American serama thread!

[prizepete]

Would love some opinions on the quality of this guy (tabletop show). He is about 14-16 weeks I believe. He has a great personality, very friendly and showy without being aggressive.

Its really too early to tell, post pictures in a couple of months

 

[the poppster]

Would love some opinions on the quality of this guy (tabletop show). He is about 14-16 weeks I believe. He has a great personality, very friendly and showy without being aggressive.

He's a cutie!!! Young yet...give him some time. You would be surprised at the changes that they go through. He's just a baby yet. Personally is a big plus in my book. I've got a nice looking boy, shaping up...all the right looks! Beautiful bird! His name is "Killer" because he latches onto your hand and digs his talons in, trying to rip chunks out of you...it's funny...but not acceptable behavior. Can't wait to see what your boy looks like in a couple months. Keep him loving.

 

[the poppster]

Thank you for the information! I think I've got a couple other Silkied chicks....can't say for sure yet. But the one I'm sure of is tiny! I've got some chicks that hatched a few weeks ago that are already bigger than him? So evidently the parents size doesn't necessarily determine what size the chicks will be.

 

[nchls school]

Quote: When I first started with serama the chicks I hatched were of vastly different sizes even though the parent stock was uniform in size. It has been a few years now and I no longer get that size array, but I am seeing a few very tiny chicks that are slow to develop; taking a bit longer to hatch and a lot longer to mature.

This rooster is an example. At almost 16 weeks he doesn't have his complete adult feathering as his siblings do. His voice is squeaky-crow too. And he weighs 5.5 ounces.

 

[the poppster]

What a pretty boy! His feathers almost look a bit to big for his body! I call that, their "Teen age phase" the time during growth, that they look a bit lanky, scraggly, parts are over sized and other parts seem to small....but most of them blossom into early adulthood and everything "Comes into Focus"....well maybe not all of them...but so far most of them...he's a pretty boy!

 

[nchls school]

What a pretty boy! His feathers almost look a bit to big for his body! I call that, their "Teen age phase" the time during growth, that they look a bit lanky, scraggly, parts are over sized and other parts seem to small....but most of them blossom into early adulthood and everything "Comes into Focus"....well maybe not all of them...but so far most of them...he's a pretty boy!

Yes, his wings are way big for the body. At 5.5 ounces it's the wings that give the appearance of "size". I doubt this one will grow into himself.

 

[the poppster]

I don't know, he might surprise you! I feed grower crumbles to all my birds....and treat with the "No-Waste" finch type feed...it's got small seeds and tiny sunflower seed crumbs. They really enjoy it. Also I sift out the really fine pieces of corn from the regular medium crack corn, that I feed my regular birds. And a sprinkle of meal worms each day, they go nuts for them! Can't wait till spring! When they can practice real chicken behavior and forage in the grass! I feel sorry for them. Stuck in cages....even with bedding to dig in...it's just not the same...maybe I'm worrying about nothing...they don't know the difference...silly me! They don't know what they are missing....I guess they can't miss what they don't know?

 

[nchls school]

I don't know, he might surprise you! I feed grower crumbles to all my birds....and treat with the "No-Waste" finch type feed...it's got small seeds and tiny sunflower seed crumbs. They really enjoy it. Also I sift out the really fine pieces of corn from the regular medium crack corn, that I feed my regular birds. And a sprinkle of meal worms each day, they go nuts for them! Can't wait till spring! When they can practice real chicken behavior and forage in the grass! I feel sorry for them. Stuck in cages....even with bedding to dig in...it's just not the same...maybe I'm worrying about nothing...they don't know the difference...silly me! They don't know what they are missing....I guess they can't miss what they don't know?

Actually, I don't want the surprise; I rather like the way he is. BUT...

I'm not brave enough to let the serama free range. Too many dogs, hawks, etc. I do have a large screen cage we shift around the yard so the birds get the chance at greens and whatever else they find.

We don't but much feed. The wife makes chicken bread with all the ingredients that are necessary-which includes most of what you mention and a whole lot more.

 

[the poppster]

What I meant, is that he will "Fill Out" as he matures. I have a pretty little Red cockrel that looked much like your boy at the same age and he has filled out rather nicely...mean as a snake...but pretty. Actually I think the "Mean" behavior is due to being stuck in the cage...frustration...he takes it out on my hand when he gets a chance....you'd think he was a hawk, trying to bite a hunk out of me.

 

[the poppster]

Oh and I don't let them free range...I do the movable cage thing as well! Besides they can Fly!!! I don't want my Seramas sitting in the trees, laughing at me! I can just imagine them...sitting up there, with little smirks on their beaks!!! I lost two of my pretty little Easter egg hens this past summer, due to their flight abilities...they would escape over the enclosed chicken yard fence and strut about in the grass...showing off! Then get involved in foraging....as darkness creeps over the day...suddenly they realize that the others have gone into the coop...and find themselves alone, with a fence between them and the safety of the coop...they forget about flying and run back and forth in front of the fence...that's when the Owl strikes...and I couldn't do anything about it, since I was at work (night shift)...they were the only adult birds I lost from my flock due to predators....lost a few youngsters to weasels and a squirrel in the spring...got rid of the weasels and replaced the chicken wire on my movable cages with hardware cloth and added hardware cloth skirts around the bases...no more squirrel problems.