Hey guys, is this barring? (Sapphire Gem mighta fooled us all.)

[BigBlueHen53]

All I see is the darker outline around each feather that is characteristic of blue birds (as opposed to lavenders, which don't have it). I don't see barring at all. SG pullet.

 

[McChooky]

I have a beautiful Sapphire Gem that looks like yours and a black Australorp with spurs.Both lay ex lg eggs and are 100% hens

 

[VegaCoyote]

All I see is the darker outline around each feather that is characteristic of blue birds (as opposed to lavenders, which don't have it). I don't see barring at all. SG pullet.

Yeah, the stripey pattern I was worried about only seems to show up on the ends of her wing feathers, and it was difficult to get photos of it at all. It’s just 2 or 3 alternating darker and lighter bands on the end of each primary feather, and it’s pretty faint. Honestly, she was looking un-rooster-y enough that I’d stopped worrying about it until I noticed her lil spurs growing in, then I was like, Uh-oh, better ask the People who Know Chickens.

I do wish I could get some clearer pics of the actual stripeys, but that would probably involve enlisting someone willing to do a photo shoot while I hold Junie’s wing open and Junie screams at us about it, and that seems way more stress than I want to inflict on any of us if there’s an option not to.

 

[BigBlueHen53]

Spurs do not indicate gender. Many of my hens have little spurs and I think all chickens have the little spur nubs. No worries!

 

[McChooky]

Yeah, the stripey pattern I was worried about only seems to show up on the ends of her wing feathers, and it was difficult to get photos of it at all. It’s just 2 or 3 alternating darker and lighter bands on the end of each primary feather, and it’s pretty faint. Honestly, she was looking un-rooster-y enough that I’d stopped worrying about it until I noticed her lil spurs growing in, then I was like, Uh-oh, better ask the People who Know Chickens.

I do wish I could get some clearer pics of the actual stripeys, but that would probably involve enlisting someone willing to do a photo shoot while I hold Junie’s wing open and Junie screams at us about it, and that seems way more stress than I want to inflict on any of us if there’s an option not to.

Sapphire gem hens don't have barred feathers like the photo.Your hen has the typical darker and lighter shades of each color as she should for this breed.I had several of this breed but only keep one .They can vary a lot in looks which is confusing to some