish I had a progressive chart for sizing like what they should be at 2 months, 3 months, etc. to predict weight. Right now, I am just judging one against the other. I have weighted them but it means nothing because I do not have any comparison.
I need to know what to give away free. I do have photos of all my babies but did not want to post here.
I would also like to know the best venue to sell them.........I was thinking BYC auction.

Please PM me if this is off topic.

Thank you so much.........I really appreciate it if you can be of any help. Brenda

PS: Is there any area on SCNA that is should be looking into? I am often on that site.

 

[Carolynspeeps]

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I agree. But don't have any answers.

 

[bigb-71]

Thinking about showing this guy he has not been work much but i think i can get him to stay on the table

and he has all his feathers right now the frist pic is old the others are about a week ago and he's around 14 3/4 oz i'm running out of options

 

[kidcody]

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Cara, He is so beautiful!

 

[shelleyd2008]

Chicklette 1: I would say you need to wait until they are at least 8 months old to really 'see' what you have. Had I culled mine at 5 months (standard on most breeds) I would not have my little black guy now. At that age, he looked like nothing but back, but now he is the best one I have. You can cull earlier for 'obvious' faults, but honestly, the faults are not that obvious until you've been doing it a while. I will keep all mine (all of them period right now

) until at least 8 months to make sure I don't let any 'good ones' go

 

[shelleyd2008]

bigb-71, if he is too big for the cockerel class (which he is not at this point) you can always show him in the cock class. He looks good but needs to learn not to stretch his neck out when he's posing.

 

[shelleyd2008]

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I agree. But don't have any answers.

The 20% over or under is the APA/ABA rules. SCNA has decided to follow those rules for the breed. At certain shows (CC for one) there are no 'underweight' birds.

 

[SunnyCalifornia]

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Brenda, I'm kind of in the same boat. However, I've had all my birds since they were essentially chicks. My first hatchlings from my original pair are approaching 4 months old, and I need to start selecting for pairs for next year. My oldest birds, (their parents) are only 9 months old though, and still improving.... They are completely different than they were at that same age as their offspring. Some lines just mature late. My cockerel only started growing sickle feathers at 8 months old!!

Unless you're in a big hurry, I might suggest that you grow out what you deem to be your best, and get them to a show, and see how they score. That will give you a good idea whether you call them "breeder quality" "show quality" or "pet quality". Edgar of SCNA suggests that only birds that score 75 or more be called "show quality" if that gives you some kind of measure. As far as price? That really depends on your market. Where they are in demand, like So Cal, some good $$ can be made. In other places, you can hardly give them away!! If you live in one of those places, then perhaps the BYC auctions are your best place to sell.

However that means keeping them until they are at least 5 months old and showable, or until your next possible show.

As far as weights, I have a cockerel that is 15oz, plus a few decimal points, and he is 9 months old. When he was 4 1/2 months old, he was around 12 oz.
My pullet is around 13 oz at 9 months, she got heaviest before she started laying (high 13's), then dropped weight after hatching her first egg (12's).

Their offspring which is 3-1/2 months old, the cockerels are about 10 -11 oz, and the pullets are about 6-7 oz. Comparable females I got from another breeder of the same age, are 8-10oz. My females just seem to be small from my particular pairing.

Somebody posted a great link on SCNA for boxes that were half the price of all the others. If I were to ship, I would do so immediately while the weather is mild, or wait until spring. I don't suggest shipping birds less than 3 months old. They just seem so fragile up to that point. So little meat on their bones to sustain 3-4 days in a box w/o food and water. Yes, overnight can be 3-4 days, just ask MemphisJourney!!

Hope that helps!!

 

[shelleyd2008]

She's from KY, basically a 'hardly give them away' area

My suggestion for selling them would be to learn how to ship. That way you can cut into the 'good markets'...even from BFE Kentucky!

 

[bigb-71]

that pic was old he does not strech his neck like that any more he was just trying to be a super star that day he's older and wiser now lol .
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