|
Quantity
|
Total
|
||
|
|
|||
Breed overview
Sebright Chamois is a miniature decorative variety of Sebright bantams, prized for its refined “lace” feather pattern and elegant look. These graceful birds are a classic of ornamental poultry and are highly valued by collectors and fanciers of rare breeds.
History
The breed was created in England in the early 19th century by Sir John Sebright, who devoted more than 15 years to selecting miniature chickens with a unique feather edging. He used the smallest bantams crossed with Hamburg and Polish hens, selecting offspring for small size and a clear black border on each feather. Once the traits were fixed, the flock was divided into two color varieties - golden and silver - and bred separately. In 1815 Sebright bantams were officially recognized as a breed, the first decorative chicken breed named after a person. Thanks to popularity among the aristocracy the birds were expensive, and breeding them was prestigious. By the mid 19th century a Sebright club had formed, and the bantams spread across Europe and the world.
Breed standard
Body type is compact and proportional. Adult cockerel weighs 450–600 g, hen 400–500 g. Sexual dimorphism is moderate. Cockerels have a larger head, developed spurs, and a large bright red rose comb. Hens have a very small pale comb.
- Head and neck: light wedge shaped head, medium beak with a slightly curved tip. Beak color matches the base plumage. Neck is slender and high set.
- Body: short and slightly angled, with prominent breast, tight abdomen, short level back.
- Wings: long feathered, slightly dropped, not tightly held. Tightly pressed wings are a fault.
- Legs: thin, medium length, clean shanks of gray tone. Toes and claws gray or bluish gray, four toes per foot.
- Tail: long and full in both sexes with even rounded feathers. Sickle feathers on cockerels are not allowed.
- Plumage: tight and glossy with a uniform black edging on every feather. Two base colors are accepted - golden and silver. The “chamois” variety features a warm creamy golden ground with a contrasting edging.
Housing
Provide a dry, warm, well ventilated coop. Birds are sensitive to frost, so in winter keep at least +5 °C, ideally about +18…+20 °C. Use straw or shavings as litter with regular replacement. Allocate at least 0.5 m² per bird and place perches high. Sebrights fly well, so cover the run with netting. Plan 1.5–2 m² of run space per bird.
The breed is peaceful. Crowding can cause scuffles between cockerels, so keep proper sex ratio and space. For breeding, maintain pure groups separately. Provide dust and ash baths and routine external parasite control. Follow local veterinary guidance for vaccinations.
Feeding
Sebrights are active and eat relatively more per body mass. Use quality ornamental poultry feeds or balanced grain mixes with bran, oilseed meal, greens, and vegetables. Supply mineral additives continuously for strong shells and vivid plumage. Daily amounts should scale to body mass and season, including cereal meals, a portion of boiled potato, greens, shell or chalk, yeast, and salt in safe micro doses.
Breeding
Point of lay for pullets is 6–8 months. Optimal parent group is 1 cockerel per 7–8 hens, cockerel up to 1.5 years old. Eggs are about 35 g, shell white or creamy. Annual lay is 60–90 eggs. Broodiness is weak, so use an incubator or foster hens of other breeds. With proper care chicks feather quickly and reach adult size by 5.5–6 months. Young cockerels start crowing around 6–7.5 months.
Meat production is not the goal, but surplus cockerels can be finished to 8 months with a yield near 70 percent. Meat is tender and lean.
Buy Sebright Chamois: ordering and shipping
You can purchase Sebright Chamois from our farm. Delivery across Ukraine. For availability and delivery details contact us via Viber, Telegram, or phone 050-182-27-27.
Explore more of our birds:
Frequently asked questions
What is the safe winter minimum temperature
Keep at least +5 °C with no drafts or dampness. To preserve feather quality and laying, aim for about +18…+20 °C and extend day length with lighting.
Can they live with other breeds
For pure breeding keep separate. In a mixed coop Sebrights usually coexist if there is enough space and a balanced flock composition.
How to enhance plumage brilliance
Feed a complete diet with quality protein, minerals, and greens, provide regular dust baths, and keep a dry, bright coop without moisture.