Serama Chicken: History, Size, Eggs, Health and Care

One of the most fascinating breeds of chicken is a fairly new breed, called the Serama. These tiny birds have a unique appearance and are also considered to be incredibly friendly and gentle. Combined, these attributes make the Serama a popular choice for anyone who is enthusiastic about raising chickens.

Serama Chicken Overview

Feature	Details
Purpose	Ornamental
Egg Color	Cream Brown
Egg Size	Small
Broodiness	Moderately to Very Broody
Heat Tolerance	Yes
Cold Tolerance	No
Comb Type	Single Comb
Egg Production	About 180 to 200 eggs per year
Chicken Skin Color	Yellow
Life Span	7-10 years
Adult Weight	Hen: 0.6-0.9 lbs, Rooster: 0.8-1.1 lbs
Backyard Friendly	5/5

Chickens might be the last thing you think about when finding a pet. As finding the right breed for small spaces and apartments can be hard for many chicken enthusiasts, we’re here to introduce you to the Serama breed!

The Serama chicken is a breed that has won over many poultry enthusiasts around the world for its amazing looks, sociable personality, and minuscule size. These little charmers have become popular pets as well as exhibition and show birds in countries from their native home of Malaysia to other places such as the United States, Australia, and Europe.

Though they might not lay lots of eggs nor provide much meat when it comes to the kitchen table, these fowl shine in the areas of ornamental and as a pet. Seramas are oftentimes an excellent match for smaller homesteads; since their size differs so vastly from that of your standard laying hens and would-be-roasters. 

One more thing children can appreciate about these miniatures? Broodiness! It’s fair to say that most hens belonging to this breed will be found delightedly setting on eggs without hesitation. Even without the typical high egg production or meat yields that could be expected from larger breeds, it’s no secret why Seramas are prized throughout many households!

Background and History of Serama Chickens

The Serama is a relatively new chicken breed, only truly emerging about 50 years ago. Some stories about the breed suggest that it was originally given as a gift during ancient times to the king of Thailand, but it is unclear if this story is truly about the Serama breed or simply about another type of small, or bantam, chicken.

The breed as it is known today originated in Malaysia. The breed’s origins started as early as the 1600s, but the modern strain started in the 1970s and was propagated by Wee Yean Een, a Malaysian breeder working in the province of Kelantan.

The Serama was created when Japanese bantams and Malaysian bantams were crossed. The Serama breed was first shown in 1990 and first came to the United States in 2000.

Since it was first imported into the United States, the American Serama chicken variety has been recognized by both the American Bantam Association and the American Poultry Association. There are several different clubs within the United States that work to preserve the breed and uphold the breed appearance standard.

Serama chickens were also imported into Europe in 2004 when they were brought into the United Kingdom. Since then, the Poultry Club of Great Britain has also recognized the breed. Despite this, Seramas are still relatively rare in Europe.

Seramas are available in a variety of colors, many of which are recognized, as well as sizes and even feather types. Because of this, many breeders stick to breeding a certain style of Serama chickens.

However, most enthusiasts prefer to have several types of Seramas because they are so fascinating and can add so much variety and interest to a flock.

Serama Chicken Breed Standard

• Seramas weigh between 13 and 19 ounces
• The body is V-shaped and erect
• Available in a variety of colors

Serama chickens are incredibly striking in appearance, for a variety of reasons. First, they are quite small. They are considered by many to be the smallest chicken breed on the planet. They range from between six and ten inches tall, and three weight classes are recognized for the breed standard.

The weight classes are Micro, where females weigh up to eight ounces and males weigh up to 13 ounces, A-Class, where females weigh under 12 ounces and males weigh under 13 ounces, B Class, where females weigh under 15 ounces and males weigh under 16 ounces, and C Class, where females and males both weigh under 19 ounces.

Serama chickens are available in a range of different colors, and many of these, including white and black, are recognized in different poultry associations. Seramas can also have different feather types. In Malaysia, only chickens with normal feathers, which are held tight to the body, are accepted.

However, in other areas, the United States in particular, silky or frizzle feathered birds are also considered to be acceptable.

The Serama body structure is as important as its size, and in Malaysia, Seramas are classified in accordance with their shape. These chickens stand very tall, with their heads held erect and their full chests puffed out.

They have a very short back, which gives them a V-shape. The wings add to this appearance as they are held downward and nearly point to the ground. The tails are held high.

