Hatching Seramas
Chicks
Things to watch for...
- We use a incubator mainly for hatching. We would let a hen hatch her own eggs but ours are on wire so they don't ever go broody but if that is an option for you use it.
- Serama hens make great mothers when they are broody!
- The incubation period for seramas is 19-20 days.
- The temperature should be 99.5
- We keep our humidity level around 40-50 until we set on lock down then we bump it up to 75. We have to add a sponge to help raise the humidity level.
- We choose to hand roll our eggs because serama eggs are more delicate and don't do well in a turner. Also it just seems more natural. We keep a turner on hand in the case of us not being home to turn the eggs for a day or two.
Chicks
- We leave the chicks in the incubator until all have hatched and they are all dry and fluffy. *Do not get excited and open the incubator before they all hatch!
- After taking out of the incubator we show the chicks were the water and food is by gently dipping their beaks in the water bowl.
- Tap your finger in the feed bowl with the tip of your finger as if your finger is pecking the food to show the chicks where the food is.
- Refrain from handeling and playing with the chikcs for the first 24 hours.
- We provide a sound environment for the young chicks.
- Good sanitation is very important when raising chickens especially chicks.
- Wash hand before and after handling chicks.
- Minimize their stress and clean their cage regularly.
- All of our chicks are housed in brooders in our garage.
- First 3 days we like to have the drinking water at 98 degrees (or warm).
- The brooder temperature should be 95°F at floor level. Then you will reduce it 5 degrees per week until the temperature reaches 70°-75°F. Sometimes smaller birds require heat a little longer than standard birds.
- Make sure the heat source is only directed on one side/corner of the brooder so there is plenty of room for the chicks to walk away from the heat source so they can control how much heat they want.
- You can use a thermometer at floor level under the light to check the temp. Raise the heat lamp higher up to get it cooler.
Things to watch for...
- Pasty butt: It is important to remove this daily. Pull off gently using a warm wash cloth or running under a slight flow of warm water to loosen the poop.
- Huddled together - too cold (increase temperature)
- Noisy - hungry/thirsty (have feed/water available at all times) or cold/hot (adjust temperature)
- Spread out at edges of brooder - too hot (reduce temperature)
- Blood in droppings – treat for Coccidiosis with Corrid