What are Production blues... and what lead to this question.

[EggSighted4Life]

When I was deciding on a large fowl breed recently... I love Rocks but wanted maybe partridge or blue and came across this, which sounds to me like what is being described, though I would expect them to call them blah blah blah... Sometimes different hatcheries will call their same cross something else than the next hatchery over.
https://thechickhatchery.com/home/sapphire-blue-plymouth-rock/

http://duncanspoultry.com/sapphire-blue-plymouth-rock-female/

Knowing the actual source could tell you a bit more.. as mentioned above there are other blue birds made from different hybrid crosses. But if it's your only source for chicks... get what you can... pick a variety of chick shades as I suspect them may come all the way between Lavender to smokey or much darker like the Sapphire gems..
https://hoovershatchery.com/sapphiregem.html

I ended up going with Bielefelder since I want to breed them

 

[sealer39]

I have a PB pullet almost a year old. She is a good chicken. She lays about five large brown eggs a week. She is not overly friendly or skittish but my daughter catches her all the time. She doesn’t pick on other birds nor does any bird mess with her. Just a good all around chicken. I started a thread on here a while back when she first started laying. I would recommend them.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/production-blue.1319207/

 

[LikeTurkeys]

When I was deciding on a large fowl breed recently... I love Rocks but wanted maybe partridge or blue and came across this, which sounds to me like what is being described, though I would expect them to call them blah blah blah... Sometimes different hatcheries will call their same cross something else than the next hatchery over.
https://thechickhatchery.com/home/sapphire-blue-plymouth-rock/

http://duncanspoultry.com/sapphire-blue-plymouth-rock-female/

Knowing the actual source could tell you a bit more.. as mentioned above there are other blue birds made from different hybrid crosses. But if it's your only source for chicks... get what you can... pick a variety of chick shades as I suspect them may come all the way between Lavender to smokey or much darker like the Sapphire gems..
https://hoovershatchery.com/sapphiregem.html

I ended up going with Bielefelder since I want to breed them

The guy at the feed store said that the chicks are from Privett hatchery (at least, pretty sure that's what he said).

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

This was my productions blue I got at Tsc they’re a blue Australorp/Rhode Island red cross..they lay brown eggs I sadly lost my girl to a rabid skunk. I would definitely recommend this breed they’re beautiful and have docile personalities.

 

[sealer39]

The guy at the feed store said that the chicks are from Privett hatchery (at least, pretty sure that's what he said).

They are from Privett

 

[LikeTurkeys]

That's great! Doing your homework and being informed can go a LONG way towards making good choices and protecting us all and our flock.


Another thread that discusses Production Blues and indicates brown egg cross between RIR and blue Australorp... I checked and did not see them on Stromberg's site.
https://www.backyardchickens.com/threads/production-blue.1264949/

But they do sound like lovely birds!

When I was deciding on a large fowl breed recently... I love Rocks but wanted maybe partridge or blue and came across this, which sounds to me like what is being described, though I would expect them to call them blah blah blah... Sometimes different hatcheries will call their same cross something else than the next hatchery over.
https://thechickhatchery.com/home/sapphire-blue-plymouth-rock/

http://duncanspoultry.com/sapphire-blue-plymouth-rock-female/

Knowing the actual source could tell you a bit more.. as mentioned above there are other blue birds made from different hybrid crosses. But if it's your only source for chicks... get what you can... pick a variety of chick shades as I suspect them may come all the way between Lavender to smokey or much darker like the Sapphire gems..
https://hoovershatchery.com/sapphiregem.html

I ended up going with Bielefelder since I want to breed them

Sorry, I'm a little confused. Are you saying that they are Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rocks or a cross between RIR and blue Australorp?

 

[sealer39]

They are a cross between a RIR and Blue Australorp

 

[NatJ]

The guy at the feed store said that the chicks are from Privett hatchery (at least, pretty sure that's what he said).

I just looked at Privett Hatchery's website. Yup, I can find Production Blue, and they are described as a cross between Rhode Island Red and Blue Australorp, and they lay brown eggs. (I've read of other blue hybrids from other crosses, but it looks like this is what you're going to have access to.)

Pretty birds!

 

[EggSighted4Life]

Sorry, I'm a little confused. Are you saying that they are Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rocks or a cross between RIR and blue Australorp?

No, I was just looking at the possibilities since we weren't sure where they were coming from.

I sadly lost my girl to a rabid skunk.

Sorry for your loss.

Did you dispatch the skunk and it tested positive for rabies?

I ask because a skunk doesn't have to be rabid to enjoy chicken dinner. They are common chicken predators.

 

[chickenenthusiasts5698]

No, I was just looking at the possibilities since we weren't sure where they were coming from.


Sorry for your loss.

Did you dispatch the skunk and it tested positive for rabies?

I ask because a skunk doesn't have to be rabid to enjoy chicken dinner. They are common chicken predators.

Yes I did animal control got him the next day he was positive and since I handled the bodies of the ones he attack I had to get 2 rabies immunoglobulin and 5 rabies vaccine shots.