Sapphire gems?

[SueZ 24]

I'm getting some Sapphire Gems soon for a 4-h project and would like to know about them first. Any help?

 

[Pyxis]

Well, they're not a real breed. They are mixed breeds from two different parent breeds that are crossed so that you can tell the gender of the chicks at hatch by their down color. These types of crosses produce what is known as sex links. Sapphire gems are a type of black sex link, only they are blue instead of black. Females should be solid colored and blue, and males are blue and barred.

 

[pepe1]

I bought 6 last May and they started laying at 19 weeks and laid several double yolkers at first and then 5 or 6 x large cream colored eggs per week, still laying steady thru Winter, will get more this spring, good layers and very pretty.

 

[Ol Grey Mare]

Sapphire gems are nice birds. As noted above they are not actually a breed but rather a sex link which results from the crossing of 2 other breeds. Those that I have raised have bed quite healthy, developed strong, are good in a mixed flock and have been excellent layers.