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Actually, I'm in total agreement with the 'DH.' A breed should be able to do what it was created to do; otherwise, why preserve it? Having a look-a-like of a rare breed is not the same. If it was for egglaying then it should lay plenty of eggs, if for the table then it should produce a good quality meat, if it was game then it should be game, or if it was only a yard ornament then it ought to look pretty.
You just need to find a bird that meets your needs and your region of the country that you like, study breeding techniques, talk to folks and then jump in.
One word of caution, some rare breeds are in a state of real deterioation. If you get stock from a breeder don't expect it to be top-notch the first year. Just ask the breeder and they'll tell you the problems with the breed.
Oh, I totally agree with you. My DH is just not interested in getting more birds unless we're going to eat them right away. I want to get into the breeding to help with the puration (is that a word??) of a certain breed and keep it going. That's why I asked what ya'll do with the birds when they've maxed out their usefulness. So I need to find a meat bird that I can breed. I guess RIR's have been bred out of being sitters by the hatcheries? Yes or No? I want to have broody hens and not use an incubator.