Breed profile
Sapphire Gem
The modern basket-filler that spread by word of mouth. The line's main US source describes a Czech bird with grey to light-grey plumage — the industry calls that shade 'blue' or 'lavender' — close to old Andalusian stock, laying 290 extra-large brown eggs a year and ranging willingly. Beyond that page the paper trail thins: the other big-three hatcheries don't carry it, and an independent guide describes the likely parent cross as Blue Plymouth Rock × Barred Plymouth Rock. What's publishable is what the source states, and it's a strong production spec.
The egg numbers
| Eggs per year (first laying year) | 290 |
|---|---|
| In-lay rate | ≈6 a week |
| Strain note | The spec table: 290 X-Large Brown Eggs/Year — a single-figure claim, and the only annual number published anywhere we checked. |
| Egg color | brown |
| Egg size | extra large |
| Starts laying | 18–24 weeks |
Body and climate
| Strain | hybrid cross |
|---|---|
| Comb | single |
| Distinguishing features | grey "blue"/lavender plumage — a naming convention the source spells out · likely parent cross: Blue Plymouth Rock × Barred Plymouth Rock, per an independent guide |
| Weight note | The source prints a single combined mature weight of 6-7 lb with no hen/rooster split — the line has no standard, so no split exists to publish. |
| Cold hardiness | good |
| Heat tolerance | good |
| Climate note | The spec table grades the line Cold and Heat Hardy and its prose says it 'does well in hot and cold climates'. |
Character
| Temperament | Docile, easy to care for. |
|---|---|
| Broodiness | low |
| Broody note | The spec table lists Broodiness: Occasionally. |
| Good first breed | Yes |
What this means for your setup
Set expectations honestly: every number on this page traces to one spec table, because that's where the line's published data lives — treat the 290-egg figure as a first-year production claim from the source that sells the line. The plumage naming matters when you order: grey to light grey is what 'blue' or 'lavender' means in hatchery copy. Broodiness is 'Occasionally' per the spec table, so the laying calendar mostly holds; the independent guide puts first eggs at 18-24 weeks.
Gear that fits this breed
Coop Size Calculator
size the coop and run for this breed
Egg Calculator
turn the 290 egg-a-year range into a hen count
How Much Space Chickens Need
heavy fowl are the reason the generous end of the space math exists
Sapphire Gem FAQ
How many eggs do Sapphire Gems lay a year?
The spec table claims 290 extra-large brown eggs a year — a single-figure production rating, not a range. No independent annual number exists in our sources.
What color is a Sapphire Gem?
Grey to light grey. The source page notes the industry calls that shade 'blue' or 'lavender' feathering, and describes the line as close to old Andalusian stock.
What breeds make a Sapphire Gem?
Not stated by the hatchery. An independent guide describes the likely cross as Blue Plymouth Rock × Barred Plymouth Rock; the source publishes no parent stock.
Are Sapphire Gems good for beginners?
The spec table grades them 'Docile, easy to care for' and cold and heat hardy — an easy-keeper profile. The caveat is sourcing: one hatchery is the primary US carrier, so plan orders around its availability.