American serama thread!

[Ginmary]

I know it is very extremely early but any guesses on these: 1 & 2 are 2 1/2 weeks old. #3 is only 1 1/2 weeks. I'm thinking 1 & 3 pullet, 2 roo.

#2:

#1:

#3: 1 1/2 weeks:

#3:

 

[Faraday40]

As you can see from my pics, at 2.5 weeks (post #26669) mine showed no gender traits ..... But literally overnight a little pink comb started to pop (Post #26670) I suppose it's not a guaranteed male, but my gut says male.
BTW- My friend who took the silkie x serama mix also took the yellow serama chick as a companion.

I can't see any male traits in your pics, but that doesn't mean much. You may see something in about 4 days.

 

[LilJoe]

Is this hereditary?

 

[Faraday40]

Is this hereditary?
View attachment 1621872

Was it an injury? I had a rooster rip off a point of a hen's comb. If not, then yes, it could be hereditary. It looks like a telescoped / inverted comb.

I don't breed seramas, but I've seen some English orps with poor combs. I culled this guy below because he had a bad back end of his comb. Instead of a single blade it had 3 points - like 2 symmetrical side sprigs. Although it looked interesting, we ate him before he could spread his genes. I think it's called a "carnation comb." It might skip generations but eventually come back, so I decided to sell his sisters as layers and never added any orps from his line.

As you can see, it wasn't an extreme case and the comb was otherwise straight. He was fine in many other ways, but I already had a wonderful rooster. His sisters became spoiled hens in a small suburban flock. For breeding purposes, you really want to select the best you can find, so you won't have to cull heavily in the future. If female, she'll still lay eggs for you to eat and make an interesting pet.

 

[Faraday40]

Is this hereditary?
View attachment 1621872

I looked it up and it does look like an inverted comb - usually a defect in rose combs, so it's unusual to see in a single comb breed like a serama. The comb has nothing to do with overall general health, but it's a disqualification if you're showing birds. If just a backyard pet, then you have something very unique and can make up a good story to go along with your unusual looking pet.

 

[LilJoe]

Was it an injury? I had a rooster rip off a point of a hen's comb. If not, then yes, it could be hereditary. It looks like a telescoped / inverted comb.

I don't breed seramas, but I've seen some English orps with poor combs. I culled this guy below because he had a bad back end of his comb. Instead of a single blade it had 3 points - like 2 symmetrical side sprigs. Although it looked interesting, we ate him before he could spread his genes. I think it's called a "carnation comb." It might skip generations but eventually come back, so I decided to sell his sisters as layers and never added any orps from his line.

As you can see, it wasn't an extreme case and the comb was otherwise straight. He was fine in many other ways, but I already had a wonderful rooster. His sisters became spoiled hens in a small suburban flock. For breeding purposes, you really want to select the best you can find, so you won't have to cull heavily in the future. If female, she'll still lay eggs for you to eat and make an interesting pet.
View attachment 1622479 View attachment 1622490
View attachment 1622491

I looked it up and it does look like an inverted comb - usually a defect in rose combs, so it's unusual to see in a single comb breed like a serama. The comb has nothing to do with overall general health, but it's a disqualification if you're showing birds. If just a backyard pet, then you have something very unique and can make up a good story to go along with your unusual looking pet.

Looks like I'll have to cull her then, darn it. She is one of my favorites.
Thank you

 

[Faraday40]

If she's a fav, then keep her for fun or give her away to a friend as a pet. She can still lay eggs. I only recommend not breeding the trait into your serama flock because it will eventually pop up again in future birds.

 

[LilJoe]

If she's a fav, then keep her for fun or give her away to a friend as a pet. She can still lay eggs. I only recommend not breeding the trait into your serama flock because it will eventually pop up again in future birds.

I would love to keep her, but I dont have space for culls :/ Plus her type is bad...
I'll probably cull her.. (as I'm sell)

 

[Ra_]

 

[Faraday40]

Merry Christmas. Here are some holiday pics:

Nativity scenes are always more fun with live animals. Here are the kids playing with their "Little PEEP'LE"


Instead of a partridge or 3 French Hens, we had a Serama in a pine tree:


and here's DS with with the big Christmas gift. (DH is in IT, so he brought home & fixed up a new (to us) computer for the kids.)