How to Breed Seramas With Japanese Bantams

Seramas and Japanese Bantams are small breeds of chickens that can be bred to create a hybrid chicken that is very small in stature. The Serama breed originates in Malaysia while the Japanese Bantam comes from Japan. Chickens are typically bred for showing, consumption, egg production or to keep as pets. Crosses between Seramas and Japanese Bantams will likely produce a chicken that lays small eggs, so they would not be suitable for mass egg production.

Things You'll Need

  • Rooster
  • Hens
  • Coop
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Instructions

    • 1

      Select your rooster. Your rooster should be easy to handle, exhibit a good temperament and be free from deformities. Depending on the breeding stock available, you can choose to use a Serama or Japanese Bantam rooster. For either breed, avoid selecting birds that are not well-groomed, emit a foul odor or have purple tinges on the comb or face as these traits often indicate an illness in the bird. The beaks and toes should be straight and not crooked.

    • 2

      Select your hens. To ensure breeding success, use at least three hens. If your selected rooster is a Serama, choose a Japanese Bantam hen and vice versa. Breeding hens should also exhibit a good demeanor and confirmation and meet the same criteria you used when selecting a rooster.

    • 3

      Place your hens and rooster into a coop or enclosure together. Only use one rooster with your group of hens. Allowing more than one rooster in an enclosure can leads to fighting and anxiety. Allow the hens and rooster to mingle for three or four days.

    • 4

      Watch for egg laying from your hens, but allow your hens to sit on their eggs rather than removing them. The eggs will likely be fertilized and you will notice your hen becoming broody. A broody hen will stay on her nest and become irritable or defensive if disturbed.

    • 5

      Evaluate the eggs in the nest to determine viability. Remove any that appear to have deformities, cracks, flaws or soft shells.

    • 6

      Assess the location of the egg nest. The nest should be level and close to the ground to keep the chicks from falling out once they hatch.

    • 7

      Keep the coop clean, free from drafts and a consistent temperature. Depending on what your hen is accustomed to, most prefer a warm environment when brooding.

    • 8

      Remove any neglected eggs from the coop. You may manually hatch the eggs using an incubator or attempt to place the eggs in the nest of another broody hen.

    • 9

      Wait approximately 19 to 21 days and watch for your eggs to hatch.

    • 10

      Keep your new chicks in a warm environment as Seramas and Japanese Bantams are more susceptible to colder temperatures than other chicken breeds due to their relative small stature.