Sapphire Gem Breeding

[CatchaTorriFarms]

I have my own personal flock of Sapphire Gems with both males and females. Although i have a few questions as i dive into this more extensively.

Anyone one know what makes up the breed? What are they originally crossed with?

Is this a breed particularly like the ISA Brown, sex-able based on gender characteristics of color?

What i mean by this is; some of my chicks hatch out with the Barred rock appearance and some are light in blue no barred resemblance and some with a darker true sapphire gem. To make note, my adult stock the males are the barred rock look alike in appearance and the females look the the light to darker true blue.

 

[ShellyBlanco]

Here is a thread in BYC with lots of discussion about the breed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-sapphire-gem-a-breeds-chat-thread.1226466/

 

[CatchaTorriFarms]

Here is a thread in BYC with lots of discussion about the breed.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/the-sapphire-gem-a-breeds-chat-thread.1226466/

Thank you, i was able to find that but i wasnt able to find the answers to my question specifically and it pages and pages long. :/

 

[ShellyBlanco]

Thank you, i was able to find that but i wasnt able to find the answers to my question specifically and it pages and pages long. :/

In the first few pages I saw a post that said that they are sex linked. In the search bar, get a little more detailed. Also, there are some users here that are very knowledgeable when it comes to dna and such. I'll see if I can find a few to look at your question.

 

[ShellyBlanco]

try this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/sapphire-gem.11837/

 

[ShellyBlanco]

found this from @debid
Someone earlier in the thread provided evidence that the males have a single barring gene just like a black sexlink does. So, I'd look for a spot on the head to indicate male.

Most feed stores order sexlink pullets, not straight run, and (in general) blue chicks range from pastel to almost black with no sexlinking of the shade of blue.

 

[CatchaTorriFarms]

found this from @debid
Someone earlier in the thread provided evidence that the males have a single barring gene just like a black sexlink does. So, I'd look for a spot on the head to indicate male.

Most feed stores order sexlink pullets, not straight run, and (in general) blue chicks range from pastel to almost black with no sexlinking of the shade of blue.

Thank you for searching that for me. I did find that out as well. So they are in fact auto sexing based on color appearance. Curious to vent sex them next once they get stable enough.

 

[ShellyBlanco]

Page 4 of this thread may help you too.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/what-is-a-sapphire-gem.1219553/page-4

 

[ShellyBlanco]

I think you should be on your way now with some good information, hope it helped.

 

[CatchaTorriFarms]

try this:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/reviews/sapphire-gem.11837/