I have finally met some serama. A local breeder was kind enough to introduce me to her breeding flock, and I am very impressed. In the flesh, they are no bigger than quail and really rather bold. No mad skittishness or cowering. In fact, one particularly feisty little chap took on one of the ever tolerant husband's shoes.
He was doing his very best 'Yeah, come on then! I am well 'ard! I'll have your ankles!' dance. His little chest was puffed, his hackles raised and his tail erect. As he strutted about our feet and charged at the ever tolerant husband, we all went 'aahhhhhh!'. I very much doubt that was the effect he was going for. I felt rather sorry for him to be honest. No more than six inches high, he was really giving it some and doing his upmost to be terrifying. After a few passes, he realised we weren't going to run fleeing from his mighty wrath and got rather disheartened. Slowly, he lowered his tail and hackles and sloped off back to his wives who were watching his humiliation. The breeder informed us that her huge doberman is terrified of the little cockerel, so at least he gets to put the fear of God in to something.
Predictably, the showy males are the most eye catching. They raise and fan out their tails in a way that reminds me of, simultaneously, peacocks and flamenco dancers. The females are less extravagant. However, they are neat little birds, with pretty heads and tiny little feet. All in all, they are quite a dainty breed. The size varies a fair bit, and apparently they don't breed true in colour or size. A few boys let loose with a fairly pathetic crow while we stood chatting which was interesting (and made me wonder....). However, as we were leaving one of the tiniest males let rip with a voice that was humourously out of synch with his diminuitive stature. Of course, there is no way of knowing just how loud, or how persistent, a cockerel might be until he's in situ. So for now, a male is out.
On saturday, I am heading to Worcester to see some available pullets.
We just had five of five Serama hatch today - a rather unheard-of success rate - and the babies are already crowding the window of the incubator trying to jump out into our hands. They are incredibly people-oriented for chickens. And if you think the adults are small, the newborns are the size of a bottlecap. Our boy does crow, but not even loud enough to be heard a floor above (ours are safely in the basement for the winter). I don't think I'd like to own lots of roosters, but one is very tolerable, and they seem to be lovely males. Gentle with their girls (ours never have a feather out of place) and protective without being aggressive.
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