Tiny Seramas

No, I didn't know that Cajun! Great news! I've got some things I'd love to see on a canvas type.. Thank you!

Haystack... I have 3 broody hens.... you better stop it or I'm gonna use my kid's Christmas money on eggs! LMBO

No Cajun I'm not a fickle pickle, I'm going to do some traveling. Two month of it. I totally intended to sell all my birds, seriously, but the next day I went in to see them and I just can't do it. So I'm going to hire a lady who will watch over them every day, twice a day for that two month period. She has been doing this for a living and lives only about eight blocks from us. She does horses, dogs, cats, chickens, pigs etc. This is what she does and her prices are very fair. I just can't get rid of them, there under my skin...Hay

Off topic, but what makes this bird worth $180 ? Doesn't look very special to me, so what am I not understanding?

http://www.oakridgegamefarm.net/auction/Sweater-as-bred-by-Pulquin-Game-Farm,name,205891,auction_id,auction_details

It's a site for game birds auctions.

Glad you stayed hay, it wouldn't be the same here without you. How you remember everyone on here and what they say is amazing. I can't do it.

Are you going to get online as you travel too? If you come close to Amarillo let me know, maybe we can meet somewhere and have dinner.

So tell me, is it against DG rules for me to post a site like the one I just did? Nobody else seems to post anything like that, so I guess it is against policy.

I just saw a beatiful rooster I wanted to post a site to, but resisted. He was so pretty, talk about colors. Oh my!

Hi all! If anyone is interested, the Serama Council of North America has their own website that is full of good info on these birds...including the 'standards'. I am attaching a blank score card from a show so everyone can see how they are scored. Unless a bird is overweight it really makes no difference if you have A, B, or C class sizes. Each class is scored separately and the reserve and grand champions can come from any of the three weight classes. I have the best luck letting the hens hatch the eggs...like 95 percent hatch rate. I started out trying to incubate them and had about 50 percent hatch rate...sometimes worse. They are peculiar in that the smaller the bird, the worse they tend to fare with regard to heartiness...but some small ones do just fine. I generally try to keep B class birds as they can produce A, B, and C class offspring...they also tend to be the easiest keepers.

Here is one of my breeding roos.

Here is my other breeding roo...

...and my best hen...but she lays marble sized eggs that have no yolk...or either 'normal' sized eggs with no shell...I have received about 3-4 good eggs from her and managed to get a daughter out of her that looks identical to her in markings...but not quite as good conformation wise. She is the sweetest one I have and would much rather be held than with other chickens...when I open her cage door, she will jump up on my hand wanting me to take her out.

LFJ, That is a game chicken. A Grey Legged Hatch if I don't miss my guess. I have 2 hens and a roo of that same breed. Those are being sold to breed fighting chickens. People bet on the fights and that is why they are so expensive. It is illegal in all 50 states. That is why the seller has put that disclaimer on his auction but his buyers know the "code". The hens are rather nondescript but the roos are beautiful. Here is one of my roos. He is only 3/4 game.

Beautiful birds. They look like little soldiers.

JS, those are very nice. Thank you for sharing your pictures. What I've noticed about them is that they look like they are wearing long trousers when the side view is taken. They are very distinguishing looking.

Thank you Cajun. Yes, that clears up the mystery. So when they use the word "game" that means they are fighting birds? So that very plain looking hen can hatch out some mighty fine looking fighting roosters. Makes sense now.

I have mixed feelings about roosters fighting for sport. My tendency is always to favor freedom for the individual, but there are always limits to that freedom. Okay, I'm going to say something a little bit political, but it does fit this conversation. I was just thinking how much should we value a bird's life. Like do we put the value on it as much as we would value a human being? Some animals rights people would say "yes". Maybe a bird is a bird and has the "right" to fight if he wants to, which is natures way. Does it strike anyone as strange that cock fighting is illegal in all 50 states, but abortion is legal? Don't answer or we will be in a political discussion, but it does strike me as odd.

We are a funny bunch of people. I will eat chicken that a factory has killed, but shiver at the thought of killing one myself. We need to get our minds right.

I love animals as much as the next person but there are animal rights groups that just go too far. I don't look at cock fighting as a sport or a ligitimate business. IMHO it is exploitation of a living creature. It is true you cannot make a rooster fight. If he is not "game" he will not fight. But to put him in a ring and require him to fight for his life is inhumane and wrong in my book. If 2 roos fight in the yard that is nature but if I know they will fight to the death it is irresponsible of me to allow it to happen. I am certainly for individual rights but I do not think they supercede right to life. I feel the same way about abortion. Convenience should not overide life. I kill and eat my roosters. They live well here until they are harvested.

