Serama Chicken

The Serama chicken breed may be one of the smallest chickens in the world, but these birds have a great personality.

While these birds have been a favorite breed for many people in Malaysia, its native country, it is a relatively new breed here in the US. The Serama is, however, gaining popularity fast in the Western world.

The Serama chicken is one of the friendliest birds that you will find out there. These birds have a sweet disposition and are always willing to be a part of your life. They are considered good egg layers with small-sized eggs that are good for show or decorative purposes.

Overall, the Serama is good with kids and will get along with other chickens in your backyard. You will love the range of colors that this true bantam comes in with a big personality that will make you want to spend time with them.

The Serama is described by their erect posture, full breast, upright tail feathers held straight and tight up to the body as well as vertical wings held down almost touching the ground.

So, is this tiny chicken breed good for your backyard flock?

In this article, we have included all you need to know about the Serama chicken breed. From their personality to appearance, how to care for these birds, lifespan, and price among other important factors.

Continue reading to find out more about this loveable chicken breed.

Serama Chicken Breed History

Also known as the Malaysian Serama Bantam, the Serama chicken breed comes from Kelantan, a state in Malaysia. These birds were developed by crossing the Malaysian bantams and the Japanese bantams and are popular pets in this region. They are commonly referred to as ayam katik and ayam cantik, which translates to pygmy chickens and pretty chickens, respectively.

The Malaysian Serama Bantam is probably the world’s smallest chicken but has a big personality that is appealing to many. The Serama is gaining approval fast here in the US and is sponsored by several organizations like the Serama Council of North America. Currently, the American Serama is recognized by the American Poultry Association (APA) and the American Bantam Association (ABA). The white variety is the official color to be accepted for this chicken breed.

Seramas are also famous in Europe and have 4 classes. They first came to the UK in 2004 from Malaysia and America and spread across Europe fast. Currently, the Netherlands has the largest number of Seramas, and they are also becoming popular in other countries such as France.

These birds come in a wide range of colors and sizes which means you may have small or large birds from a single hatch. Either way, none will stand taller than 10 inches.

A table for the Serama Chicken Breed

Good for Beginners?	Yes
Weight	Depends on the hen or rooster standard
Temperament	Sweet-natured & friendly
Lifespan	7 to 10 years
Egg Production	4 to 5 weekly
Egg Color	White or Dark Brown
Color Variety	white, orange, and black
Good with kids	Yes
Are they Broody?	Averagely
Price	$10 to $80 per chick

Types of Serama Chickens

So, what are the varieties and recognized types of the Serama chicken breed?

Slim Seramas – This variety is relatively tall and is characterized by a slender body as well as a small chest. Slim Seramas have a V-shape that defines the chicken breed to many people.

Ball Seramas – Like their name, the ball Serama appears to have a round shape with breasts held high. The wings are not vertical, and they have short legs.

Apple Seramas – This type of Serama has medium-sized legs with a larger breast that tends to be a bit lower than in the other varieties.

Dragon Seramas – The dragon variety is nothing like the other Seramas. These birds tend to have a head that is held far back at times making their chest higher than the head. The legs are medium to short in length with wings held upright.

These types of Seramas are rare to find today as they are not developed as separate styles. They are said to have been phenotypes that came as a result of creating the Malaysian Serama.

How do you know you have a Serama?

At a glance, the Serama is characterized by an upright tail, a high protruding chest, a low wing, as well as a head held far back almost against the tail. This posture on the tail and neck/head creates a V shape. The Seramas back should be very short and almost covered by the hackle and saddles completely that it may appear virtually nonexistent.

The Serama chicken breed comes in 4 classes. In Malaysia, they are categorized under A, B, C, or D while other countries classify them as Classes 1,2,3, or 4. The letters and numbers refer to the Serama’s size, weight, as well as conformity.

Appearance

What do Serama chickens look like?

It is worth noting that the Serama chicken is not bred for the color. As such, it can come in a range of different colors such as white, orange, and black. Other colors are also possible.

Typically, the Serama chicken breed is a tiny bird that stands upright with bulging chests, vertical tails, and heads held high. These adorable birds have a very short back with long wings that nearly touch the ground when the Seramas are in an upright posture.

Expect this chicken breed to have a very small head, a short but strong beak with a single comb as well as red earlobes. Their eyes come in a bay red color and their legs are brawny with yellow shanks.

Size & Weight

How big is a Serama chicken?

Typically, Serama chickens stand approx. 10 inches tall but not higher than that.

The weight standard for the Serama chicken breed is:

Adult Serama Males:
Class A up to 350 grams (12.35 oz)
Class B up to 500 grams (17.64 oz)
Class C up to 600 grams (21.16 oz)
Class D – over (22.17 ounces)

Adult Serama Females:
Class A up to 325 grams (11.46 oz)
Class B up to 425 grams (14.99 oz)
Class C up to 525 grams (18.52 oz)

Serama Chicken Colors

As mentioned earlier, the Serama comes in a variety of colors including white, orange, and black.

What is it like owning a Serama chicken?

Despite their small birds but extremely active and you should expect to see them flying near the pen.

Personality

Serama chickens are known for their friendly disposition and love for human company which makes them want to follow them wherever they go. You will love how easy they are to hold, and their calm nature makes them very personable. That is why they are wonderful house pets.

These birds may be small in size but can be assertive.

