Explain to me how this works- Sapphire Gems or mixed color Plymouth Rocks?

[Nicks_Chicks]

Okay, so after researching what Sapphire Gems are mixed from, it says they are a cross between barred rocks and blue rocks. But if that's true, then aren't they just blue rock hens and blue barred rock roos? Thanks!

 

[NatJ]

Okay, so after researching what Sapphire Gems are mixed from, it says they are a cross between barred rocks and blue rocks. But if that's true, then aren't they just blue rock hens and blue barred rock roos? Thanks!

That is not the information I find. I'm finding that they probably do have a Barred Rock mother, but the father is probably an Andalusian instead of any variety of Rock.

As regards the name, many hatcheries like to put their own name on hybrid chickens, so it looks like you cannot get them anywhere else, or maybe just because they think one name sounds better than another.

They might be selling "Sapphire Gems"
https://www.hoovershatchery.com/sapphiregem.html
"Our Sapphire Gem® will amaze you with its grey to light grey plumage. This Czech breed is an excellent egg layer and a great forager. It does well in hot and cold climates and is a breed very close to the Old Andalusians."

Or they might have "Plymouth Blue Rocks"
https://www.myerspoultry.com/product-plymouth-blue-rock
"This breed is crossed with an Andalusian Male and Barred Plymouth Rock female."
https://townlinehatchery.com/product/plymouth-blue/
"This cross between Plymouth Barred Rocks and the Native Andalusians imported from the Czech Republic..."

Or "Blue Stars"
https://www.idealpoultry.com/product/1964/2
"Blue Stars are a cross between a Blue Andalusian and a Barred Rock."

Or "Blue Sexlinks"
https://www.dahlinepoultry.com/online-store/Blue-Sexlink-Chicks-p597441513
"This cross consist of Plymouth Rock and Andalusian genetics."

There are other hatcheries selling them too, and probably some of them are using other names yet, but the descriptions sure sound like the same birds! (Barred Rock and Andalusian ancestry, and most of the descriptions also mention the males having white barring while the females do not.)

 

[Nicks_Chicks]

That is not the information I find. I'm finding that they probably do have a Barred Rock mother, but the father is probably an Andalusian instead of any variety of Rock.

As regards the name, many hatcheries like to put their own name on hybrid chickens, so it looks like you cannot get them anywhere else, or maybe just because they think one name sounds better than another.

They might be selling "Sapphire Gems"
https://www.hoovershatchery.com/sapphiregem.html
"Our Sapphire Gem® will amaze you with its grey to light grey plumage. This Czech breed is an excellent egg layer and a great forager. It does well in hot and cold climates and is a breed very close to the Old Andalusians."

Or they might have "Plymouth Blue Rocks"
https://www.myerspoultry.com/product-plymouth-blue-rock
"This breed is crossed with an Andalusian Male and Barred Plymouth Rock female."
https://townlinehatchery.com/product/plymouth-blue/
"This cross between Plymouth Barred Rocks and the Native Andalusians imported from the Czech Republic..."

Or "Blue Stars"
https://www.idealpoultry.com/product/1964/2
"Blue Stars are a cross between a Blue Andalusian and a Barred Rock."

Or "Blue Sexlinks"
https://www.dahlinepoultry.com/online-store/Blue-Sexlink-Chicks-p597441513
"This cross consist of Plymouth Rock and Andalusian genetics."

There are other hatcheries selling them too, and probably some of them are using other names yet, but the descriptions sure sound like the same birds! (Barred Rock and Andalusian ancestry, and most of the descriptions also mention the males having white barring while the females do not.)

Okay. I saw a lot of stuff saying they were just different color rocks crossed together.

 

[NatJ]

Okay. I saw a lot of stuff saying they were just different color rocks crossed together.

It would be possible, but as best I can tell it is not what the hatcheries are actually doing.