Thanks for the info JS. We, or I am a member already. You have some good looking birds.

L_F_J Those birds are worth a lot for the money they make.. Kinda like race horses.. the value is incredible. An owner of a winning bird can make a LOT of money. Like enough for a down payment on a house! Yes, it's illegal, and it's horrible what they do to those birds, but it has been around for years, and will be... nothing we can do about it. But yes, so many things spark questions.. it's just that so many people interpret things differently and have different beliefs, so there is no way for everyone to agree. We can just believe what works for us and hope to help others along the way.

There is nothing wrong with that post.. you don't seem to be promoting their sales. LOL I'd think it would be against the rules if you were soliciting for them... or promoting your own sales in a forum.

Cajun, I really love the look of game birds.. that one is amazing! I also like their temperament with people. :) The ones I've had any experience with are mellow.. as long as there are no other roos.

They are easy to handle as a rule. Cross breeding them is not a good idea as they tend to be harder to handle. The one in the pic I posted is a bit snarky at times. I still have the upper hand on him but have threatened to kill him on numerous occassions. ;)

He is a real beauty!

Raising chickens for fighting and gambling is not something I'd want to be involved in. I would love to have some just to look at though. Gorgeous.

jscruggs.....Awesome Birds!!!!!
I have one or two Cross breed Roos that will definitely go into Freezer Camp. My BLRWyandotte produced some fine babies with my Buuf Orp girls. The offspring have out grown their Mothers and are heavier than both Parents! I am hoping the Pullets will lay Enormous eggs and the Roos will have plenty of gravy and dressing served with them!!!

Haystack you are a hoot but certainly not so small LOL!

Okay I am one lucky lucky girl!!!!!! I just spoke with jscruggs....HES A NEIGHBOR......Yaaaaay! I get to go and visit with him this afternoon and adopt his babies that are on "Freezer Camp" row! Yippppeeeeee! Thanks John!

Oh Eufaula that really sucks, I want to go with you. Some things just are not right...Hay

I imagine seramas don't take up much space in the freezer.

I don't raise game chickens for fighting. I had some very expensive birds given to me by somebody who does. That is why I have them and wish I didn't. The roos all have to be kept seperate or most will end up dead. It's a pain. But they are very pretty birds. The hens lay nice sized eggs but not regularly like big stock hens do. They are pretty good broody hens and you DON'T mess with their chicks. LOL I have 2 pullets and 2 hens. The pullets are both gentle and the hens are both flighty. No rhyme or reason since the pullets are the offspring of the hens. The hens were grown when I got them and may not have been handled. I hatched the pullets in my bator and have handled them a good bit. Could be the difference. But I reiterate I do NOT fight chickens. I fight with them sometimes. :)

Here is a pic of that same roo when he was a chic.

Hey Jscruggs: Glad you joined us, welcome to the forum...I raise seramas and agree with you totally. I'm really not interested in showing so I pretty well stick with seramas as a pet. They are fun little birds and I normally get about seventy % hatch rate with the incubator. I do a lot of staggared hatches therefore I like the incubator. Have a great day and thanks for the Pic's...Haystack

Hay,
I'm not really into showing them either...my 9 year old was, but now he is more into hunting...but come spring he will probably want to go back to a show or two. I think my incubator failure rate is primarily due to humidity problems. Many of my chicks would die upon pipping...too much moisture. I got sick of losing them and sick of tinkering with the incubator (had I bought a Hovabator Genesis I don't think I would have any problems)...but I had a sub-par incubator...and got sub-par results. Anyway, it is too easy for me to just collect 8 or so and stick them under a hen who wants to sit on them...I might try the Genesis this spring if I get everything else here squared away. We essentially moved into our remodeling project Not only was the house deplorable, but the yard was literally a mud lot. It had one single tree in the front and on in the back...and now that we are here is seems we are getting less done than when we weren't here. If for some reason this spring a miracle happens and everything here on the inside is done, this garage full of landscaping plants get in the ground, and my vegetable garden doesn't consume my every spare minute, I will have more time for playing with my chickens. I know of people who have your success rate with the incubators, but so far, my bator' is half empty. :)

This message was edited Dec 14, 2010 6:24 PM

JS, I hope you'll stick around, you sound like the kind of guy I would really enjoy talking with. Keep us posted on what your doing and thanks so much for your response. I hear you'll be visited by our very own EUFAULA, she is one wonderful lady and I hope the two of you have a great visit. I agree with you that the incubator makes a big difference, I had a Little Giant and I hated it. I have a Hovabator and also a Brinsea, I really like both of them very much...Hay

