This is a sweet story to warm your heart and introduce you to, yes, a relatively new variety of…chickens! It is a heart-warming story about a little 10 year-old girl and her friends, the Serama Chicken, now known as, “American Serama-the world’s smallest chicken.” This child’s name is Morgan and they've started raising these amazing Serama Chickens on their property just outside of Birmingham, AL. Tina, the mother of two girls began homeschooling them in August 2010, “because she wasn't satisfied with the quality of education that her daughters were receiving in the public environment or, even in the private school sector. Tina explained, “Frankly it is absolutely amazing what these children are leaning at home where most everything has real life implications. I want my girls to be ready for the real world and that’s what is most important to us as parents. We want to introduce them to various experiences that they probably won’t learn in the classroom environment.”

 Tina attended a, "nail show," in Orlando, FL last summer and wanted to bring a survivor back for her daughters, something educational and interactive; she went on to Craigslist looking for something unusual for her girls in the Orlando area. Both girls enjoy the outdoors very much so she narrowed her search to, “small yard animals,” and that’s where she found these new chicks called Serama chickens (Malaysian Serama) which are now called the, "World's smallest chicken.” They originated in Malaysia but are quickly becoming very popular in American today. They are commonly referred to as, “back yard chickens.” More information is available on backyardchickens.com.

 While in Orlando on business, Tina took a short drive out to see these chicks and ended up purchasing three for her young daughters, Morgan and Natalie (age 14). “Morgan (age 10) has always loved "little things" so she was absolutely beside herself when I arrived with these three new chicks that I purchased in central Florida. Sadly two survived the return trip in her vehicle. These particular animals can be removed from their mother the day they hatch; however, they must maintain a body temperature of 90-95 degrees in order to survive. During our 11 hour route back home, my friend and co-worker, cradled all three in the palms of her hands to keep them warm. It was a long trip!” recalls Tina.

Once mom arrived home with these little chicks, Morgan feel in love with them immediately and they became her best friends! Her older sister loves them but not quite like Morgan.

 After a matter of minutes, little Morgan became so immensely attached to these adorable little critters that, her mom, Tina, ordered 36 "hatting eggs" off of e-Bay. Out of the 36 that she ordered, 15 survived in a homemade incubator and were kept inside for careful observation for several weeks. Morgan carefully named each one of the chicks (and can recite each one by name, “pecking orders,” etc.). They hatched on the 4th of July, 2011, unfortunately five died as they were introduced to their new little “chicken house,” which was built by their father (and remains under construction). It will be completed as, “We have the money to do so,” explained Morgan. “We do not use charge cards unless we can pay them off at the end of the month.” That’s a pretty big statement from a ten year old these days. Surprisingly these two little girls understand the value of a dollar better than most grown-ups and they have been taught to use it wisely! As these chicks were introduced to their new home outside, some of them contracted an intestinal parasite commonly found in the ground everywhere and although, medicated, they didn’t all survive.

 One of the chicks had problems during the hatching process and as a result, one of its tiny little legs stuck straight out. Morgan explained that, “Mom went on the Internet to see what to do for this little fellow and found an answer. We put a splint on his leg using yarn and band aides. He had to wear it for two days because that’s when it’s most important and the chicks grown very quickly during their first week of life,” explained Morgan. “When we took the splint of, his leg was perfectly normal and he could walk so I named him Forest Gump. Now he’s one of the prettiest colored roosters we have,” she further explained. “I named the others too, let’s see, the hen’s names are Coco Puff, Bacon, Jade, Flutter, Omelet, Vanilla Ice, and Wanda and the rooster’s names are Steve, Kevin Forest Gump, Dumplin and Fred. Fred is the oldest so he has “pecking rights,” Morgan giggled as she showed them off one by one making sure I, “got each picture,” as she held them up one by one on a cold and rainy Christmas morning in her backyard dressed comfy in her cute little rubber boots, PJ’s and fingernails painted with Santa’s on each one. “Dad makes us clean the chicken house to because that’s just part of raising them,” Morgan explain in a “yucky” sort of tone.

 “Our hens are beginning to lay now and we get 4-7 per day. Their eggs are so small that it takes five eggs to equal one USDA large egg.” Truly an amazing learning experience for this family in Alabama and as for Morgan, well she is quite a wealth of knowledge for her age and she adores her new little friends. This isn’t a real-life story that’s covered in public schools but rather a life experience that can only be made possible by two caring and loving parents whose mission in life is to give their daughter’s not just an education but an amazing childhood that they will never forget! If you’d like to learn more about “The World’s Smallest Chickens” (16 oz. and smaller, you can visit seramacouncilognorthamerica.com (SCNA) According to the website, “SCNA is dedicated to the introduction and promotion of Serama to the poultry world at large. It seeks to continuously improve their beauty, quality, health and vigor, while sharing these goals with Serama enthusiasts throughout the North American continent.

 The goal of SCNA is to promote Serama in accordance with a Standard of Perfection and to encourage its development to gain ABA/APA acceptance, and improvement in all of its varieties and colors, through breeding, exhibition and the sharing of information.”

Now there’s an interesting idea for Christmas gifts next year!