gjensen, Here's a link to a page on the "Old and Rare Breeds" thread that tells the story of our newly acquired La Fleche. It doesn't seem necessary to repost the same long pasage here. The reason I bring it here, though, is because it sounds like you're in the same genetic conundrum in which I find myself, but there's something telling me that I can do this without bringing in other stock. Twice now I've outcrossed to other strains. Both times it was a pain in the neck. With our Anconas, which we outcrossed to hatchery stock, we've stabilized them and they are becoming regular winners. It's nice, but it took five years. Our Dorkings are still a bit all over the place. Their meat qualities are swell, and they're good layers of a nice egg, excellent broodies, etc... SOP point-scale-wise...mammamia! One day.
I mention this because it sounds that your blood is thin as is our La Fleche. All of our stock is derived from one shipment of chicks 37 years ago and wo knows what that genetic base is. Still, I have enough birds to begin a breeding program. It sounds that you do, too. If you could establish four or more clans, I think you risk being fine and being able to bring your Catalanas forward. You'll always be able to turn to Ideal or, probably better, Sand Hill for stock if you start actually seeing difficult in-breeding signs.
That's where I'm at. I realize that I'm afraid of the possibility for in-breeding depression, but I havn't actually seen anything to make me panic. If you're in the same boat, maybe it's worth a few seasons of working with them before bringing in something that might not nick. We could compare notes and belly-aching.
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