Blue ??? Roo

[ChixAddict]

Hi, We"rescued" this roo from the selling pens of our local feed store when the local temps were hitting the 108 mark. Their pens were inside a metal building and the birds were all suffering a bit (heck, they'd suffer in the full shade in a wading pool at those temps!).

We don't know what breed this guy is, but he's really handsome - a deep, rich blue (shows up more bluish gray on these pics...at least on my pc). Some thoughts were - Orpington (although not very big), bantam Jersey Giant. Any thoughts out there??

(In the background of the first shot, is a hen that was with him...not same breed or color...believe she's an OEG Wheaten...welcome feedback there too, but this post is mostly about the roo. )

 

[sourland]

Body type says orpington, but I won't guess on the breed or possible cross. He's a beauty. Glad that you saved him.

 

[questions543]

Looks like a blue orpington

 

[BlueCamas]

Is he bantam? He looks like a blue Orp to me!

 

[ChixAddict]

Thanks for the input everyone.

Peeka52: I'm honestly not sure whether he's bantam. The only reason I mentioned bantam is that I found a photo in a Google search that looked very much like this roo and it was labelled as a Bantam Blue Jersey Giant. (Of course, I can't find that page back again to post it!!) Based on the length of his spurs, this blue roo is at least a year old, possibly older. Yet he's smaller than my 4 month old buff orp roo. I'm with most of you though, this guy looks like a blue orp. Maybe he's just small and that's why he was given up.

sourland: I agree a cross is a possibility. If allowed to breed, I'll just assume he's a mix and any chicks will be treated as such.

Once an animal joins our family, it usually is with us for its lifetime, for better or for worse. This guy is gorgeous and he's pretty calm as long as other roos aren't involved!

Again, thanks for all the input!