SIZES
Sizes must not exceed the size limits for a given category. When a bird has been entered in a given category and it is found to weigh more than the standard weight for that category, that bird should be disqualified from that category and moved into the proper category.
POINTS
The points are general guidelines which, by the number of points allotted, show the most important traits of the serama standard. Type, temperament and tail set are the most important traits of the serama, which set it apart from other breeds.
Temperament and Type
These are the most important traits for any Serama intended for showing. These are the basis of what makes the serama a distinct and unique breed. Both of these factors are awarded the largest number of points in the point scale, thus they should in no way be ignored.
Temperament
Temperament is of the utmost importance in the serama. Temperament is based on both nature and nurture. The selection for calm and friendly temperament must be stressed in the breeding pen to increase this important trait in our breed each generation, for genetics and inheritance play a very large role in the temperament of each generation. This is nature. Further, young serama should be brought to shows so that they become accustom to the handling and crowds they will encounter at such shows. As well, you should start handling and training your birds for show at as young an age as possible. This is nurture. Aggressive birds that attack the handler should be disqualified and must not be used in the breeding pen. Wild, frightened birds which try to flee from the cage or the handler also should be disqualified. Only friendly calm birds should be used for breeding or showing.
TYPE
Type is the essence of any breed. Without proper type, a bird is not recognizable as a member of a given breed. Type refers to the silhouette of the bird and is the general outline of the bird. In serama, type also refers to the way the bird poses or the carriage it has. Some serama have perpetual pose, where they are as if posed at all times. This is unnatural and should not be treated as something special. You can recognize such birds by the fact that they are always in pose and never relax and is thus not balanced when mating, feeding or perched. No extra points are to be given to such birds. What is to be preferred though is a serama with auto-pose, which is where the serama carries itself in pose without being handled or posed by the owner or judge, but can relax, with the tail being able to be moved upwards or downwards by the bird at will. The proper type and carriage of the serama is for the body to be at a 90 degree angle from the ground. The balance should not be effected and with proper carriage it is not. The head carriage of the serama is also very important to the type. The proper head carriage is for the head to be pulled back as far as possible, so that the back of the comb touches or nearly touches the main sickles and the eye is behind the leg when viewed from the side, if you were to draw a line from the front of the eye down to the leg. Thus the breast will be held out at maximum extension. Neck carriage refers to the way the neck is held to allow for the head to be held fully back, the breast fully forward, but yet the wattles do not hang on or lay on the breast. To do this, the neck must have sufficient length. Breast fullness refers to the well extended breast that is required to have proper type. The breast should be well muscled, held far forward, yet high and not at all low to the ground.
Body
It is vitally important to the breed that the serama's body be full and well muscled, especially the breast. Thin birds, without full, solid breast muscling should be disqualified. The muscling of the bird is an indicator of vitality. Thin birds are of no use to the breed, as they are very susceptible to disease and are lacking in vitality and are generally of poor reproductive qualities.
Tail
The tail must be well held, solidly set on the body. Poorly set tails and wry tails must be disqualified. Low tails are to be discouraged.The very high angle of the tail is of great importance in creating the outline of the breed and is a major factor in the type of the serama.
True Main tail feathers - Thin and sparse main tail feathers are a detriment to the breed. Birds with less than five main tail feathers on each side should be disqualified. While five feathers on each side of the main tail is the fewest allowable, more than five on each side is preferred.
Sickles - Again, thin or sparse sickles is undesirable. Straight sickles are not desirable nor are less than five sickles on each side of the tail, while more than five per side are preferred.
Secondary Sickles - Sparse, thin or poor textured secondary sickles are not desired.
Saddles - Sparse, broken or thin saddles are to be avoided.
Wings
Wings that are held above the vertical are undesirable. Birds with wings nearly horizontal should be disqualified. Wings should not drag the ground to the point of being tattered. They should clear the ground just enough to be intact and well groomed. Wings that drag the ground and are constantly dirt, tattered and broken are to be strongly discouraged.
Legs
Legs should be long enough to keep the wing just above the ground. Very short legs are often the result of the creeper gene, and this is very undesirable in serama, as this is a chabo (Japanese bantam) trait,and is also a lethal gene. Very short legs make for ragged, tattered wings which drag the ground. Short legs are to be disqualified. Legs should be of medium length, but not long either. Very short legs, which are so short as to have little or no actual shank are also a disqualification. Further, more than four toes is also a disqualification.
Feathers
Thin, sparse, picked, broken, ruffled, partially frizzled or coarse, rough feathering is undesirable. Only smooth, well textured, medium tight feathers are allowable.
Comb and Wattle
Combs should be small to medium to present an elegant and refined look. Combs of less than five points are to be disqualified. Wattles also should not be overly large. Long pendulous wattles, very large combs, combs which flop over and combs or wattles with folds and thumb marks are to be strongly discouraged.
Appearance
The condition of the bird is the essence of good rearing and show preparation. Birds which are dirty, with excessively broken, roughed or tattered feathers, those which are pale faced or showing any kind of disease or physical problems should be disqualified and removed from the show.
Awards System
In each class:
One First (Blue) scores ninety or above
One Second (Red) scores eighty-five or above
One Third (Yellow) scores eighty or above
Only one blue, red, and yellow may be awarded in a given class. For example, if four entries in the same class scored 94, 92, 89 and 86 respectively, then the one which scored 94 receives the blue, the one which scored 92 receives the red, and the one which scored 89 receives the yellow.
If there were only two entries in the same class and one scored an 85 and the other a 79 the 85 would receive the red and the 79 would receive no ribbon.
To receive a SCNA Section Rosette, an entry must score ninety-five or above using the SCNA Scale of Points.
There are four major awards for SCNA exhibits:
1. SCNA Purple Award - awarded to every blue award-winning Serama scoring ninety-five or above.
2. SCNA Section Rosette- awarded to the best Serama among the SCNA winners.
3. SCNA Best-in-Show Rosette- awarded to the best of all Serama among those winning an SCNA Section Rosette.
4. SCNA Sweepstakes Rosette- awarded to the exhibitor with the most blue awards in the SCNA Rosette Sections.
In case of a tie, the exhibitor with the most SCNA Purple Awards is declared the winner. If still a tie, red, and then yellow awards are counted as tie-breakers
