Broody Serama hen

[Lidiapac730]

What a beautiful flock of seramas you have!!! Josephine (the name of the hen) just left the nest to eat, drink and dustbathe. Couldn't be longer that 30 minutes all together. For how long eggs can be left without harming the chick inside?

 

[Nutmeg15]

Your Seramas look beautiful! As with any broody hen, she and the eggs should be monitored to make sure she's treating them right (no pecking, pushing them out of the nest, etc.). But otherwise, let broodies be broody. Good luck with hatching!

 

[Lidiapac730]

My seramas hens are very excellent mothers. But I will caution you, they do seem to wean the chicks sooner than my other breeds. 3-6 weeks is about their limit. My roosters have never had problems with any babies either. Even ones that sneak thru the fence from other pens lol

That being said, it’s iffy with any broody hen. So do your homework and be prepared for any possible outcome.

And oh, they can be fierce when you get near them when they are on eggs. But this may be a good opportunity for you to show her that she can trust you! I have had ones that I was never allowed to touch become very sweet girls after brooding because I helped them and gained their trust.

3 - 6 weeks, and the babies will have to be on their own? Are seramas fast maturing birds?

 

[WVduckchick]

What a beautiful flock of seramas you have!!! Josephine (the name of the hen) just left the nest to eat, drink and dustbathe. Couldn't be longer that 30 minutes all together. For how long eggs can be left without harming the chick inside?

30 minutes won’t hurt them, especially if it’s warm outside. I wouldn’t worry how long they stay off them, unless they leave them overnight.

3 - 6 weeks, and the babies will have to be on their own? Are seramas fast maturing birds?

I have to be vague and say that depends. Some of mine seem to mature quickly, but others seem very slow. They do seem to gain independence fairly quickly, they venture further from momma hen sooner than my bantam cochins do. Those birds stick right under momma for quite a while! But cochins are slow movers anyway. Seramas are boisterous babies.

 

[Lidiapac730]

Napoleon and Josephine

 

[Lidiapac730]

Is there a way to tell the age of the Seramas? I adopted them and the rescue organization I got them from knew nothing about them. Thank you for any suggestions.

 

[WVduckchick]

Is there a way to tell the age of the Seramas? I adopted them and the rescue organization I got them from knew nothing about them. Thank you for any suggestions.

Spurs and toenails can be somewhat of an indication. From the looks of his spurs, I'd say he's at least 2 years old.

 

[Lidiapac730]

Spurs and toenails can be somewhat of an indication. From the looks of his spurs, I'd say he's at least 2 years old.

Thank you. His spurs are trimmed a bit, they were very, very sharp. Would he still be able to father chicks? Is there such a thing as rooster being too old to fertilize eggs?

 

[WVduckchick]

Thank you. His spurs are trimmed a bit, they were very, very sharp. Would he still be able to father chicks? Is there such a thing as rooster being too old to fertilize eggs?

I do believe roosters fertility does drop off at some point, but I'm honestly not sure what age that is.
I prefer to do spur "reductions" using the twist-off method, when they get too long and sharp. Its the easiest way I have found, and least likely way for me to hurt them, or even feel like I'm hurting them. Its really easy, especially if you have a helper.

This isn't the greatest video, but shows it well. Mine have never bled like this guys, but this rooster's spurs were pretty big!

 

[Lidiapac730]

Spurs and toenails can be somewhat of an indication. From the looks of his spurs, I'd say he's at least 2 years old.

hello, It's been almost 3 weeks. The hen always leaves the nest around 11 am for about 30 minutes. Today she left to eat and drink and I saw one of the chicks peeped! Now I am afraid that it will not hatch since she let the eggs while the egg was cracked already. She is back on eggs, but why did she leave? I thought hens are supposed to know not to leave the nest for the last few days...