Silkies and Seramas?

[matthewschickens]

I am interested in Silkies and Seramas and want to know about them from people that have experienced them.

SERAMAS:
I have read a lot on Seramas on the internet but want to know about them from people who have had them.
Are Seramas good with Silkies?
Do they do good on grass?
Would a greenhouse work as a good coop for them?
If I got a pair of Seramas then would I have trouble with Silkie females and a Serama roo?
Would they fight?
Would the Serama be able to mate them?

SILKIES:
Are they friendly?
Would they go good with Seramas?
How much do they eat?
Do they need a certain temperature?
Would they go good in a greenhouse?
Will they free range?
Could I trim their feathers on their legs so they could scratch better?
Does anyone have pics of all colors of Silkies?
Are they good brooders?
Can they brood other birds besides chickens?

Would this greenhouse work or do you think it is not safe?
http://www.merrygardeners.com/site/594530/product/HG4008

I might have more Q. later but these are the main ones.

Thanks!

Matthew

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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[High Roost Ranch]

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[walkswithdog]

In winter a greenhouse is viable. Summer... not so much. Chickens need quite a bit of ventilation and humidity build up makes them ill. You'd have to be able to really open it up in summer for it to work.

Seramas like more heat than the silkies do. Yes, put together they do make very cute mixed breed little buggers. I have a bunch of serama/sizzles right now. Too cute.

Some serama males are VERY hard on females but it's a matter of individuals. Some like to fight more, some less. I had one serama male strip half the feathers off his favorite sizzle hen, no matter what I did to protect her. I finally had to separate them so she could grow back out. Some get along with everybody.

Silkies are good parents, and can raise most any poultry, even turkeys, geese and pheasants. Though a silkie looks really dumb trying to mother a twelve week old turkey poult. REALLY dumb. Seramas are good mommas.

I keep heat lights for both and the seramas like the hotter side of the coop. The silkies prefer the cooler side. Seramas tend to be high roosting birds, the silkies often like shelves and piling up together.

 

[matthewschickens]

Thanks for the replies!!!

Would a greenhouse work if you put like 1 or 2 ventilation windows?
Does anybody have another good cheap coop idea that could hold 6+ hens?
Big enough for me to walk into?
I would like a greenhouse so I could grow plants out of season and keep small chickens but if it is not safe then I would want to do what is best for them.

Any comments on the first or second Q. will be much appreciated!

Matthew

 

[Sonoran Silkies]

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Seramas would be even stranger looking with 12 week old poults

 

[matthewschickens]

Does anyone have any other suggestions?

I wonder if you put an Ostrich egg under a Silkie???

Matthew

 

[Southernbelle]

I have Silkies and Seramas at the same time. I have Silkie x Serama babies, too. Mine were born with yellow skin, walnut comb, 5 toes and feathered legs. As they're feathering in, they have hard feathers (Silkie feathering is recessive) and small feathered crests.

Serama's fly really, really well and can get out of small spaces. If you're going to grow plants in your greenhouse, you might want to stick with the Silkies because they won't be able to fly up and wreak the plants.

 

[Southernbelle]

Here's a picture of my latest babies: a purebred Silkie on the left and a Silkie/Serama mix on the right

 

[matthewschickens]

Thanks Southernbelle!

Do you ever have Serama or Silkies for sale?
If so, what kinds and how much?

Does anyone have any other advice on this idea and these breeds?

Thanks!

Matthew