Be as strict as you can at all points. Remember, what you'll keep and tolerate is what you'll have. It is better to only keep a few really good ones, than to keep any average ones. That goes triple for the rare breeds. Yes numbers are low, but why propagate non-ideal stock? There's no award for having more birds. I see this frequently in newcomers and less than great breeders. It's probably biggest place most people go wrong (other big place is not keeping enough males, as many have said keep three for each one you NEED, because one will die, one will be infertile and then you have one to breed from)