American serama thread!

[cluck-cluck]

Yah, but he doesn't hold his tail up vertically. He does stand nicely otherwise though... I can take pictures tomorrow, but I really don't want to take these diapers off ATM, I'll take pictures before putting them back on tomorrow though

Gosh, Luna really doesn't like hers, it must be hurting her or something. Because the others started acting normally within half an hour, I figured she was just more stubborn, but I may have to re-work her diaper as it might be digging into her shoulders or something....It's been 3 hours now, and she's still just sitting there.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Yah, but he doesn't hold his tail up vertically.  He does stand nicely otherwise though...  I can take pictures tomorrow, but I really don't want to take these diapers off ATM, I'll take pictures before putting them back on tomorrow though

Gosh, Luna really doesn't like hers, it must be hurting her or something.  Because the others started acting normally within half an hour, I figured she was just more stubborn, but I may have to re-work her diaper as it might be digging into her shoulders or something....It's been 3 hours now, and she's still just sitting there.

Thank you, it's no hurry.

Does anyone have any good articles of why Serama eggs are so hard too hatch? I'm trying to explain to my friend why Serama eggs are one of the hardest breeds of chickens to hatch. She refuses to believe me and I want to help her become more educated about different chicken breeds since she is fixed on JB's and OEGB.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I'll guess one reason is if you have any flux in the temperature, it will affect a small egg much quicker, that is a smaller egg won't hold it's heat as well as a big one, or will heat up faster than a big one. Also, I don't know why, but it does seem that the Serama eggs have more instances of loose air sacks than other eggs? Other than those two things, I can't see why they're so hard to hatch. There is the possibility of some lethal genes as well, which might explain why some eggs get so far, but never hatch? The creeper gene and I think I read somewhere of another gene. Seramas are related to Japanese Bantams.

Well, those are my guesses anyway??

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

I *think* I read somewhere awhile back that there is a gene in them that causes them to die at day 19 in the hatching process...? Anyone know the sure answer to that?

 

[Gardeningmama]

Thank you, it's no hurry.

Does anyone have any good articles of why Serama eggs are so hard too hatch? I'm trying to explain to my friend why Serama eggs are one of the hardest breeds of chickens to hatch. She refuses to believe me and I want to help her become more educated about different chicken breeds since she is fixed on JB's and OEGB.

I know that this is said to be true, but honestly I find them no different than any other chicken. I keep the humidity at about 45 throughout, hand turn 3 times a day religiously, and do it in a styrofoam incubator, and candle everyday starting at day 5 (I think I just heard a gasp from someone out there, LOL) no problems at all.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

I know that this is said to be true, but honestly I find them no different than any other chicken. I keep the humidity at about 45 throughout, hand turn 3 times a day religiously, and do it in a styrofoam incubator, and candle everyday starting at day 5 (I think I just heard a gasp from someone out there, LOL) no problems at all.

Hmm, okay. Thanks for your input. I just read about horror stories with hatching Serama eggs so I was wondering.

Now for my other question - Has anyone hatched Serama's with a Brinsea Mini Advance, and if so, what settings for the Serama eggs do YOU recommend? Feel free to PM answers as I know not everyone has a Mini.

 

[ChristineR]

I just hatched 11 eggs in my Brinsea mini adv.

Here's how I had it set:
Temp: 99.3
Days: 21
T-mode: auto
Turn int: mins 90
Turn Ang: angle 6

I think the trickiest part is getting the turn angle right for the size of your eggs.

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

I just hatched 11 eggs in my Brinsea mini adv.

Here's how I had it set:
Temp: 99.3
Days: 21
T-mode: auto
Turn int: mins 90
Turn Ang: angle 6

I think the trickiest part is getting the turn angle right for the size of your eggs.

Thank you. And these are Serama eggs? What an excellent hatch if they are, if not, that's still an excellent hatch. Did you go buy a hydrometer too put in there? I'm contemplating if I should or not for the Serama eggs. If you couldn't already tell, this will be only my second time ever hatching... And first time ever hatching Bantams. I've had them before, just never hatched them. I got the incubator for Christmas and set some eggs about 2 weeks ago that are going into lockdown Monday. I'm very pleased with the incubator so far - 7/7 eggs are developing great.

 

[cluck-cluck]

I'd really love a mini advance!

Is there no hygrometer for it? I thought there was?

 

[Brookhavens]

I *think* I read somewhere awhile back that there is a gene in them that causes them to die at day 19 in the hatching process...? Anyone know the sure answer to that?

Yes there is a gene (short-legged I believe) that allows the chick to fully develop and then somewhere between day 18 and hatch it causes them to die.