Serama Egg Hatching Day

[Ch1cken Tender]

In the process of hatching Serama eggs and such, I have found that many people get many different hatch days with their Serama eggs. So, I decided to create a poll so that beginning hatchers can know the average hatch day and plan accordingly. Thank you for contributing your experiences!

 

[Ch1cken Tender]

@WoDia, I believe that you also have experience with Seramas! Care to share any hatching tips?

 

[WoDia]

@WoDia, I believe that you also have experience with Seramas! Care to share any hatching tips?

Thank you so much for tagging me @Ch1cken Tender!

Oh goodness, I’ve hatched so many— both in incubator and under tiny broody. My experience has shown me, that days 20 and 21 are normal for all of my Serama hatches. I set incubator temperature to 99.5-100.5 (depending on incubator floor readings from digital thermometer/hygrometers). Humidity is kept at 45-50% for the first 16 days. Then I increase it to 60-65%. Many times in my smaller incubators, the humidity spikes to 70+ during lockdown, but that issue has never affected hatch rate. In fact, it’s easier to control humidity with my incubators exterior water fill chambers.

I lay the eggs on their sides and hand turn them an odd number of times a day (5). Incubators are kept in the warmest room, away from drafts, sunlight, and family members. I wrap large towels or small light blankets around them (not required, but I like to), avoiding the exterior water fill chambers and vents, vents kept between halfway to fully open (fully open during lockdown). I stop turning on day 17 for any possible early hatchers. I’ve had a very small number hatch before day 20, and those happened to be my few micro-class and required assisted hatch.

I use Kebbonix incubators just for the Serama eggs. They’re small (for 12 standard-sized chicken eggs) and fairly inexpensive, but this brand has given me excellent results. I also incubate small numbers— this is just what I personally prefer. I candle on days 4, 10, and 17. I always have an extra incubator running for quick transfer if 1 were to fail.

Of course, the best way to incubate Serama eggs is to allow the tiny hens to do it, because they’re incredible at it, and are wonderful, very dedicated mothers.

 

[Ch1cken Tender]

Thank you so much for tagging me @Ch1cken Tender!

Oh goodness, I’ve hatched so many— both in incubator and under tiny broody. My experience has shown me, that days 20 and 21 are normal for all of my Serama hatches. I set incubator temperature to 99.5-100.5 (depending on incubator floor readings from digital thermometer/hygrometers). Humidity is kept at 45-50% for the first 16 days. Then I increase it to 60-65%. Many times in my smaller incubators, the humidity spikes to 70+ during lockdown, but that issue has never affected hatch rate. In fact, it’s easier to control humidity with my incubators exterior water fill chambers.

I lay the eggs on their sides and hand turn them an odd number of times a day (5). Incubators are kept in the warmest room, away from drafts, sunlight, and family members. I wrap large towels or small light blankets around them (not required, but I like to), avoiding the exterior water fill chambers and vents, vents kept between halfway to fully open (fully open during lockdown). I stop turning on day 17 for any possible early hatchers. I’ve had a very small number hatch before day 20, and those happened to be my few micro-class and required assisted hatch.

I use Kebbonix incubators just for the Serama eggs. They’re small (for 12 standard-sized chicken eggs) and fairly inexpensive, but this brand has given me excellent results. I also incubate small numbers— this is just what I personally prefer. I candle on days 4, 10, and 17. I always have an extra incubator running for quick transfer if 1 were to fail.

Of course, the best way to incubate Serama eggs is to allow the tiny hens to do it, because they’re incredible at it, and are wonderful, very dedicated mothers.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this all out!!! This is certainly some amazing information! I will be bookmarking for sure .
Have all of your micro class Seramas required an assisted hatch? What do you generally do for those eggs in that case?

 

[WoDia]

Thank you so much for taking the time to write this all out!!! This is certainly some amazing information! I will be bookmarking for sure .
Have all of your micro class Seramas required an assisted hatch? What do you generally do for those eggs in that case?

Thank you so much for the kind words, my Friend! I hope that anything I share may be helpful to others. Seramas are such a sweet tiny breed that’s extra special and a lot of fun to raise.

Those micro hatches took much longer than needed. The chicks were worn-out and giving up. 1 of them was able to turn toward the air cell, but she couldn’t successfully externally pip. She stopped trying. I thought I was too late, until I heard a tiny peep when I finished her pip for her. 1 had made a tiny pip under the air cell (he couldn’t turn), and 1 actually pipped at the small end. I discovered that she had her feet pinned on either side of her head. It’s incredible to me that a chick will sometimes bypass that internal pip and directly breathe outside air. Amazing.

Every time I assisted a chick, I kept the egg on a soft towel, and slowly chipped away a portion of the shell, starting at the area of the pip. Then I laid them on a damp paper towel, put them back, adjusted humidity, and waited for them to try and finish the hatch. Some did, depending on how much I chipped away for them. Others needed full help.

 

[Ch1cken Tender]

Thank you so much for the kind words, my Friend! I hope that anything I share may be helpful to others. Seramas are such a sweet tiny breed that’s extra special and a lot of fun to raise.

Those micro hatches took much longer than needed. The chicks were worn-out and giving up. 1 of them was able to turn toward the air cell, but she couldn’t successfully externally pip. She stopped trying. I thought I was too late, until I heard a tiny peep when I finished her pip for her. 1 had made a tiny pip under the air cell (he couldn’t turn), and 1 actually pipped at the small end. I discovered that she had her feet pinned on either side of her head. It’s incredible to me that a chick will sometimes bypass that internal pip and directly breathe outside air. Amazing.

Every time I assisted a chick, I kept the egg on a soft towel, and slowly chipped away a portion of the shell, starting at the area of the pip. Then I laid them on a damp paper towel, put them back, adjusted humidity, and waited for them to try and finish the hatch. Some did, depending on how much I chipped away for them. Others needed full help.

Thank you very much! This is wonderful . I’m letting my very little Serama lady hatch some eggs, and it occurred to me that one or two of her eggs may end up needing assistance because of their tiny size! Also, thank you for the follow .

 

[Ch1cken Tender]

By the way, if you can think of anybody else on BYC with Serama hatching experience, please tag them!

 

[WoDia]

Thank you very much! This is wonderful . I’m letting my very little Serama lady hatch some eggs, and it occurred to me that one or two of her eggs may end up needing assistance because of their tiny size! Also, thank you for the follow .

Thank you as well for the follow, my Friend!

Please post pictures after they hatch! I love seeing sweet, adorable Serama chicks. I hope there are no issues. You’ll know what to do.

 

[WoDia]

@fluffycrow @Karilcole

 

[Ch1cken Tender]

Thank you as well for the follow, my Friend!

Please post pictures after they hatch! I love seeing sweet, adorable Serama chicks. I hope there are no issues. You’ll know what to do.

I will definitely post some pics when they hatch! Thank you again for all of the instructions. Equipped with the info you have given me, I don’t think anything could go awry.