Hay,
I enjoyed Eufaula's visit and sent 8 chickens home with her...she might be cursing me later. If frogs had wings they wouldn't bump their butt when they hop, but if I'd had more time before the arctic circle moved down here, I'd already have my chicken house rebuilt and had more room to keep them safe, sound, and snug this winter. She was excited about getting them and I was more than glad to give them to a good home. Anyway, my son wasn't real excited about his babies coming down with an ever-so-slight touch of death. :)

Don't you just hate when life gets in the way? Happened to us this year. We moved here a year ago in August and had big plans for Spring. But DH got sick in May and since then it has been one health problem after another. Cost us our whole year. Now we are into winter again and nothing is any better than last winter. And yes, I would like a little cheese with that whine. LOL

This is the hill I have to climb everyday feed and water my chickens and pick up my ONE egg. But I love my girls. Got all the stuff to build a pen down the hill but couldn't get it done. Maybe next Spring.

I sure hope you are able to get all your projects finished so you can enjoy your chickens.

JS I knew you'd enjoy Eufaula, she is just one of the best...So the Artic has moved into Ga...Huh. We had it earlier with -4 temps which is about 20 degrees colder than normal for us. I lost about a doz of my seramas even with four heat lamps going. The water was still freezing within an hour of changing it and heat lamps going. I still have around forty five left but I hate loosing them...Hay

Thats quite a hill, especially with that snow on it...my biggest concern is with you hurting yourself and no one there to help you. Managine that hill on your own is not a good idea Cajun. Please be very careful...Hay

Eufaula! I hope it's Serama babiez you got to bring home! I felt so bad for you loosing yours.

JS I'm so glad you got to visit/enable another DGr.. That is just soooo fun! I've been on DG for quite some time now. Last year I got to meet a few DGrs and wow was that fun! I hope to get to meet Mr Haystack when he travels.. I'm ZZ the Serama nut and well.. Modern Game, Lavender Ameraucana and a few others that I fancy.. I agree with you about incubating.. Since I got a really good broody, I'm sold!! No more incubating for me.. I'm in the process of moving, and I boxed up almost all my "chick intensive care" stuff and it's goin in storage.

Even though I'm done with bators.. I'm in a pretty severe chick withdrawl right now.. LOL I need another pen and it's ON I've got 3 hens broody right now and it's soooooo tempting! Haystack is no help either. LOL

Welcome to the forum... I sure hope you post a lot of pictures. ;)

No Babies in this corner of the world... and no one better egg Billy on... we will wait till the spring (Feb) where we can be confident the bator will do its job. Our weather is fluctuating way to much and if I forget to leave the heater on while I am at work it gets too cold in here... And NO WHISPERING to Billy Mr Haystack or you either ZZ..

Welcome JS

Aww you wouldn't turn Santa away if he fills Billy's stocking with fertile eggs would you? LMBO

Besides Billy is holding out for some Araucana eggs..... That will be our special hatch..

LOL Santa better not

Cajuninky I would be whinning a lot more than you if I had to climb that hill for ONE EGG to.I hope you have those spikey things to put on the bottom of your boots,I have to use them in the winter or I would be on my hinny a lot.

ZZs: Santa Clause is comming to town, look what I found in my incubator. My Bad...LOL

And this is what I found in my Brooder...TEASE...LOVE YOU DARLING...oop's next pic below

This message was edited Dec 15, 2010 6:07 AM

Brooder:

I'm tellin Santa on you Haystack

Hey everyone!!! Im telling you right now that Jscruggs is a sweetheart and A Cutie Patootie too! LOL!!! I have some really beautiful Seramas, I could not be happier if I had bought them off the Winning docket in the Serama Classics , instead of rescuing them from Freezer Camp!!
Here are a couple of quickie photos take in the chill if a 20 degree afternoon as they sat in their transport cage!
I will have better photos later today, as soon as I can figure whether its going to snow here or rainnn............the weather man says we will be back into the 60's again tomorrow, hoping hes right!! Then I will be able to get my new babies all settled into their new coops! Thanks again John, and its going to be so nice having you here with us all! ( ...and a neighbor to boot!)

What a beautiful bird!

You made out like a bandit. He's a looker for sure.

Here he is again with a better view, ....jscruggs maybe can give us a better description so I can keep my new babies straight! It was getting so cold yesterday and we were in a hurry to get in out of the cold and me and the brood back home again!