Serama vs Old English Game Bantam
One of the breeds of bird most often mistaken for a Serama is the Old English Game Bantam, or OEGB. The differences between the two breed standards are quite vast. In this article, we’ll look at those differences so you can identify them and be more informed when purchasing a Serama.
Longtime breeders of exhibition OEGB, John Harvey and Alycia Harvey, were gracious enough to send me photos of well-bred OEGB. We’ll be comparing those photos with photos of well-bred Serama, both males and females, that were also graciously sent by Lago Family Farm and Sherri Roy. I pulled pet quality Serama photos out of my own photo albums from years ago when I was first introduced to the Serama breed.
The first photo is of a female OEGB (Photo 1), owned and bred by John Harvey. Notice how her wings are at an angle well above her hocks (the joint between the scaly part of the legs and the “drumstick”). Her body follows that same angle. Her back is flat, and the shape between her neck, back, and tail creates a loose U. Her tail angle is about 45 degrees and her tail feathers are moderately spread, as they should be.
The silkied Serama in Photo 2 is owned and bred by Wilson Lago. Her wings are nearly perfectly vertical. The wings cover her legs and almost touch the ground. She has a nice tight back, and when her head is posed so her eyes are in line with her legs, the back of her head would almost touch her tail feathers. Her tail is also nice and vertical.
Photo 3 is one of the first Serama I ever purchased before I decided to get into showing them. This is a perfect example of a Serama that very much looks like an OEGB. The tail angle and the length of the back are wrong, suggesting she could very well be part OEGB.
In the photo of a male OEGB (Photo 4), owned and bred by John Harvey and Alycia Harvey, similar to the female, you can see the wings are tucked at an angle. The legs are completely exposed and not covered by the wings. The tail is at the same 45-degree angle with very long, flowing, curved sickle feathers.
In the photo of the male Serama (Photo 5), owned and bred by Sherri Roy. You can see the vertical carriage they are known for. The wings are perfectly vertical and cover the legs almost to the ground. The tail’s angle is high and vertical with slightly curved sickle feathers. The chest is large, round, and set higher than an OEGB’s.
Photo 6 is a male “Serama.” Everything on this bird says OEGB. The tail and wing angle are wrong for a Serama but correct for an OEGB. The chest matches the OEGB chest exactly, as does the length of the back.
In conclusion, if you are interested in breeding and showing Serama, make sure you educate yourself on what a Serama should look like. Don’t go by what someone else says, because they may not know it themselves.