Seramas have a single red comb and red wattles. Male Seramas have much larger combs and wattles than females. The legs of the birds are yellow and are not feathered.

Personality and Temperament of Serama Chicken

Although they look quite fierce with their erect, alert stance and strong chests, Seramas are some of the friendliest chickens available. They enjoy being patted and may even ask to be picked up. Many people keep them simply as pets since they are not well-suited for either laying eggs or producing meat.

Serama chickens have strong personalities, which makes them an interesting addition for any chicken enthusiast. However, because they are so gentle and friendly, they are very easy to care for. They can be kept indoors, and they do well with children. The docile nature of this chicken breed also makes them a good option for showing.

Serama chickens are also much quieter than the common chicken. The females make less noise than other hens. The males are also more docile than the average rooster and have a soft, nearly squeaky crow that is much less disruptive than the more familiar crow of an average rooster.

Roosters of the Serama breed can sometimes become aggressive when housed with other roosters, so it is best to house them with hens only.

Serama Chicken Egg Laying

• Produce four to five eggs a week
• Eggs are cream or brown in color
• Eggs are much smaller than traditional chicken eggs

Despite their tiny size, Serama chickens are actually quite good at laying eggs. They tend to lay about four eggs a week, for a total of around 200 to 208 eggs a year. However, these eggs are as small as the parent birds. It takes about five Serama eggs to add up to a regular chicken egg’s size.

Serama hens begin producing eggs at around five months old. The eggs are generally cream colored but can range from light to dark brown as well. Hens lay all year long, although it has been noted that they tend to produce more eggs between November and February.

Seramas are quite broody, meaning they are doting mothers, and they are invested in hatching their eggs. Serama hens can only sit on about four or five eggs at a time due to their size. The eggs hatch faster than those of larger chickens, with chicks emerging after 19 or 20 days. The smaller varieties of Seramas may hatch even faster.

Health Issues and Care

Serama chickens are a relatively hardy breed and therefore are less prone to particular illnesses than any other chicken breed. As long as they are given adequate space and provided with a nutritious diet, Serama chicken can live between seven and 10 years old.

Like any other chicken, the Serama chicken is susceptible to the avian flu. In fact, the breed’s population was badly damaged when the avian flu swept through Malaysia.

In order to prevent contact with the avian flu, keepers of Serama chickens should take care to limit the amount of exposure to wild birds that their chickens have. Aviaries, nest boxes, and anywhere else the chickens might roam should be kept clean in order to discourage germs.

Serama chickens have also inherited, from their Japanese bantam ancestors, a gene that can cause developmental problems in chicks before they hatch from the egg.

This gene causes the legs of the chicks to grow to an inadequate length, which means the chicks cannot move around into a proper hatching position. This causes about a quarter of all Serama chicken eggs to fail to hatch.

3 Tips for Raising Serama Chickens

• The feed should consist of crumbles or mash
• Seramas should be kept away from drafts and dampness
• Seramas should be kept safe from predators

Serama chickens are relatively easy to keep, whether they are kept indoors or outdoors, and they need less space and less food than the average chicken. However, Serama chicken owners should keep the bird’s small size and tropical origins in mind when creating the correct setup.

Because they are so small, Serama chickens can’t eat pellets as regular chickens do. Instead, these birds should be fed either mash or crumbles. Seramas are also good at foraging, and allowing the birds to free-range can introduce healthy, nutritious insects into their diets. This can increase the number of vitamins and minerals the birds are receiving.

Seramas come from a warm climate and are therefore not particularly suited to colder weather. They can withstand winters as long as temperatures do not drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.

However, no matter what the weather, it is important to keep these chickens away from drafts, as this can cause the birds to catch a chill. In addition, these birds do not do well in muddy or damp conditions. Instead, they can be kept indoors or on grass.

Since they are so small, these chickens are also quite susceptible to predators. Keeping Serama chickens inside can mitigate the risk of predators. However, if the birds are kept outside, it is vitally important that keepers ensure that the aviary or encloser is incredibly secure and that no predators, including foxes, hawks, owls, snakes, or rats, can make their way inside.

Summary

For those chicken enthusiasts who simply love birds and are looking for a pet or ornamental chicken, the Serama is an excellent choice. These birds are friendly, loving, and gentle, and they are also very interesting to look at. A flock of Seramas will be the envy of nearly anyone who likes chickens.