Sapphire Gem Chickens: Chicks, Eggs, and Laying Explained
If you’ve been looking for quality chickens to add to your farm, there’s a chance you’ve come across Sapphire Gems.
Sapphire Gem Chickens can be valuable additions to your farm’s livestock. These stunning chickens attract farm owners far and wide with their eye-catching plumage. Because of their calm and friendly temperament, these chickens are also popular among farmers of all skill levels.
But there’s more to this breed of chicken than its attractiveness and even temperament. Sapphire Gem Chickens are also amazing egg-layers, yielding as many as five eggs a week.
In short, when you’re looking for chickens that are both ornamental and egg-producing, you can’t go wrong with this type.
Some Quick Facts About Sapphire Gem Chickens
Here are some rapid-fire facts about this remarkable chicken breed:
- Breed Type: Ornamental and egg-producing
- Average Lifespan: Between five to ten years
- General Appearance: Adult females have blue or lavender feathers, whereas males are characterized by white dots.
- Ideal Skill Level of Farmer: Anyone from beginner to seasoned chicken farmers can raise and take care of Sapphire Gem Chickens.
- Egg Production Rate: Roughly three to five eggs in a week
- Temperament: Calm and docile
- Best Living Conditions: Pen or coop- this breed is heat tolerant
Where the Breed Originated
There are numerous theories behind the Sapphire Gem Chicken’s origins. Most sources trace the breed’s origins back to the Czech Republic. According to experts, the Sapphire Gem Chickens were “accidental” products of multiple mixed breeding. For the most part, the breed emerged as a result of cross-breeding Barred Plymouth Rock and Blue Plymouth Rock.
This breeding went on until the 1800s when chickens exhibiting blue and lavender plumage became the most commonly occurring offspring. However, the breed didn’t get its name until the first batch arrived in the United States.
An American hatchery called these new chickens Sapphire Gems, referencing an old Andalusian breed that closely resembled the new chicken species.
Since that moment, the chickens were officially named Sapphire Gem Chickens and have captured the hearts and attention of breeders and farmers in the country and beyond. Today, the breed enjoys massive popularity for its stunning appearance and its unrivaled egg-producing capability.
The Physical Qualities and Appearance of Sapphire Gem Chickens
What sets Sapphire Gem Chickens apart from many other chicken species is their distinct color pattern.
Sapphire Gem Chickens boast a vibrant set of dark blue feathers that run from the neck to the top of the breast. The contrast between the neck’s shade of blue and the rest of the body makes the chicken look “sapphire-like,” hence its name. Some chickens aren’t blue but take on a lavender shade.
There may be no visible differences when you’re looking at Sapphire Gem Chicken chicks. However, as the chickens mature, you’ll notice that the males develop white spots on their wings and heads while the females retain their lavender or bluish hue.
What’s the Chicken Breed’s Temperament Like?
If you’re looking into buying a few Sapphire Gem chickens for your farm, one of the first questions you may be asking is about the breed’s temperament.
Prepare for good news, as you’ll be glad to know that Sapphire Gem Chickens are among the most docile and friendly of all chicken species. This breed is famous for its friendly and curious temperament, making it ideal for farmers of all skill levels.
Unlike breeds like the Rhode Island Red, and Hamburg, the Sapphire Gem chicken is also one of the quietest breeds. They easily integrate with other chicken species because they make little to no noise.
How Many Eggs You Can Expect From a Sapphire Gem Chicken
We can go on and on about how stunning and beginner-friendly Sapphire Gem Chickens are. However, besides their appearance and temperament, these chickens are prized for being amazing egg producers.
To give you an idea of how many eggs you can get out of a Sapphire Gem Chicken, you can expect a minimum of three eggs a week.
If you’re lucky, you can get up to 260 eggs if your Sapphire Gem Chicken lays five a week.
When it comes to how the eggs look, expect large ones. For the most part, these eggs will be brown, but there will be times when the eggs will take on either a lighter brown shade or be off-white.
How Much Do Sapphire Gem Chickens Cost?
Sapphire Gem Chickens are among the most popular chicken breeds in the country. As such, they come with price tags that may seem steep upfront but pay dividends later (especially when you consider their egg production capabilities). Prices do vary from state to state for this high demand breed. Check out one of our locations today for availability and current cost.
The Health Needs of Sapphire Gem Chickens
On average, the lifespan of Sapphire Gem Chickens is about five to ten years. Of course, you’ll have to take care of your chickens’ needs if you’re looking to maximize their longevity.
Like many other domesticated chicken breeds, Sapphire Gem Chickens have unique health needs, and these cover their ideal living conditions to their diets.
Let’s go into each in greater detail.
What To Feed Sapphire Gem Chickens
When we talk about the Sapphire Gem diet, feeds are a critical consideration. Right away, you’ll need well-balanced feeds that contain a lot of protein. When in doubt, choose from any of our high-quality poultry and livestock feeds.
Don’t forget hydration. Sapphire Gem Chickens need plenty of fresh water in their pens or coops. To ensure that the water your chickens are drinking is safe and accessible, invest in waterers, which you can get in our livestock and agriculture selection.
Living Areas: Coops or Pens
Curious as these chickens are, Sapphire Gems are still best kept in coops or pens. These living areas give your chickens much-needed protection from the elements and, most importantly, predators that may be lurking about. You can find all the supplies you’ll need to enclose your Sapphire Gems in our Gilbert pet store and Chandler, AZ stores.
How big your pens or coops should be will depend on how many chickens you have. If your Sapphire Gems will be alongside other chickens, a pen or coop measuring 4×4 square feet is a safe place to start.
There may be a need to expand your pen or coop later should you choose to add more chickens.
Letting Your Chickens Out of the Pen or Coop
Yes, Sapphire Gems are mainly pen-kept chickens. However, that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be allowed to roam about every now and then and have “chick days”. While letting them roam free-range isn’t always the best idea, you can create run spaces that are like mini yards surrounding the pen or coop.
Run spaces can be at least eight square feet surrounding the coop. To create one, simply surround the pen or coop with chicken wire or hardware cloth. This is available in all our stores, including our Apache Junction store.
Regular Check-Ups
A healthy Sapphire Gem Chicken can live for up to a decade. To maximize your chicken’s lifespan, schedule regular health checks with a trusted veterinarian.
With regular health checks, your chickens will be free from most illnesses that can shorten the lives of most chickens. Most importantly, health checks can improve the ability of your Sapphire Gem Chickens to produce eggs.
Find the Best Supplies for Sapphire Gem Chickens Only at Shoppers Supply
Sapphire Gem Chickens are investments that pay for themselves. If you’re looking for the best supplies to protect and care for your Sapphire Gems, get them only from a trusted source — us.
At Shoppers Supply, we’re your one-stop shop for all your livestock and agricultural needs. Find the best livestock supplies and feed stores near me in Chandler, Gilbert, and Apache Junction, today.