The Malaysian Serama Bantam are the smallest chicken breed in the world weighing under 500g. These chickens are the result of cross breeding between Japanese and Malaysian bantams. These chickens grow to be over 10 inches tall. The heaviest one weighs up to 9 ounces but the most of them do not grow to weigh more than 8 ounces. The modern version of this breed was created in the early 1970s by WeeYean Een from Malaysia but the origins of the breed are reputed to date back to the 1600s. They are supposedly named after the Thai king, Raja Sri Rama, who, like these little birds, was renowned for his majestic appearance and proud carriage. There are 3 categories for this breed and they are graded according to their weight with the smallest and most desirable weighing just 350g. They are very upright little birds with a small neat comb. The breast is high and pushed upwards with the wings almost touching the ground, giving the impression that they are standing to attention and the tail is held at 90° so that it almost touches the back of the head.
Behaviour
Serama bantams make excellent house pets and are one of the most popular pets in America as they are friendly, confident little birds and love to be with people. The cockerel’s crow is much quieter than that of a larger breed which makes them an ideal house pet but cockerels shouldn’t be kept together to avoid fighting. They are difficult to breed because they carry the Japanese Bantam “lethal gene” which means that around 2% of embryos fail to hatch or that some chicks will die shortly after hatching. The incubation period for their eggs is shorter than most other breeds with the eggs hatching after 19-20 days. They come in all colours and don’t breed true to any colour or even size with some chicks being very tiny and others being larger than the parent. They mature at 16-18 weeks and are all year round egg layers. Unusually, they moult continuously and lose a few feathers each day. They come from tropical areas and although they are pretty hardy, they may need to be protected from very cold temperatures. Due to their size, they also cope better with layers than pellets. Their eggs range in colour from pure white to dark brown and it takes 5 Serama eggs to equal one large graded egg.
Characteristics
The Serama is characterised by their upright posture, full breast, vertical tail feathers held upright and tight up to the body and vertical wings held down nearly touching the ground. In Malaysia they are described as brave warriors and archangel chickens, because of their upright and regal appearance.
They are the smallest breed of chicken in the world. Typically under 500g, but with even smaller birds that are under 250g being bred in its native Malaysia. However, size alone does not define a Serama. A small chicken without the Serama “type” is not a Serama, but just another small bantam.
Type– The type is the outline of the bird or “silhouette”. It is the general form of the overall bird and distinguishes the Serama at a glance with it’s upright tail, high prominent breast, low wing and head held far back nearly against the tail.
The overall effect of tail and neck/head is of a V shape. The back should be very short and nearly completely covered by the hackle and saddles so as to appear nearly nonexistent.
Typical Malaysian Serama Types are Slim, Ball, Apple, and Dragon.
Slim is a relatively tall, slender bird with a very small breast. This type looks as though it could fit into a cylinder without problem.
Ball are quite round in appearance. The legs are short and the wings are not held vertically, but closer to 45 degrees or less, due to wing and leg length.
Apple The breast on the Apple Serama is a bit lower and larger and the legs on this type are medium in length.
Dragons are the extreme “ Serama”. Their head is held so far back that, on some individuals, the breast is actually held higher than the head. Wings are held vertically, and legs tend to be medium to short in length.
The Serama is characterised by their upright posture, full breast, vertical tail feathers held upright and tight up to the body and vertical wings held down nearly touching the ground. In Malaysia they are described as brave warriors and archangel chickens, because of their upright and regal appearance.
The following describes the overall characteristics of Malaysian type. The American and European clubs have defined Similar standards of perfection and breed standards.
Carriage & Temperament– Assertive with confident bold stance yet calm and manageable. Should be easily handled and show no aggression. The bird should pose readily and when viewed from the side should create a vase-like or wide ‘V’ shape outline. They shake their wings and pose, walk with pride, pull their head back to reveal a large chest, lift the legs, and in some styles have neck/head vibrations similar to that of a pigeon.
Body– The body is well muscled with breast carried high, full and well forward. From above the shape is somewhat elliptical, tapering towards the tail. The body should be short.
Wings– Fairly large wings in proportion to the body should be held in a vertical position just clearing the ground and leaving the feet partially visible. Shoulders should be set high on the bird. Primaries are long of medium width with secondaries moderately long and broad.
Tail– Tail is full and carried high, pointing upwards and held close to the body of the bird with no space between the body and tail. The sickle feathers are relatively straight and spear-like. A minimum of one inch longer than the other tail feathers, but ideally no more than a couple of inches above the head is desirable.
The remaining tail feathers should ideally be no higher than the top of the comb when the bird is standing to attention. The Main tail feathers should be broad and should overlap neatly. The tail should be open and when viewed from behind should be open to an angle of 45 degrees creating an open ‘V’ shape.
Head– Head should be small and carried well back. Head is required beyond the level of the feet and held in a position of more than 90 degrees from the feet. The single comb is small to medium in size with a minimum of five serrations preferred. The comb should be straight smooth, free of folds or any deformities and tending towards flyaway type. Wattles are to compliment the comb, smaller being preferred and free from folds and wrinkles.
Silkied feathered birds are accepted in America and much of Europe. The Silkie gene was believed to be carried by some birds imported from Malaysia
The breast is as large as it can be given the anatomy of the bird. Apple isn’t as intuitive. The breast on the Apple Serama is a bit lower and larger and the legs on this type are medium in length.
straight and set wide apart to allow for a full and muscular body. They should be strong and stable. Thighs should be of medium length and well muscled with shanks of good thickness. They should not appear soft and weak.
Feathers & Colour– Like some other Asiatic breeds, they are not colour bred in their native country. Only normal feathered birds are accepted in Malaysia. Feathers held tight against the body and should not be long or flowing.
-By Sanjana Pal
Content Writer (Erakina By RTMN)
21-11-2021
