Should You Buy Eggs or Birds?

If you’re serious about getting into Serama breeding, you might have heard the advice to purchase birds rather than eggs. There are several reasons why buying birds is often the better choice, especially if you want to get the most bang for you buck.

Why Buying Birds Is Recommended

It’s not uncommon for people to purchase birds with the sole intention of selling their eggs. Some may buy a bird or pair and, within days, start advertising hatching eggs from those birds. However, this practice raises concerns. In such a short time, there’s no opportunity to test hatch the eggs or ensure that the offspring will meet the breed standard of perfection (SOP) when they mature. Additionally, there’s no guarantee that the eggs will even hatch.

Many buyers have found themselves disappointed after purchasing hatching eggs, only to discover that the chicks were not the color or type they were seeking or, in some cases, not even the right breed! This results in wasted time and money. If you’re looking for a specific type or color of Serama, it’s advisable to buy mature birds rather than eggs.

The Benefits of Buying Mature Birds

When you purchase mature or nearly mature birds, you have a much clearer idea of what the offspring might look like. For example, if you’re interested in American Serama, the birds must meet specific color requirements. Birds with color leakage or the wrong leg color are disqualified. It takes about 6-8 months for a Serama to reach a stage where you can get an idea if they are going to have the qualities you are looking for. If you buy eggs and hatch them, you might wait 7-10 months before knowing what you have. If you find that you don’t have any of what you were looking for you have to start completely over or use what you have a spend years trying to get them to SOP.

While you might occasionally find a breeder willing to show you the parent birds, this is a rare opportunity. When buying from platforms like eBay, Etsy, or Facebook, you are at the mercy of the seller and can only hope they’re providing what you’re looking for. Owning your birds allows you to hatch as many eggs as they produce, ultimately saving time and money.

The Challenges of Shipping Eggs

Another reason to prefer birds over eggs is the difficulty of shipping eggs. No matter the breed, shipping can be hard on eggs. Boxes are often bounced, tossed, rattled, and shaken during transport, which can dislodge the air cell inside the egg. This often renders the egg unhatchable, especially if you’re using a rolling-type incubator.

Due to these challenges, many serious breeders have stopped offering eggs altogether. Disgruntled buyers often take to social media to criticize breeders, claiming they received “infertile” eggs. Breeders decide, rightfully so, that it’s not worth their time and peace so they decline offering eggs at all.

When Buying Eggs Is Justified

Some buyers opt for eggs to mitigate the risk of transferring illnesses to their coops, which is entirely understandable. In such cases, it’s crucial to do your homework. Research, study, and keep an eye on social media platforms like Facebook. You can easily spot breeders who are serious about their craft—those who have test hatched and raised offspring to maturity before offering eggs for sale.

A Final Word of Advice

If you decide to purchase eggs, always ask for current videos of the parent birds. If the seller cannot or will not provide these, it’s wise to politely decline. This precaution can protect you from scammers who may have stolen photos or are selling eggs from deceased birds—situations where you obviously can’t expect viable offspring.