Seramas - Give me your opinions/experience on their hardiness

[ZooMummzy]

In January, I was fortunate enough to have 3 Seramas - all hens - hatch. I was thrilled since they have a reputation about being hard to hatch. I was also thrilled (and shocked) they were all girls. I am new to the breed but have read a lot about them but wanted some real life opinions and experiences on their hardiness. I live in Western Oregon so the weather is not awful. We get rain and we do get below freezing temps, but not often and it is never unexpected (meaning I can plan for it). Average temp in the winter is in the high 30s - high 40s, summers 70-90. Right now, two of the girls are outside in the coop (the other one was hatched by my broody Silkie and is spoiled, so living with her "momma" inside) with everyone else and seem to be doing just fine. It is a secure coop, draft free with lots of roost poles, bedding and space. The run is protected too...covered with netting, cemented in fencing and a patio to protect them from rain.

Do you think they will do ok in these types of temperatures and environment? I'm not opposed to making other arrangements in the garage or house if necessary, but would rather them have a "normal" life outside.

Thanks in advance for your input!

 

[drumstick diva]

Of course we will need PICTURES of chicks, of coop, brooder, run etc. But mostly chick pics. My friend is interested in Seramas, so would like to learn more that I can pass along to her. You mention average winter and summer temps but nothing of SPRING. or is your weather like ours (Chicago area) where it's not unusual to bypass spring entirely . Good luck with your hatch. My friend keeps miscalling them "serami's" I told her you don't buy them at a deli. Think she just keeps saying that to irk me, because it really does.

 

[Buck Creek Chickens]

Most of mine have no problem with winter, but I always get one that needs to spend winter in the house, last 3 years a rooster

, the chicks can be a little fragile sometimes but in general they are very hardy

 

[ZooMummzy]

Quote:
Lol "serami", that's funny

Sorry, no, we have a fairly normal spring (most years)...showers, temps in the 50s and 60s, sunbreaks. However, we having a weird day today...rain, sun and now hail. I just made a mad dash to the coop in my bathrobe and hair in a towel (no, no pics of that, lol) to "save" all the new girls who did not know enough to go inside

Our Fall is very mild till Halloween, almost like an extension of summer.

Here are the pics requested

The chicks are 3 months old now...Reese and Alida

My coop after it was built last summer

 

[ZooMummzy]

Quote:
Ok, that is good to know, thank you. They are 3 months old now so I feel are past the "worry" stage. I do have a mixed flock of standards and bantams. So far the bantams are more mean to the Seramas than my standards

 

[key west chick]

I have 5 seramas. Mine get no special treatment whatsoever. They eat chick starter right out of the bag from day one. The adults eat scratch and layer pellets. I live in north Ga and had the coldest winter here in awhile. Mine have no coop, just a dog kennel that is covered and has tarps around 3 sides during the winter to keep the wind off them. They did fine.

 

[ZooMummzy]

Quote:
Thank you! That is great information and puts my mind at ease. I'm just so new to the breed and everything you read about them online tells you they can't handle anything under 40 so I was a bit concerned. I'll stop worrying (so much) now

 

[key west chick]

We had several days and nights that never got above freezing. I'm sure they were cold, but so was everyone else! The first year I had them I ran a propane heater in their kennel. I had also read they were not very cold hardy. But when it stayed cold for so long, I couldnt afford to run the heater for days at a time. They did fine!

 

[jen5680]

Shooooot look at that awsome coop you built for them!!
I'd live in it this winter and wouldn't complain at all!! LOL!!

 

[BluegrassSeramas]

Mine are outside in concrete shed with no heat all winter.

It is draft-free and that really helps since we get down around 0 degrees some weeks.

I have really not had a problem with the birds that were acclimated to the weather. I did have to watch combs for frostbite, but birds that were raised indoor had a much tougher time.

Just make sure they are out in it as much as possible and I think they will be fine!