Curtis Oakes is the last person I know of to have had RC WHT Minorcas. I got some from him several years ago, and they were a mess. I'm certainly not presenting this as a reflection on Mr. Oakes; his reputation is noteworthy. I'm sure he was the only breeder within his ken to maintain them for a very long time. He held on to them as long as he could, but they were genetically exhausted. There was no sense in even trying. I just culled them. They would have to be recreated. The only whites available are iffy, supplied by Sand Hill. One could try to get them and breed them up, or they could be brought through some Rademacher blacks.
On that note, I would say--don't bother! Switch focus. Your time is too valuable. There are still some impressive RC Black Minorcas in existence--exceedingly few, but they are still there. Save them, before trying to recreate the RC WHT; besides, one would have to use them to create the whites. Breeds can only maintain so many varieties at a level of quality. Minorcas are black, and that's not a bad thing. There is the occasional fancier who brings back the buff, but Minorcas are black. One of the outstanding advantages to breeds such as White Faced Black Spanish, Anconas, RIR, NH, Catalanas, Sicilian Buttercups, Buckeyes, Dominiques et al. is that they are what they are. Some have a RC/SC dichotomy but those can be brought through each other with relative ease and offer advantages to northern climates.
Here's a rallying call to those who want to work with rare breeds: the "dual-purpose" and "egg-breed" combo. If you feel the need to raise more than one breed and you've already chosen a breed traditionally held for meat or "dual-purpose", I would exhort you to select a traditional, long-tailed, white eggshell "egg-breed" from among the Continental and Mediterranean classes. They are much, much rarer than one has, perhaps, paused to realize, and they are steeped in deep heritage and old-school poultry culture. We certainly enjoy our White Dorking/Rose-comb Ancona combination, and folks tend to be familiar with Don Schrider's Brown Leghorn/Buckeye combo. It's a very useful homesteading dichotomy. Furthermore, if you're used to feeding a "dual-purpose" breed; this will be like getting another breed at half-price.
Beginners often parrot complaints about them being flighty, but with proper management and proper breeding they are excellent. It's a bit like the neophyte driver who is afraid of the highways; it's fine once you actually do it. They are certainly the most elegant of our breeds. Their very movements are pheasant-like grace. They are excellent foragers, light eaters, and great layers. When type is proper, they wear their plumage like royal robes. I sit our growing Anconas for a few minutes each day. They are practically hand-tamed. If you don't put in those few minutes with your growing birds, they will remain aloof, honing in the discretion that ensures their safety while out foraging for their keep, something they can do to put any modern "dual-purpose" breed to shame.
Breeds and varieties I'd offer up for priority focus:
Hamburgs are outstandingly elegant, self-sufficient, independent, most graceful, and all six varieties were included in the original Standard!!!
Campines are excellent layers, referred to as the Leghorns of Belgium.
Lakenvelders when well bred are absolutely stunning to behold. They are a modified Columbian pattern. The abrupt contrast of solid white against solid black is rude-pretty--outstanding WOW-factor.
The Italians: RC & SC Anconas; RC & SC Dark and Light Brown Leghorns; RC & SC White Leghorns, are sweepingly elegant and quite probably the best standard-bred layers bar none. Sicilian Buttercups are intricately patterned, with beautiful and rare shank color. They're lovely combs remind one of wood nymphs. I remember the first time I say a Sicilian Buttercup on display as a boy. It was delightful and unique.
The Spanish fowl: RC & SC Black Minorcas and White Faced Black Spanish, are regal birds, very noble, very imposing, when well bred, they make a lasting impression. They are the Giants of the egg layers. Andalusians offer a special challenge, and are ideal for anyone who has no qualms for culling. Andalusians own the color blue; they are the blue bird. Well-laced Andalusians are phenomenal. Catalanas provide a niche space for an elegant bird in buff; the contrast with the black tail is lovely.
The rose combed breeds are ideal for northern climes. Our RC Anconas lay straight through the winter without batting an eyelash.
OK 12 breeds in 23 different varieties!!! There's something for everybody!
PS: on the Urch front, he has several of these!
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