Sapphire Gem Chicks Sex and Age?

[Bawkington Palace]

Hello!

I have 3 hens who I got just before they began laying this summer. They were my first chickens, and now I'm obsessed.

I now also have 3 Sapphire Gem baby chicks I got from Bomgaars, straight run bin.

I read every single forum post and comment about Sapphire Gems beforehand to try and pick out pullets. The store clerk had no idea how old they were at the time, but guessed 2 weeks and I've had them 1.5 weeks.

Already in that time they've changed so much, and I fear I have at least 2 cockerels.

Any guesses on age or sex? Are they really 3.5 weeks? I know it's early, but do you see 2 roos??

Thanks for any input!!

 

[Pyxis]

Sapphire gems are supposed to be sex linked (though Hoover hatchery doesn't seem to be breeding them correctly all the time, since some people have gotten solid cockerels, which is impossible if they're being bred right) so IF they are actually sex linked as they should be, then cockerels would have a head spot and pullets would not.

 

[Bawkington Palace]

Yes, I did read that, too. None of them in the bin had a spot on their head. I thought perhaps they were too old for using that already? But, they all looked considerably different.

 

[Pyxis]

Yes, I did read that, too. None of them in the bin had a spot on their head. I thought perhaps they were too old for using that already? But, they all looked considerably different.

Head spots don't go away They stay until they're feathered. So, either it was a bin of all pullets, or they didn't breed them right (they may not understand how sex links work) and they may not be real Sapphire gems.

 

[Bawkington Palace]

Head spots don't go away They stay until they're feathered. So, either it was a bin of all pullets, or they didn't breed them right (they may not understand how sex links work) and they may not be real Sapphire gems.

Oh, geez. I thought I read so much, but I never came across that piece of information! Thanks for being gentle with me.

So hmmm. None had head spots, but the bin said straight run. Wonder if they may have been labeled wrongly, as far as straight run or the breed! The next week I went in to compare how mine looked to what may have been left, but they were all gone. Except, they had a NEW bin of baby chicks labeled Sapphire Gems and pullets only!

Maybe there is still hope?!

 

[ChickNanny13]

They are cute, to me (no expert) they look to be about 2wks.

 

[Bawkington Palace]

They are cute, to me (no expert) they look to be about 2wks.

I thought they maybe didn't seem quite 3.5 weeks, either. But, I am so new to all of this and just basing it off of comparison photos on Dr. Google because not much is out there about Sapphite Gems. And, of course, the only real, "true life" information and photos exist on these forums.

Thanks! I love them so much!! I hope they're pullets, since we can only have 6 hens where we live.

 

[Ghosty]

Here are some pics of my pullets. Mine are 3 weeks direct from Hoover. I think the sex link white spot only lasts for a few days.

 

[ChickNanny13]

@Ghosty Adorable How old are they?

 

[Ghosty]

@Ghosty Adorable How old are they?

Aren't they. They are 3 weeks. They have a variety of patterns. I thought I lost one outside today but she was buried under the chips sleeping all afternoon. I'll get some more pics of the darker ones tomorrow.