Even if the number of eggs your chicken produces is not a high priority, they make wonderful pets. Although Sapphire Blues are not considered an official breed, they can still make excellent layers for individual homesteaders or on small to medium farms. It is clear why the Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rock is becoming a rising star in the chicken world. Since Sapphire Blues are not as noisy as other chickens, are independent, and are excellent egg-layers, they can be easy and profitable for small-scale farmers. Small-scale farms often do not have too much space for multiple farm animals, or the farms or homesteads might be close to other houses. Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rock chickens are an ideal chicken for small-scale farming. How much space should you have for your chickens? Plan to have at least 4 square feet per chicken.Ī post shared by Highland Hens Sapphire Blue Plymouth Rocks Good for Small-Scale Farming? They make easy free-ranging chickens in all climates, as long as they have access to a coop during the months when it gets very cold. Sapphire Blues are excellent foragers and like to have space to move around. This could be another reason why the exact numbers of the Sapphire Blue are not recorded. Additionally, since the APA does not recognize the Sapphire Blues, they are not considered a proper breed. This is because they are a new breed, and their year of origin is unknown. As chickens go, this breed is more challenging to obtain than other common breeds. Sapphire Blues are considered a designer chicken, so it is unsure how many Sapphire Blues there are on farms or people’s homesteads within the United States. Single-comb chickens are prone to frostbite, so Sapphire Blues should have a protected place to rest on colder nights.
Combs are the fleshy appendage on top of its head, usually red. While the Sapphire Blue is tolerant of the cold, they are a single-comb breed. Both sexes are medium-sized chickens, weighing between 6-7 pounds. Female chicks will develop a ring of gold or grey feathers around their neckline as they mature. Both sexes of this breed have lavender-blue feathers, with males having a white dot on their heads or wings. Sapphire Blues are a sex-linked chicken variety, meaning that when they hatch, you can tell the difference between male and female chickens based on their color. But most people choose to keep the retired Sapphire Blues as pets because of their friendly and docile temperament.Ī post shared by Highland Hens their excellent egg-laying ability, Sapphire Blues get a lot of attention because of the color of their plumage. However, some people use the Sapphire Blues for meat once egg production stops, as they are medium-sized chickens. While they are large enough to be bred as meat chickens, most farmers and chicken owners do not use them for that purpose because of their excellent laying ability. The average backyard hen lays about 250 eggs per year, making the Sapphire Blue a superior laying chicken.
On average, the Sapphire Blue hen lays about 290 large brown eggs per year. If you are interested in raising chickens for egg production, the Sapphire Blue might be an ideal choice. They should be checked for any signs of illness and treated by a vet if needed. However, Sapphire Blues are not immune to lice and other parasites that affect all chickens. This breed is also not known for having serious health issues, which is another positive characteristic of this chicken. They are an overall manageable chicken and easy to raise for beginners. Because of their friendly and gentle temperament, Sapphire Blues can get along with other chickens. This makes them get pets as well, even for children! They can even be held and gently cuddly like other domesticated pets. They have a calm and friendly temperament. However, they are an alert breed and will be aware if there are predators in the area. Sapphire Blues are not noisy chickens, making them good chickens if you have close neighbors. If you have an adequately sized outdoor pen, these independent chickens can find plenty of tasty treats on the ground. Owners of this breed will not see a decline in egg production in colder temperatures. Sapphire Blues are both cold and heat tolerant, so they are adaptable to various climates. This breed of chicken is ideal for a novice chicken farmer for several reasons. A post shared by Highland Hens Blue Plymouth Rock Chicken Characteristics
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