. . . I am a bit of a different type of breeder, I tend to view it like dogs and horses, an orpington is no longer an orpington if its half wyandotte. it takes lots of generations of breeding out the other breeds characteristics to bring it back to an orpington while keeping the coloring you were looking for. and I am NOT saying anyone is doing any such thing . . .
But that's exactly the problem, people
ARE adding other breeds.
I saw that a breed had become extinct except for
one Cock in the ealry 1920's, but it was
"BROUGHT BACK" by using other hens. But for me, it's just
NOT the same breed, it may be a look-a-like, but it's
NOT the same.
I have crossed birds that resemble Icelandics - many Icelandic breeders can't tell the difference, but I
KNOW the difference, and it would be fraud to sell the crosses as such, even if you can't tell them apart.
Just my take on it. . .