Serama Hatch-A-Long!!

[DRGLENNON]

Well, the beauty of hatching your own eggs is that you get a lot of opportunities to try and figure out what works right for your particular eggs in your particular climate. It is also nice that they will often go broody and hatch some for you!

I've only got 7 eggs so far and hoping nobody goes broody until I can get some fertile ones in the incubator. I wish they would go broody on command. lol.

This is also my first hatch in my Brinsea Mini Adv., do you have any suggestions regarding humidity? Mine is at 60% with one side of the water pot filled. That seems high but no water I'm guessing may be to low. I'll check today.

 

[Skink]

I've only got 7 eggs so far and hoping nobody goes broody until I can get some fertile ones in the incubator. I wish they would go broody on command. lol.

This is also my first hatch in my Brinsea Mini Adv., do you have any suggestions regarding humidity? Mine is at 60% with one side of the water pot filled. That seems high but no water I'm guessing may be to low. I'll check today.

60% is pretty high, I'd weight the eggs and go dry until your first candling, then decide what to do from there. My first hatch in mine, I had the one water pot filled the whole time. Second time I went by egg weight instead, and ended up leaving it mostly dry until lockdown as a result! If you're worried, weigh your eggs for sure. My very first hatch was bad for a combination of things (and were not in the brinsea, of course) but one of them was too much humidity.. what eggs survived the heat spikes fell to not enough water loss.

I pretty much didn't fuss over the water at all this hatch until lockdown now that spring is here because the natural humidity is AWFUL on its own. It changes with the season too. If you're getting a lot of rain, def consider that.

 

[Skink]

YOU NO TOUCH BABIES

 

[darkbluespace]

YOU NO TOUCH BABIES

mean mommy??

 

[Yayah]

Congrats on your hatches! I'm just creeping by the Serama threads seeing whats up. Wish I was closer to you guys with excess rooster problems! I can't find one within two hours from me (NW PA) for my three girls. Oh well! The search goes on! Can't wait to see some baby pics from you guys.

 

[Yayah]

As long as we're in the question asking mode, I thought now might be a good time to ask about how everyone houses their serama chickens (as adults).

This is the contraption I made for my seramas. I'm not sure it'll help you out much, but I used 1x3's to convert this old changing table into a 'mini coop'. It's on wheels anyway, and right now its on my back porch since it's still been getting down into the 20's overnight this week. The front opens with a screen and then a door. Bottom two levels are boarded in, and the top is covered in 1/4" wire mesh. I think I have about $40 into it, not counting the actual changing table. They're comfortable in it, I think, but I wouldn't have more than 5 or 6 in here depending on size and temperment, and I'm actually stopping at 4 once I get a roo for them.
My goal is to pull it outside for the spring/summer/any nice weather. As long as I can rig up something to keep the rain off the top, I think it'll hold up fine. That way I can let them out to peck a bit during the day. Then, when the weather turns again, pull them back onto the back porch. Im in love with these little birds, but they really arent the most logical choice for our cold winters.

 

[DRGLENNON]

60% is pretty high, I'd weight the eggs and go dry until your first candling, then decide what to do from there. My first hatch in mine, I had the one water pot filled the whole time. Second time I went by egg weight instead, and ended up leaving it mostly dry until lockdown as a result! If you're worried, weigh your eggs for sure. My very first hatch was bad for a combination of things (and were not in the brinsea, of course) but one of them was too much humidity.. what eggs survived the heat spikes fell to not enough water loss.

I pretty much didn't fuss over the water at all this hatch until lockdown now that spring is here because the natural humidity is AWFUL on its own. It changes with the season too. If you're getting a lot of rain, def consider that.

Thanks. I think your right. It has been raining and humidity is high. If it gets too dry I can add a small amount at at time. I was going to weigh them just before I set them. I tried dropping a small fishing bobber in the well to reduce surface area, it dropped to the low 50's. Thanks again for your help!

 

[DRGLENNON]

YOU NO TOUCH BABIES

That' too cute!

 

[darkbluespace]

Congrats on your hatches! I'm just creeping by the Serama threads seeing whats up.

Wish I was closer to you guys with excess rooster problems! I can't find one within two hours from me (NW PA) for my three girls. Oh well! The search goes on! Can't wait to see some baby pics from you guys.

I imagine someone on the main Serama thread or facebook Serama group is nearer to you and may have a spare rooster. Fortunately, you have 3 girls because if it was reversed, it is much harder to come by hens!

 

[Yayah]

Totally agree! It actually worked out in my favor this time. Can't remember another instance I got 3 hens out of 3 chicks.