American serama thread!

[Skink]

All color projects end up boiling down to is cull, cull, and more cull. That either takes a lot of space to keep birds they're not breeding, a lot of people willing to take culls from them, or a large willingness to slaughter a lot of birds based on color imperfections. Something that cemented Serama as something I wanted to breed was only having to worry about type. I think it is a big reason why they're so popular to raise for breeding even with folks new to chickens.. it is a lot less intimidating, even though you still have to be hard on the curve for a good showing bird.

It is possible to breed true with color, but for something as genetically rich in color and pattern genes as serama, I imagine the issue of culling would only be that much of a bigger problem. There is SO MUCH narrowing down to do, and that is after all the identifying. Line breeding has to be intense too, I'm sure, to cut out unwanted recessives or bring them forth. APA/ABA Whites are noted for reduced hardiness, and that is unsurprising considering such variables. Super possible to make color projects! Also super difficult, taxing on resources, and besides just putting like-birds together to try and influence the hatchlings a little and being happy with that, probably not all that fun... but that's just my opinion.

 

[bantambury]

All color projects end up boiling down to is cull, cull, and more cull. That either takes a lot of space to keep birds they're not breeding, a lot of people willing to take culls from them, or a large willingness to slaughter a lot of birds based on color imperfections. Something that cemented Serama as something I wanted to breed was only having to worry about type. I think it is a big reason why they're so popular to raise for breeding even with folks new to chickens.. it is a lot less intimidating, even though you still have to be hard on the curve for a good showing bird.

It is possible to breed true with color, but for something as genetically rich in color and pattern genes as serama, I imagine the issue of culling would only be that much of a bigger problem. There is SO MUCH narrowing down to do, and that is after all the identifying. Line breeding has to be intense too, I'm sure, to cut out unwanted recessives or bring them forth. APA/ABA Whites are noted for reduced hardiness, and that is unsurprising considering such variables. Super possible to make color projects! Also super difficult, taxing on resources, and besides just putting like-birds together to try and influence the hatchlings a little and being happy with that, probably not all that fun... but that's just my opinion.

thanks for all the info! I found this a great help! do you know which colors the APA accepts/recognizes? can you enter any color you hatch in a show?

 

[Skink]

thanks for all the info! I found this a great help! do you know which colors the APA accepts/recognizes? can you enter any color you hatch in a show?

Currently only White is recognized. Don't quote me on this but I think there are folks hoping to get two more colors approved "soon" (which is a nebulous word at best.) I don't keep up much on color projects since I prefer the surprise of seeing what I get, so I'm not an amazing source.

I think it largely depends on the show if you can enter other colors, depending on who you talk to it is all just Serama, or there's three types with no color regulations being traditional, so on and so on. This again is me speaking from broken collection, so don't take it as law... I don't show, but the shows around me have allowed non-white Serama, though those shows also offered table top competition for Serama only. I've got very limited information there.

Anyone else more experienced than me able to provide more info?

 

[EZFarms]

okay someone go ahead and call me a bad parent... i came outside today to a dead polish,silkie and my two seramas.. idk if it got cpld or what... but i now have no bird to show this year...

 

[Jessshan8]

okay someone go ahead and call me a bad parent... i came outside today to a dead polish,silkie and my two seramas.. idk if it got cpld or what... but i now have no bird to show this year...

any sign of disease? My birds are outside here in Kalispell, MT....... My seramas are in a heated coop but my others have never had heat and we drop below freezing every night and we sometimes get to minus 20 here.. I would look to disease that may be running through your flock. Look at the eyes, status of the comb and wattles, and general activity of the birds. Those are the best indicators. The eyes should be clear not watery or cloudy, the comb and wattles should be of a bright red color and not dull or patchy, and they should have normal activity scratching and foraging not sitting and lethargic or a low level of inactivity.

 

[EZFarms]

The two seramas had what looked like frpstbitten combs but that was it and the polish is still kind of alive shes in my lap but idj what to do. im really upset... i lost my only two seramas who were also my showbirds

 

[Jessshan8]

Place her under a heat lamp and see what she does. Ensure she has plenty of fluids as well. I would give her a few droppers of slightly warm fluid. Another thing you can look at is their poo. Sounds gross but often necessary. It should be like soft serve ice-cream. Not hard or runny. It may have white stuff in it that is normal. break the poo apart and look for parasites as well. Not something one wants to discuss really but it can be of immense help when trying to diagnose problems and sickness with animals whom cannot tell you whats wrong with them.

 

[Jessshan8]

Does she appear weak? Is she shivering?

 

[Jessshan8]

Parasites can be transmitted from other birds that fly into your yard or that have just been dormant in the soil around your yard.

 

[EZFarms]

Weak yes. she cant hold her head up and she haslice on her. ahes breathing barely and has her eyesclosed
**edit** she just passed..