American serama thread!

[cluck-cluck]

Ok... just popping on quickly to post a pic of my new little pullet. Here is Kahlua!

She's absolutely lovely, and I adore her name! Wish I came up with good names like that!

Cluck- the few times I have left the chicks with mama, she was picked on unmercifully by the others protecting her chicks. I don't have separate quarters and everyone free ranges during the day. I do have a large pen built around an apple tree and has grape vines growing over the top. When the top is completely enclosed by the fencing I'm putting up,(for raptors) and the weather is better, the babies will go in there with a mama or two.
In fact, I have usually found that the hens that don't like much attention from the males go broody, and the hens that get constantly bred just pop out eggs and leave the nest as soon as possible. Going broody seems to be the way a hen takes a "vacation".

Ah, well, I think if they decide to have a few chicks, I'll let them, then my hatching days are over, LOL

My 4 little ones at 5 weeks old finally learned how to drink from their hamster bottle!

Are you sure they won't get confused? Next thing you'll know, they'll be running around little tunnels and digging in the garden! LOL. I was going to use our old rabbit waterer for the chickens, when my daughter came home with a mouse! Can't find the waterer that goes with the set up we have, so it's been using the huge rabbit waterer! But hey, it works!

 

[Fuzzybird]

When is it important to have grit and or oyster shell for the house seramas? Also what kind. The oyster shell I have out for the outside layers are really big flat pieces.

 

[JulieNKC]

When is it important to have grit and or oyster shell for the house seramas? Also what kind. The oyster shell I have out for the outside layers are really big flat pieces.

I just crush both the grit and oyster shell a bit more with a hammer for my bantams. They need grit once they start getting anything besides chicken feed, if that's all they get they never need it. And oyster shell once they start laying unless they are on layer feed.

 

[Fuzzybird]

Quote: Thanks but what is anything else? Bits of grass or fruit? Treats? What is good treats for Seramas?

 

[artsyrobin]

pet bird grit would work, treats- anything the big guys eat in smaller bits-mine love popcorn,mealy worms, anything i have they want...

 

[Fuzzybird]

pet bird grit would work, treats- anything the big guys eat in smaller bits-mine love popcorn,mealy worms, anything i have they want...

Doesn't the pet bird grit also have oyster shell?

 

[Fuzzybird]

Oh and I know that Seramas grow for a year but they must get most of their growth early. So what age are they when you can say they are almost full grown? If mine continue to grow at this rate they will be bigger than a normal chicken.

 

[JulieNKC]

Mine are still babies, so not sure how long until they are fully grown.
I grow wheat for them, and give it to them sprouted and grown out as fodder. They also get a little bird seed (parakeet or finch seed) each day as a treat. Anything other chickens can have is fine for them, just in smaller portions and pieces.

 

[cluck-cluck]

Thanks but what is anything else? Bits of grass or fruit? Treats? What is good treats for Seramas?

I tear up fresh grass from outside so it's not too long (it's kind of growing wild out there, 6" long delicate blades from the rain. I also give them black oil sunflower seeds and sometimes scratch (they're not that small, they like it!) They also love yogurt and scrambled eggs.

Oh and I know that Seramas grow for a year but they must get most of their growth early. So what age are they when you can say they are almost full grown? If mine continue to grow at this rate they will be bigger than a normal chicken.

I'd love to know this as well! Mine are only 10 weeks though.... LOL Can't help but wonder what % of their final size they are at the moment???

Oh, and I also bought grit for pet parakeets n such, and it does have oyster shell in it. I hope the boys don't take any of that? I also got them some sand and gravel at Home Depot but mostly the latter for my bigger birds. It didn't seem like sand was big enough for them, so they can pick through the small aggregate to find the size they like...

I also feed everyone left overs, like salad, broccoli, string beans, etc...

 

[ocseramas]

My avian vet, who is world renound, says NEVER is the time. I have lived by this and never an issue. I never feed oyster shell and instead, feed a good diet with top quality food. I never get soft shelled eggs and my girls lay more than I would actually like!