Because the Sapphire Gem is a sex-linked breed, it is usually easy to identify male and female chicks by the color of their feathers shortly after they hatch. Not a lot is known about the origin of this fancy new breed of designer chicken. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The blue and purple hues of the bird’s plumage are what give it the namesake ‘Sapphire Gem.’, Adult males are largely blue in appearance but often have some barring. She won’t tower over your Easter Eggers nor cower under the, The Sapphire Gem chicken does well in all climates with reports of withstanding cold winters with grace and without decreased production. This unofficial breed was first produced by a breeder in that country who crossed a Blue Plymouth rock chicken with the Barred Plymouth rock. Most, What we do know about this mysterious chicken is that the Sapphire Gem is a cross between heritage and hybrid chickens and was developed in the Czech Republic. The Sapphire Treasure is not an actual breed of chicken, and not acknowle… How to choose the perfect breed of chicken for you- including our top 5 beginner picks. If you live in a colder climate, you should provide indoor shelter for your Sapphire Gems during the winter months. A fully mature Sapphire Gem hen will usually weigh around four pounds. The Sapphire Gem chicken is said to prefer warm weather and to thrive best in very hot climates, but this specialty breed is also known to be hardy and can also survive in areas with very cold winters. If you seek a chicken that will produce a fair number of eggs, the Sapphire Gem hen is an excellent egg layer. A quick Internet search will reveal little detail on the background of this bird. Combs can be coated with Vaseline, to help prevent this from happening. The hens have single combs on the tops of their heads. They are great layers, bred to lay about 290 brown eggs a year. How To Store Your Chickens’ Freshly Laid Eggs. If you live in an area with cold winters, do provide indoor shelter. The breed is very close to Old Andalusians and does well in hot climates. DELANEYCHICKEN.COM, All RIghts Reserved. While the Sapphire Gem is said to do well in hot climates, it should go without saying that if you intend to raise any breed of chicken in a hot climate, you will need to provide plenty of shade and cool water for your birds. There is even a fair amount of debate amongst breeders and farmers on what constitutes a true ‘Sapphire Gem.’ We do know that the original Sapphire Gem chicken hails back to the Czech Republic. In other words, you may breed two Sapphire Gems, but they will not necessarily produce true Sapphire Gem chicks. Because this breed is sometimes confused with the Sapphire chicken, some mistakenly think the Sapphire Gem produces blue eggs. Keep plenty of warm, clean nesting material for your hens, and you may even consider using heat lamps or small coop heaters during particularly cold bouts. Copyright © 2020 Chicken Scratch & The Foundry, Leghorn Chicken: Eggs, Height, Size and Raising Tips, Swedish Flower Hen: Eggs, Height, Size and Raising Tips, New Hampshire Chicken: Eggs, Height, Size and Raising Tips, Top 5 Largest Chicken Breeds – Also Laying Largest Eggs, Top 4 Chicken Breeds to Raise for Blue Eggs (Up To 300 Per Year), Top 9 Best Laying Chickens That You’ll Get More Eggs, Guinea Fowl: Eggs, Height, Size and Raising Tips. Star Milling Company, a producer of quality animal feed, also suggests providing ice, in any format, for your chickens. We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Raising Goats – The Complete How To Guide, What Do Quails Eat? Eggs produced by the Sapphire Gem hen are large or extra large in size. It is often necessary to continue introducing the original two breeds in order to produce the desired look for the breed standard. Because of the nature of their genetics, the Sapphire Gem does not breed true. 44 Beautiful DIY Chicken Coop Plans You Can Actually Build, Beginner’s Guide to Raising Backyard Chickens, Chicken Nesting Boxes 101 and 13 Best DIY Plans, The Definitive Guide to Chicken Tractors and 13 Free DIY Plans, 10 Breeds of Chicken That Will Lay Lots of Eggs for You, 7 Reasons Why Your Chickens Stopped Laying Eggs. These variations in color do not make the chicks any less of a Sapphire Gem by temperament or egg laying capabilities but may produce a mature bird that is not of the exact coloring desired. Sapphire Gem is all the craze for novelty as well as specialty chicken fanciers known as the Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rock or Blue Plymouth Rock Searching the internet for information on this rare range will certainly probably lead you