blue jersey giants vs sapphire gems

[kmdodge2015]

Ok, so other than size hiw do you physically tell a blue jersey giant from a sapphire gem?

I have been wondering for awhile but I can't seem to see any real differences other than size??

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Ok, so other than size hiw do you physically tell a blue jersey giant from a sapphire gem?

I have been wondering for awhile but I can't seem to see any real differences other than size??

Sometimes it's the little things like skin color, iris color, eye shape, number of comb points.. or how the lobes and wattles are shaped.. even beak color MAY vary.. Subtle things that may not be noticed by the untrained eye but to someone familiar.. no problem identifying a black sex link hen from a similar looking black copper Marans for example.

I would expect a gem to mature much faster than a JG.. which caused me to research the Sapphire gems a little further..

Which revealed what they're calling "dominant blue " and I figured it out.. it's got be lavender gene getting rid of black to turn blue dominant.. I can't remember the name of the chicken cross made in the EU.. but it was made using RIR.. and a hotly guarded secret also trademarked.. I JUST figured out the secret.. it's the lavender gene bred in before using barred hens.. I betcha. So basically the gem is a "black" sex link.. with the black itself expressing as lavender!!

Hopefully this helps give you some clues! It's done wonders for me.

Knowing which hatchery you ordered from, If they have both available or not might also help eliminate one possibility or the other.

They will also have different lay rates eventually.

 

[theoldchick]

Jersey Giants will have very distinctive yellow on the bottom of their feet. The legs will be dark gray or black.

Jersey Giant

Sapphire Gem.

 

[kmdodge2015]

Do the sapphire gems have bigger combs normally too? I have a few Jersey giants but their legs are more willow/yellow with black on the front but definitely yellow feet. I had 2 sapphire gems I gave away and I couldn't tell them apart...hoping I got the right two lol if I post pictures of the ones I have can you tell me if they are Jersey? I hatched Jersey giants, but I'm worried i gave the wrong 2 birds away lol all of their legs were pretty much the same. The sapphires were younger and always hung out together, but I swear all of them looked EXACTLY the same.
Your birds are beautiful! Mine definitely do not look as nice!

Jersey Giants will have very distinctive yellow on the bottom of their feet. The legs will be dark gray or black.

Jersey Giant
View attachment 2568388


Sapphire Gem.
View attachment 2568386

 

[kmdodge2015]

Excuse the mess, we had the roof cave in on our coop so they are in a detached garage retro fitted for them until spring. And of course we have snow this morning

I'm think 3 is the only jersey thoughts?