Home Grown Poultry Magazine | Chickens - Waterfowl

The second V in the outline is from the back of the head/comb region and the front line of the tail. The V of the breast and back of the tail should be slightly wider than the V of the back of the head to the front of the tail. The overall effect is of a very proud, "cocky" appearance. This is type and short squatty birds, those which look like poor chabo, old english or do not have the two distinct V's do not have type. Another important point in the American Serama type is that the base of the foot should show from the side, allowing the wing to clear the ground. More on this in the wing and leg sections.

Temperament is the next point group. Temperament receives 20 points. This is one of the most important traits, which sets the serama (when they have this personality) apart from most other breeds in existence. Since this breed is promoted as a "pet bird", especially for young children, the calmness is a major and important trait to intensify. Further, aggressive, flighty or easily agitated birds are simply not enjoyable to work with and do not make good pets. These are the reasons for the strong emphasis on temperament.

Tail carriage comes next and scores as highly as temperament, as the tail carriage is one of the most important points in making the overall type. In Malaysia, there has been a trend toward heavily breasted strains with low tail angle. These are lacking in grace and are very extreme, in fact so much so that their reproduction is decreased. While a serama should be able to lower its tail, it must not carry it low, as that ruins the type and makes it mistakable for other breeds or crosses. Also, wry tails are often seen in serama, and the emphasis on high points in the tail carriage is to discourage the wry tail which is often genetic and thus requires a concerted effort to eliminate. Wry tail can be a genetic flaw, a weak tail bed (also genetically influenced) or caused by environmental problems in hatching. It must be guarded against, as it is extremely unattractive.

The wing is next. In Malaysian serama there has been a tendency for the wing to be very long and to often drag the ground. We find this very unattractive, unsightly and unclean. Since the posed serama is to have the wing carried vertically, pointing to the ground, it is imperative that it not drag the ground. However, the wing is only awarded 10 points, as the leg is equally important in making the overall type and length to allow the wing to clear the ground. The emphasis with the ten points is toward a vertical wing, with the wing clearing the ground to be considered in both the wing points and leg points, as the proper length of leg is required to achieve this end.

The body receives 5 points. This is a lower point rating, because body is also considered with type, where the wrong body form will not allow for proper type. The emphasis of the body is in the well developed breast, though this is also considered in type points as well. A thin weak or bony body is a great detriment both to type and health.

Legs receives 5 points. While the look of the leg is considered, the major consideration of the leg is if it is long enough to allow the wing to clear the ground. A medium length leg is preferred, which allows the main foot to show from the side, but if one has to choose between a shorter leg or a longer leg, the preference in the American Serama would be toward the longer leg, thus ensuring the wing clears the ground. This is also considered in the points awarded to type, as the leg too short is a great detriment to type. The short leg is a flaw often seen in the Malaysian serama and is highly undesirable, as this is usually indicative of one of the complex of achondroplatic genes, which shortens the entire skeletal system creating a "dumpy", "squatty" or otherwise non-graceful appearance which is too chabo like. The American Serama should be a graceful, mobile bird and the short leg prevents

Feathering gets five points. We wish to see well finished feathering in all American Serama. There is some segregation of the frizzling gene and it's suppressor gene in the Malaysian serama. We wish in the American serama to breed up a true smooth feathered bird and if interested parties use the frizzling to breed up a frizzled American Serama, this is fine too though it would be a different variety of American Serama. What is important to us is to separate the frizzling from the suppressor gene, which will allow for true frizzling, true smooth feather and no intermediate forms. As well, we do not wish to see broken, damaged or poorly feathered American Serama being shown.

Comb/wattles also gets five points. This section receives fewer points, because comb finish is a refinement, which should be focused on at the end of breeding, rather than at the beginning. A common beginners mistake is too much focus on combs/wattles/heads and color, in general. It is desirable that the wattles not touch the breast, as this indicates that the neck bones are long enough to give the graceful form and carriage desired for American Serama.

Finally, on our points scale, there is appearance. This is "finish" and is considered to help all members to focus on properly finished birds for the show room. Appearance receives five points.