American serama thread!

[froggiesheins]

Alright, here he is... I named him Stormy and if its a she It'll be named Raine. He thinks I'm his mom as last night I had an incubator emergency and had to take him out and snuggle him to keep him warm.

The egg on the right pipped this morning.

OHMY, I AM IN LOVE!!!!!!!!! FUZZY-BUTT TOO CUTE!!! mine mine mine!

 

[chickydee64]

Out of curiosity, why do so few serama raisers sell chicks?

HI, I cannot speak for anyone else....but I like to have time to evauluate my breeding program.........
Also, to see what color they will be....
I am protective..............not going to let someone have chicks that perhaps
is not commited to the care they take...............
They are fragile............
Almost all of mine are raised with thier Mom......
I find Seramas very broody...........

 

[chickydee64]

O.K. one more post.
Candled the three eggs under my broodies sharing the eggs and..................(drum roll please)
They are very close to hatch..
I feel silly....Every time I have a hatch it is like the first one...........
I get excited, pace a lot, listen for sounds 50 times a day..............
Later............................

 

[cluck-cluck]

Hello everybody, new to the thread here.

I was wondering if any of you have any experiences with Seramas as therapy/companion birds? I have mild autism, as well as problems with anxiety and depression, but function much better with a companion bird by my side. I had a Belgian d'Uccle hen as a companion, but unfortunately she passed away from cancer about a year ago. Over the past few months I decided I was ready to start searching for a new best friend, and Seramas piqued my interest.

Does the breed do well kept "alone"? I mean, obviously the bird wouldn't really be alone, she or he would be with me almost 24/7, but there would be no other chickens around. It seems like Seramas really thrive off human attention and companionship, which is exactly what I'm looking for (a snuggle-butt to sit with me and follow me around everywhere), but since I have no experience with them I can really only go off observations. Do you think a Serama would be right for my needs? Should I search more for a hen or rooster, or would either be suitable? I was leaning more towards a hen, but really the bird's personality is more important than any other factor.

Thanks in advance for any input!

Hi, I know I'm late for this one, but I wanted to put my 2 cents in. First off, I believe I am high functioning as well. I have an autistic son and two girls with Aspergers, all high functioning (now), all doing well. So I understand the problems, including anxiety and depression which I take medicine for.

I just started with Chickens after begging my husband for 20 years, LOL. He finally let me do this, and we're all enjoying it a lot. The chickens have almost given me new life! I love getting up in the morning to play farmer, and the eggs are awesome! In fact, I just boiled up a pot of serama eggs, and my eldest, who just came home from school and hasn't had any of our eggs yet, tried one and ended up eating the whole pot full! (I was going to make potato salad!) LOL.

Anyway, I would like to suggest you get two birds. Birds really need company, and this is especially true with chickens. I have 4 Seramas that live together (one boy, 3 girls) and they are still super sweet to hold and play with and friendly as can be. They are curious and trusting animals, so you will not lose out on a stronger bond by having more than one bird. I don't know how often a serama is born with an ornery personality, but I haven't had that happen yet. I have two younger boys in another cage who are also super sweet. I suspect you will be safe with the choice of Serama.

Good luck!!!

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Hi, I know I'm late for this one, but I wanted to put my 2 cents in.  First off, I believe I am high functioning as well.  I have an autistic son and two girls with Aspergers, all high functioning (now), all doing well.  So I understand the problems, including anxiety and depression which I take medicine for.

I just started with Chickens after begging my husband for 20 years, LOL.  He finally let me do this, and we're all enjoying it a lot.  The chickens have almost given me new life!  I love getting up in the morning to play farmer, and the eggs are awesome!  In fact, I just boiled up a pot of serama eggs, and my eldest, who just came home from school and hasn't had any of our eggs yet, tried one and ended up eating the whole pot full!  (I was going to make potato salad!)  LOL. 

Anyway, I would like to suggest you get two birds.  Birds really need company, and this is especially true with chickens.  I have 4 Seramas that live together (one boy, 3 girls) and they are still super sweet to hold and play with and friendly as can be.  They are curious and trusting animals, so you will not lose out on a stronger bond by having more than one bird.  I don't know how often a serama is born with an ornery personality, but I haven't had that happen yet.  I have two younger boys in another cage who are also super sweet.  I suspect you will be safe with the choice of Serama.

Good luck!!!

x2

 

[JulieNKC]

Hey Julie! I had some chicks with pasty butt and one with sour crop until I started putting Bragg's apple cider vinegar in their water. That seemed to clear it up. At first they didn't like it, so I had to gradually increase the amount I used.

I offer them wet food in addition to their dry food and put acv in that. I'm trying to get them drinking out of a water bottle like the adults, and it has a metal tip so I didn't want to put acv in it. I really think it's because I have their brooder too warm, but then like I said they all pile under it if I don't, little brats. I moved the heat lamp up a few inches anyway, and just made the whole chicken room warmer so hopefully that helps it.

