Exactly!
Also, echoing a bit one of our conversations elsewhere, there's a lot to be said about focus. There may be several breeds and varieties that don't make into the 21st century. I used to think that was a tragedy, but more and more I'm realizing that's alright. There are so darn many of them, and there are only so many of us. In the last few years at the North Eastern Poultry Congress the Langshan people have been putting on one heck of a display. They're awesome--I mean awesome. The Blues and Whites are fine, but the blacks are outstanding. There's just this bank of Black Langshans that's awesome to behold. If we were to see more an more people rallying around healthy breeds and varieties with fellow chicken friends following suit, the results would be great. We might see few variations in LF, but what we would see would, in my opinion, be ever better. One good variety in a breed is an awesome thing. It would be awesome to see large classes of other breeds mirroring those Black Langshans. The Salmon Faverolles have also been quite interesting, nice sized displays with good birds. There aren't any Whites, but that's OK. The Rocks have good representation in White and Barred; White and SL Wyandottes.
On the other hand, the RIRs have been looking a little weak. Just as a thought: there is style and quality to these birds that represents years of effort. The need to be caught before they slip. This is so much more worthy a rallying point than Legbars or "Iowa Blues" or even random, faddish varieties of established breeds that have never really had importance. If people get into them and raise out 20 to 50 a year, they're going to do well and the community would be strengthened in a powerful way.
As to Walt's point about truly rare breeds, I've been there....I'm still there, but it's getting better. Both breeds are now showable if not champions, and other established breeders, and even some APA judges, are picking them up. It has taken several years though and comfortably over a thousand birds. Am I glad I did it? Yes. Would I do it again? Hmmm..... It's hard to say because they've become my breeds; they are the way my brain thinks chicken, but geesh, what a pain.
For folks on here wondering, and others might have additions, but when I think of dive in breeds that would fit a smaller operation, birds already in good condition who would benefit from more breeders, offering strong competition, I think of these:
Barred*, White*, Buff*, and Partridge** Rocks
Buff Orpingtons*
Black Australorps*
White*, SL*, and Columbian** Wyandottes
New Hampshires*
RC and SC RIR*
Light* and Dark** Brahmas
RC Anconas*
White*, Light* and Dark* Brown Leghorns
Black Minorcas*
Buff*, Black*, and Partridge** Cochins
Black Langshans*
Blue Andalusians** (if you're willing to color cull)
WFB Spanish** (everyone always talks about them as if they were made of porcelain, but there are actually some good one's out there)
Black Ameraucanas*
Dominiques*
Blk Sumatras*
Silver Spangled Hamburgs*
Speckled** and Light Sussex*
White** and Red Dorkings**
Buckeyes*
Salmon Faverolles*
WCB Polish*
Golden Campines**
White Chantecler(*)
~~There are two I would highlight, because I think population-wise, they're in a dangerous space: Speckled Sussex and Spangled Hamburgs. I'm really hoping that there's some strong rallying around these breeds before they descend to the "nothing but hatchery stock" status. I actually have the opportunity to begin with the Hamburgs, but I'm torn. They really need support, as an APA judge friend of mine recently put it, "Now there's a dying breed." There were none in competition at the Ohio National last season; that's a bit of a poultry tragedy right there. That Speckled Sussex be so low is another tragedy. They've been eclipsed by the Light Sussex imports, which though nice, don't have the US history that the Speckleds do, and unlike the Lights, they offer something unique to the poultry world.
For those wanting to do something big, and I mean big, Houdans could be fixed with White Dorkings. That would be awesome. Otherwise, I think they're pretty washed up.
This list is just meant as a food for thought list. I just went for a mental stroll up and down the aisles, and these are the birds I see regularly that would be good candidates to pick up. One (*) means I think it's an easier journey; (**) means I think in would be tougher but approachable.
There are some outstanding roll-models on this thread. If you're lurking and wondering, consider this list closely. These breeds could offer a lot of fun.
It would be neat to see more people with the Mediterraneans and Hamburgs. They're awesome chickens that, on occasion, get a bad rep by people who don't really know them.