Serama roosters tend to be more aggressive than their female counterparts such that they can fight each other. For this reason, it is not a good idea to keep Serama roosters together.

Can Serama chickens live with other chickens?

In our opinion, whether or not your Serama chicken gets along with other birdies on the homestead depends on their temperament. Overall, they will be okay living with other breeds as long as they are introduced from a young age. This means less aggressiveness and fighting.

Can Serama chickens free range?

For the most part, Seramas are best suited for indoor living, and they like it better, especially if they are on the smaller end of the size spectrum. Many folks keep their tiny chickens inside an indoor coop because they do not do well in cold temperatures.

Serama Egg Production

Are Serama chickens good layers?

These birds are excellent layers that will give you 4 to 5 eggs per week. And whether you believe it or not, Seramas start laying eggs when they are about 16 to 18 weeks old. This means that they can give you 200 to 250 eggs per year.

Eggs per week	4 to 5 eggs
Color	White or Dark Brown
Size	Small

In addition, the birds can be great mothers if they go broody, but it is good to know that Seramas tend to have fertility problems which make eggs challenging to hatch.

Serama Chicken Eggs

Serama chickens lay eggs that are white or dark brown in color. As for the size, they are very tiny. However, their eggs can vary from one bird to another.

Noise Level

While Serama chickens are not loud enough to disturb the neighbors, especially hens, these birds tend to be chatty. Roosters, however, tend to crow very loud with a high pitch.

Facts about the Serama Chicken

• The Malaysian Serama Bantam tends to be the world’s smallest chicken but has a big personality.
• Most Serama chickens have extremely huge chests.
• These birds are famous for their attractive colored feathers.
• Seramas have a sweet temperament that makes them easy to handle and train since they enjoy receiving attention.
• Serama hens tend to go broody if the nest is intact, but not until they get a clutch of 6 eggs at best.
• Despite their small size, Serama chickens make excellent show birds.
• Seramas do not breed true to any one particular color and come in more than 2000 varieties of colors.

Why do Serama Chicken Pose?

Posing for Serama chickens is a natural stance as they have been developed to be show pageants plus their bodies are made that way. Seramas were bred to have a vertical, upright stance with a raised chest slightly like a pigeon.

For these birds, posing is a big role in the training and founds 25 percent of the score Seramas receives from the judges.

Serama Chicken Care Guide

To take good care of your Serama chicken, you need to realize their health issues as well as their nutritional requirements.

Health Issues

Serama chicken breeds are considered healthy breeds.

Unfortunately, Seramas tend to suffer from toxic genes that they inherit from their Japanese bantam parents. If this gene is existent, approx. ¼ of these chicks tend to die inside the shell. This is because the legs tend to be too short can’t move into the hatching position, and mostly occurs in the smallest Serama chicken breeds.

In addition, Seramas are also susceptible to parasite infestations like mice and lice. Worms are also a problem for this breed as any other fowls. Therefore, you should deworm them often.

Seramas also tend to molt all year round which makes up the biggest part of caring for this breed. If you are new to these chickens, understand that this is part of their nature.

Although we mentioned this earlier, it is good to remind you. Seramas are not tolerant to cold temperatures. Sometimes, you may be required to offer some heat.

Feeding

Serama chicks should be fed a high-quality diet that contains at least 20 percent protein content to help support healthy growth. Continue feeding this diet until these chicks are 16 weeks old.

When they are 16 weeks old, introduce them to layers feed (16%) gradually and make sure that the size is right for their mouth. Go for mash and crumble types. As a rule of the thumb, give your Serama oyster shell in a separate bowl. Make sure that they also clean fresh drinking water throughout the day.

Coop Setup and Roaming

Thanks to their small footprint, Serama bantams do not eat up a lot of space.

Inside the coop

Seramas are small birds but need space to feel comfortable and move freely. Each of these birds should have access to 2 square feet of big space. Unlike other large chicken breeds that need a nest for themselves, Seramas can share one among 3 birds.

These birds need roosts to rest on when inside the coop. If possible, make roosts with different heights to give your Seramas the freedom to choose the level they want to be in. The perches should provide at least 6 inches of space.

Roaming

Seramas like to range freely but you should watch their every move when they are moving around outside. Their small size makes them a target to a lot of predators. Make sure each Serama chicken has 4 square feet of roaming space.

Serama Chicken Lifespan

The average life expectancy of the Serama chicken breed is 7 years. Some Seramas, however, will live as long as 10 years.

Serama Chickens for Sale

If you want to add this chicken breed to your backyard flock, you can check these adorable birds from Serama chicken breeders in your local area. Although they are a rare breed in most countries, enthusiasts are dedicating themselves to breeding this breed.

Alternatively, you can buy Serama chickens online from reliable hatcheries. Make sure that you research well before buying. It is good to purchase from a reputable breeder that will be open to whether your Serama has the lethal gene.

Serama Chickens Price

These birds are very pricey, unlike most popular chicken breeds. So, expect to pay anywhere between $10 and $80 for a well-bred and healthy Serama chick.

Should you keep this breed?

If you love birds but have no access to a large space, the Serama bantam is an excellent choice for your homestead. Their beautiful colors and sweet disposition as well as their friendly nature makes this chicken breed a superb pet.

Do not keep these birds if you want fowls that can give you eggs to eat or for meat purposes. Their eggs are tiny and body small which is why they are bred for beauty and ornamental purposes.

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