down a dead-end road or to the neighborhood jewelers’ web sites. This means that sometimes there may be some chicks that appear more solid blue or black than grayish or lavender. Some chicken farmers have even reported that the chicks tend to be quieter than that of the young of other chicken breeds. The Happy Chicken Coop - All Rights Reserved, The Sapphire Gem is not an actual breed of chicken, and not recognized by the APA. There is clashing details on this variety of chicken, however one thing every person appears to agree on is that this bird is a brand-new favorite. Hoover’s Hatcheries also suggests that the Sapphire Gem breed should get along well with most other chickens. Szechuan Chicken: The History of Legendary Chinese Cuisine, Blue Laced Red Wyandotte: Everything You Need To Know, How to Build a Chicken Coop Step by Step With Pictures, Ectoparasite: External Parasites of Poultry, 15 Proven Way That Keeps Your Chicken Happy, The Ultimate Guide of Lavender Orpington Chicken Breed. You may also find it helpful to use electric fans to provide a gentle breeze, whether inside or in a backyard enclosure. The Sapphire Gem is a new sex-linked chicken type with blue colore and lavender plumage. Appearance. Remember to check with breeders and sellers to ensure that you are getting a true Sapphire Gem: either a cross between the Plymouth Rock chicken and the Barred Plymouth Rock or the offspring of two Sapphire Gems where the plumage has matched breed standard. Many describe the Sapphire Gem as an even tempered or friendly chicken. This trait is caused by, The Sapphire Gem has an upright appearance, similar to that of a Plymouth Rock, due to its genetics and she sports a, The Sapphire Gem is a medium-sized chicken. Providing warm shelter for your birds will prevent particular conditions, such as frostbite, which can sometimes cause combs to fall off. What Exactly Is a Broody Hen and How to Stop It? Cocks will grow to be about 5lbs, while females will mature at about 4lbs. The Sapphire Gem is a medium-sized breed of chicken. In an interview with Paws 4 Hearts Rescue, an employee of Hoover’s Hatcheries states that certain personality traits were encouraged as part of the breeding process with the aim to produce “a calm bird that performs well in all environments.”. There is even a fair amount of debate amongst breeders and farmers on what constitutes a true ‘Sapphire Gem.’. The Sapphire Gem Chicken: The Complete Info Guide Sex-linked. From bringing your chicks home for the first time to putting eggs on the table, we’ve got it all covered. Serama: Is This Tiny Chicken Right For Your Flock? A healthy, fully mature Sapphire Gem hen will often lay close to 300 eggs in a year, or, four to five eggs a week. The Sapphire Gem breed carries the dominant blue gene, which is selected for the color of the plumage. As with the average chicken breed, the Sapphire Gem hen will tend to drop in egg production by around 20% after the first two years of laying. The Ultimate Quail Feed Guide. This hybrid chicken was purposefully bred both for its beautiful appearance and its high capacity for egg production. Your email address will not be published. As you can see, the Sapphire Gem is a truly exceptional breed. Some suggest, however, that these birds may also be bred by crossing a Blue Plymouth rock and a Disallowed Plymouth Rock. Sapphire Gems have an alert, upright appearance. The Definitive List of Chicken Treats: What Can Chickens Eat? They will begin to produce eggs between 18 and 24 weeks old. In similarity to a black sex link breed, female Sapphire Gem chicks tend to be a solid blue color while male chicks tend to show a white spot on their heads or on the wings. What to feed them for optimal health and egg laying, including if you’re on a tight budget. Size. The Minorca Chicken: Egg Laying, Broodiness, and Temperament, https://www.thehappychickencoop.com/7-reasons-why-your-chickens-stopped-laying-eggs/, Backyard Chickens: A Practical Handbook to Raising Chickens. This fantastic specimen, while not an official breed recognized by the American Poultry Association, is an attractive, showy sex-linked hybrid bird with colorful plumage that was derived from crossing two heritage and hybrid breeds. The feathers of this breed come in a range of medium to dusky blues and lavender. The Sapphire Gem, as with its close relative, the Plymouth Rock, should do well as a backyard chicken due to its quiet nature. However, unlike the small white Sapphire chicken, the Sapphire Gem hen produces brown eggs. We do know that the original Sapphire Gem chicken hails back to the Czech Republic.
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