American serama thread!

[nchls school]

Got 3 eggs today! Hens are finally starting to lay everyday! (Still have 6 not laying)


Anyways this brings up the things I breed for in a serama that I think are good values.
1) type. This could be like the vertical stance most of us breed for or like how Ra breeds for a ball type serama.
2) temperament. I like to be able to have all my roosters be on tables side by side after they get used to each other (I know I sound crazy) I like to have all my birds be "well mannered" towards other birds and people. I know that when they see a new bird they will react though...
3) egg laying! I want a serama who will lay everyday or every other day when they are in laying mode. I don't think it is practical to have a hen that lays once a week for breeding purposes.
Anything I can add to this? This I what I am striving for...

Size. Why have the world's smallest breed if a person wants "bigger is better".

 

[shahtir101]

Size. Why have the world's smallest breed if a person wants "bigger is better".

Good point.

 

[Ra_]

I've got some eggs from my smoothie breeders & my white-legged Silkied hens Fluff & Clodagh.
All birds are mated with yellow-legged Silkied roos.

Order 3, get 5
Order 7, get 12

Eggs

 

[nchls school]

What I am trying to say is I want birds that have good temperaments. The birds that I have experienced that constantly fight others, then show that aggression towards humans.

X 2. The first sign of bad temperament, the bird is culled regardless of looks. I have 14 eggs under broodies. Candled them this morning. All 14 alive and growing. Even the first five from Midget and I sure did not expect that. First eggs and a three month old rooster; I didn't expect any to be viable.

I guess it's time for population control. I keep thinking I'll just set a couple eggs-but then I look at the other eggs and can't help thinking, "Maybe that's the one".

 

[nchls school]

I've got some eggs from my smoothie breeders & my white-legged Silkied hens Fluff & Clodagh.
All birds are mated with yellow-legged Silkied roos.

Order 3, get 5
Order 7, get 12

Eggs

Good Morning Ra,

The eggs should arrive today and my wife always takes care of the mail, etc. I am at work and Kim will be leaving for her Mom's shortly. Does first-class have to be signed for? I sure hope not. I'm hoping that the package will be left in the garage. Winter is back-its cold and snowing.

 

[Ra_]

No signature is required.

As for temperment, a lot of young birds will attack your hand.
It's not aggression, it puberty. They're trying to figure out how to mate.
Their instinct is to grab the back of their mate's neck so they grab your hand the same way.
It's like a dog humping your leg.
They stop the behavior once they get a girlfriend.

 

[nchls school]

No signature is required.

As for temperment, a lot of young birds will attack your hand.
It's not aggression, it puberty. They're trying to figure out how to mate.
Their instinct is to grab the back of their mate's neck so they grab your hand the same way.
It's like a dog humping your leg.
They stop the behavior once they get a girlfriend.

From what I have seen, serama do not have their true personality until they are around three months old. At that time birds that are highly nervous and flighty, overly aggressive to other birds, and aggression towards people are culled.

Thankfully there are not many that fall into those categories.

 

[Ra_]

I can't really relate to the aggression factor very well.
I was a parrot tamer in New York & Miami working for large importers.
I tamed many large and small wild birds fresh from the jungle,
so there is no chicken or goose who can get more than a chuckle out of me.

You can just snatch them by the neck and the legs & let them flap until they tire themselves out.
Put them down and do it again. They quickly accept you as their superior.
Birds don't always have an evil gene that makes them behave aggressively.
It may be just an instinctual response. They're not that smart compared to something like a parrot.
They sometimes think it's their duty to protect the hens against even us.
Once an aggressive chicken has been dominated, they often drop that protective reaction & become your sweetest friend.

Roosters have evolved to mate & fight.
Remove one trait & the other might suffer too?
Might end up with a bunch of eunuchs with no testosterone.
That's my philosophy anyway.

 

[nchls school]

I can't really relate to the aggression factor very well.
I was a parrot tamer in New York & Miami working for large importers.
I tamed many large and small wild birds fresh from the jungle,
so there is no chicken or goose who can get more than a chuckle out of me.

You can just snatch them by the neck and the legs & let them flap until they tire themselves out.
Put them down and do it again. They quickly accept you as their superior.
Birds don't always have an evil gene that makes them behave aggressively.
It may be just an instinctual response. They're not that smart compared to something like a parrot.
They sometimes think it's their duty to protect the hens against even us.
Once an aggressive chicken has been dominated, they often drop that protective reaction & become your sweetest friend.

Roosters have evolved to mate & fight.
Remove one trait & the other might suffer too?
Might end up with a bunch of eunuchs with no testosterone.
That's my philosophy anyway.

I've also worked with parrots for many years. We'll have to agree to disagree on this.

 

[Ra_]

Well it's not something people need to agree on.
Everyone can breed as they see fit.

Of course, I sent you my most vicious eggs.