Sapphire Gem opinions wanted

[Crashanova]

Anyone out there have Sapphire Gem Chickens? Just looking to hear some opinions on them from personal experience. Would this be a good bird for a complete newbie?

 

[JadeFarms]

I’d say they’re a good beginner bird. They are pretty birds and sweet birds. They are easy to care for and lay early and a lot of eggs.

 

[23kthistlethwaite]

Anyone out there have Sapphire Gem Chickens? Just looking to hear some opinions on them from personal experience. Would this be a good bird for a complete newbie?

Hi I know I’m a little late but just wanted to give u my input. We got our first chickens just last year and half of them were sapphire gems. They have been very easy. We got ours pretty late in the year so they didn’t start laying until November but our first egg from them came at 18 wks and our last hen started laying at 22 weeks I believe. They we’re laying about 6 eggs a week each before it got really cold but continued to lay 4-6 eggs a week after it got cold and even when they have been kept inside for a couple days!! Would definitely recommend!

 

[Revarded1]

I definitely recommend! Last September, I ordered 10 day old sapphire gem pullets from Tractor Supply. All arrived alive, and all stayed alive. I ended up giving 5 to a friend when they were around 7 weeks old. I put them outside around 10 weeks. On January 25, about 2 days before turning 18 weeks old, they started laying. Within 2 days I started getting large eggs. Today is February 7, and I have small eggs but I'm also getting eggs as large 77 grams and regularly find extra large eggs from them. I have 3 breeds that each lay a different color so I know which eggs are the S.G. They are all under a year but my older chickens still lay smaller eggs. One of of older layers is just starting to lay XL eggs. As newbie layers, the S.G. are beating their sisters in size and frequency of eggs.

 

[MandBducks]

My Sappire Gem started laying at 16 weeks, lays about 5-6 eggs per week, and is so sweet. She follows me around and is always happy to see me. I will say her only downfall is she is my loudest. That girl can screeeeech.

 

[ladyhand]

I will say her only downfall is she is my loudest. That girl can screeeeech.

Oh no! Does she screech often?

 

[theoldchick]

Mine are sweet dingbats. They lay lots of eggs but the quality of the eggs are lacking. SG are a hybrid chicken so they will not breed true. The feathering is somewhat lacking-they don't seem to repel water like my other chickens. I'm not sure how well they would do if allowed freedom as they will simply squat if something/someone approaches them. I've adjusted their diet to add more protein to see it the feather and egg quality will improve. I don't know if I would recommend them for a true beginner due to the reproductive issues these super layers will develop. Temperament wise they are easy to get along with.