Serama Chick Care, Am I Doing It Right?

[LostBoi73]

I got three Serama chicks at 4 weeks of age, though the black one is 3 week old. They were being given away free to a good home so I quickly jumped into getting them.

View attachment 2637584View attachment 2637585View attachment 2637586View attachment 2637587View attachment 2637588​

Just clearing up that I got everything covered for them care wise, as Seramas are fragile critters.

• Quarantined from current birds.
• Had a general health check, no sign of disease or parasites, though one has a bit of a head injury due to being rejected by the mother. Injured chick is active and shows no sign of severe damage.
• Secure enclosure.
• No predators.
• Draft free environment in a warm area.
• 20% protein feed until thry reach 16 weeks of age.
• Little to no corn, that'll make them fat. They have a little corn right now as a treat.
• 24 access to fresh water (currently in a bowl, regularly changed.)
• Daily handling, cooing at and smothering.

View attachment 2637591View attachment 2637592​

View attachment 2637594View attachment 2637596View attachment 2637598

It amazes me how athletic they are! They run up my arm flapping their wings to reach my shoulder. XD

So so so jealous!! I nearly bought some eggs to incubate last night but then cancelled the order as by mid to end sept it will start getting cold and dont want to put such young and small birds through that at such a young age. As muck as im jonesing for seramas i have to think of the bird first, but come march next year im fireing up the incubator and having serams and maybe some modern game, im still struggling with the idea of having to wait but i know its the right thing to do

 

[MageofMist]

Updates:

Co-broody madness from the two hens who usually fight.

Eggs pipping!

First chick had it's head jammed when trying to push out the egg, I just moved one piece of shell and it popped out happy and peeping.

Second chick hatched with no incident.

Two eggs were internally pipped and peeping, but didn't externally pip yet, so I made safety holes in the air sack. Yellow chick's and Tiny's egg.

Third chick was shrinkwrapped but I could get it out right away and pop it under a lamp to let it rest. It is back under mama with it's siblings.

It was 3:38 am.

Fourth chick was shrinkwrapped but it was too early to help, waited til the veins had receded and yolk was absorbed before I whittled it out, and was under the lamp resting to regain strength before being returned to mama and siblings.

And finally... I passed out.
Tiny's egg pipped.
Tiny's egg hatched without incident.

Running around eating and causing mayhem.

Introduced dad to the brood as they are clearly his, he stared for a moment and then ran away!

 

[Tonyroo]

Updates:

Co-broody madness from the two hens who usually fight.
View attachment 2930589

View attachment 2930588​

Eggs pipping!
View attachment 2930590

First chick had it's head jammed when trying to push out the egg, I just moved one piece of shell and it popped out happy and peeping.
View attachment 2930591

Second chick hatched with no incident.
View attachment 2930592

Two eggs were internally pipped and peeping, but didn't externally pip yet, so I made safety holes in the air sack. Yellow chick's and Tiny's egg.
View attachment 2930595

Third chick was shrinkwrapped but I could get it out right away and pop it under a lamp to let it rest. It is back under mama with it's siblings.
View attachment 2930593View attachment 2930594

It was 3:38 am.

Fourth chick was shrinkwrapped but it was too early to help, waited til the veins had receded and yolk was absorbed before I whittled it out, and was under the lamp resting to regain strength before being returned to mama and siblings.
View attachment 2930599View attachment 2930600

And finally... I passed out.
Tiny's egg pipped.
Tiny's egg hatched without incident.
View attachment 2930601

Running around eating and causing mayhem.
View attachment 2930611

Introduced dad to the brood as they are clearly his, he stared for a moment and then ran away!

View attachment 2930603​

Nice update, thank you.

 

[MageofMist]

The two late eggs still have movement but the hens gave up on them to focus on the chicks, as the eggs were laid later on during the incubation process...

So papa Squabble took over.

 

[MageofMist]

Eggs under Squabble are still moving so there's still life

And the 5 hatched chicks are a week old.

 

[azygous]

Got grit?

 

[MageofMist]

Got grit?

Yep, they have budgie-size grit to go with the finch seed mix and sunflower heart supplementation. Majority of their food is chick crumb.

 

[MageofMist]

So, my heart has melted into a puddle.

 

[lilmillefleur]

Such sweet mamas and chicks I love seramas, following!

 

[MageofMist]

Basically my dad at 8 pm today when checking on the chicks whilst I was asleep... Dolly is sweet and is basically a living blanket. Betty however is a very protective broody and only lets me and Dolly handle the chicks, going velociraptor on anyone and anything else.

​