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In the past few years, the Sapphire Gem Chicken has become increasingly popular amongst backyard chicken raisers. However, finding information on this breed—and even finding a place to buy the breed—can be easier said than done. The reason for that is because the Sapphire Gem Chicken breed is not an actual breed at all, but a very new variety of chicken.
Below we explain everything you need to know about Sapphire Gem Chickens, as well as our own policies on this variety of chicken:
What is a Sapphire Gem Chicken?
Also known as the Blue Plymouth Rock or Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rock, the Sapphire Gem is a new variety of chicken. It is not an actual chicken breed as it is not recognized by the American Poultry Association. While little is known about the Sapphire Gem, we do know that this variety originated in the Czech Republic and quickly found its way over to America. We also know that it is a cross between heritage and hybrid chickens (Blue Plymouth Rock and Barred Plymouth Rock, specifically).
Why can’t I find Sapphire Gem Chickens?
Sapphire Gems are only sold by a handful of hatcheries that offer vague descriptions of this variety of chicken. But why is this the case? The reason is that the Sapphire Gem is not a recognized breed by the APA. Most responsible hatcheries such as Chickens for Backyards will only sell APA-recognized breeds to ensure complete customer satisfaction. Additionally, other than a few basic facts, little is known about the Sapphire Gem. That means that hatcheries and chicken raisers may not know what they’re getting into by investing in this variety of chicken.
What do we know about Sapphire Gems?
As previously stated, there is much mystery surrounding the Sapphire Gem Chicken. It is one of the reasons why most hatcheries do not sell this variety of chicken. However, there are some basic facts that are known, including the following:
They’re sex-linked
Sapphire Gems are sex-linked chickens. This means that their gender can be determined by noticing the colors of their feathers, shortly after they hatch. Sex-linked chickens are often a result of crossbreeding chickens.
They don’t breed true
Another fact about Sapphire Gems is that unlike certified breeds, they do not breed true. What does this mean? Essentially, if you breed two Sapphire Gem Chickens, their offspring may not necessarily be a Sapphire Gem itself.
They’re colorful
One reason why Sapphire Gems are becoming so popular is because of their looks. Their lavender and blue feathering certainly catches the eye, especially amongst those who prefer more colorful breeds.
They do well in cold climates
The Czech Republic is not known for its warm weather, and the Sapphire Gem is representative of that. This variety of chicken is cold hardy, with some saying that they can go through winter without decreased production.
No, they don’t lay blue eggs
A common misconception about this variety of chicken is that they lay blue eggs. Unfortunately, this is not the case. They lay large, brown eggs, just like many other chicken breeds. However, they can produce many of those large, brown eggs, with some saying they can produce eggs year-round.
If you have further questions about the Sapphire Gem Chicken and our policies regarding this variety of chicken, contact Chickens for Backyards today.