Their parents were like that too, I think they had a heat lamp until they were like 3 months old even though they were inside.

HI, I cannot speak for anyone else....but I like to have time to evauluate my breeding program.........
Also, to see what color they will be....
I am protective..............not going to let someone have chicks that perhaps
is not commited to the care they take...............
They are fragile............
Almost all of mine are raised with thier Mom......
I find Seramas very broody...........

Same here, I am wanting to keep my chicks for now and grow them out a bit, to see what they are ending up like before I really sell any. And the chicks are so teeny and fragile that I don't know if I'll ever be able to get myself to sell them as day olds.

Hi, I know I'm late for this one, but I wanted to put my 2 cents in. First off, I believe I am high functioning as well. I have an autistic son and two girls with Aspergers, all high functioning (now), all doing well. So I understand the problems, including anxiety and depression which I take medicine for.

I just started with Chickens after begging my husband for 20 years, LOL. He finally let me do this, and we're all enjoying it a lot. The chickens have almost given me new life! I love getting up in the morning to play farmer, and the eggs are awesome! In fact, I just boiled up a pot of serama eggs, and my eldest, who just came home from school and hasn't had any of our eggs yet, tried one and ended up eating the whole pot full! (I was going to make potato salad!) LOL.

Anyway, I would like to suggest you get two birds. Birds really need company, and this is especially true with chickens. I have 4 Seramas that live together (one boy, 3 girls) and they are still super sweet to hold and play with and friendly as can be. They are curious and trusting animals, so you will not lose out on a stronger bond by having more than one bird. I don't know how often a serama is born with an ornery personality, but I haven't had that happen yet. I have two younger boys in another cage who are also super sweet. I suspect you will be safe with the choice of Serama.

Good luck!!!

x3 I think one would be lonely, and wouldn't be any less friendly/bonded with you if they have a chicken buddy as well.

 

[Lorilyn Farms]

My little man lost his entire tail. Everyone is molting now and it looks like carnage around here!

 

[Haubitze]

Hi, I know I'm late for this one, but I wanted to put my 2 cents in. First off, I believe I am high functioning as well. I have an autistic son and two girls with Aspergers, all high functioning (now), all doing well. So I understand the problems, including anxiety and depression which I take medicine for.

I just started with Chickens after begging my husband for 20 years, LOL. He finally let me do this, and we're all enjoying it a lot. The chickens have almost given me new life! I love getting up in the morning to play farmer, and the eggs are awesome! In fact, I just boiled up a pot of serama eggs, and my eldest, who just came home from school and hasn't had any of our eggs yet, tried one and ended up eating the whole pot full! (I was going to make potato salad!) LOL.

Anyway, I would like to suggest you get two birds. Birds really need company, and this is especially true with chickens. I have 4 Seramas that live together (one boy, 3 girls) and they are still super sweet to hold and play with and friendly as can be. They are curious and trusting animals, so you will not lose out on a stronger bond by having more than one bird. I don't know how often a serama is born with an ornery personality, but I haven't had that happen yet. I have two younger boys in another cage who are also super sweet. I suspect you will be safe with the choice of Serama.

Good luck!!!

Thanks for your reply! I honestly hope at least two of these sixteen eggs hatch, as I know how hard it is for one lone chick to thrive (I've had to foster baby wild birds before where there was just one.. It was difficult for everyone involved). I know if at least two hatch, I would get so attached that I wouldn't be giving any of the "extras" away, hahaha. I just don't think I would be able to keep up with more than two or three though, especially since they will be living in the house.

My previous chicken was a bit of a special case, and was kept as a single chicken. She was already an adult when I got her though, and she really disliked being around other birds, so she did very well with just human companionship. I know most chickens aren't like that though, and I agree that two Seramas together would definitely be better than one, for the bird's well-being.

Today is day three for the eggs, so I'm going to candle them later tonight and see if any itty-bitty things are growing in there!

 

[BantyChickenLuv]

Well, I think my hatch from BHep's eggs is pretty much over. I set 17, and pulled quitters and un-developers throughout the whole incubation. 8 made it to lockdown, and only 2 hatched, one without assistance, the other with assistance. I'm going to float test the others tonight...

 

[larps1234]

Thanks for your reply! I honestly hope at least two of these sixteen eggs hatch, as I know how hard it is for one lone chick to thrive (I've had to foster baby wild birds before where there was just one.. It was difficult for everyone involved). I know if at least two hatch, I would get so attached that I wouldn't be giving any of the "extras" away, hahaha. I just don't think I would be able to keep up with more than two or three though, especially since they will be living in the house.

My previous chicken was a bit of a special case, and was kept as a single chicken. She was already an adult when I got her though, and she really disliked being around other birds, so she did very well with just human companionship. I know most chickens aren't like that though, and I agree that two Seramas together would definitely be better than one, for the bird's well-being.

Today is day three for the eggs, so I'm going to candle them later tonight and see if any itty-bitty things are growing in there!

 

. Good luck! Hope you get a flock!