Advice on choosing chickens

[Valley chick]

Hi, I've just finished expanding my chicken coop/run and in doing my "chicken math" I can get 2 or 3 chicks this spring so I'm looking for advice on the best to fit in with my existing flock, I live in Northern California, which means hot summer, my run is in the shade and covered (hawks), I currently have 6 hens all 2+ years and older, I don't know what they are a neighbor moved and left them so a hen , her girlfriend which I believe is a Welsummer and a smaller bantam (she's the queen) type brown black tail in similar appearance blind in 1 eye, came that way I don't know what happened, appeared in my yard with little tiny baby chicks, which led to the beginning of my love for chickens,, so I have the 2 ladies, and their 4 now 2 year old girls, my chickens are pets, I hold each one of them every night to tuck them in with my 6 year old, so I need to choose calm, docile, but good egg layer,heat tolerance in summer 100+, I've narrowed it down in doing my homework, I'm pretty sure 1 will be a Plymouth rock, but the others? I'm thinking of are blue or black Australorp, Dominique, speckled sussex, or salmon favorell ? I would great appreciate any advice on who will fit in the best, thank you

 

[MountainWoman73]

Australorps can be very friendly. That would be my recommendation. I've had several and always liked them. My speckled sussex is also very friendly and gentle, but her brother was a bit of a jerk, so I don't know how docile the breed is in general. This year was the first time I've had speckled sussex. I haven't had the others you mentioned.

Attached photo of Elvis the australorp, who climbed an extension ladder all the way to the roof to see what I was doing and if I had treats.

 

[Sally PB]

I love my Australorps. They seemed to handle the heat we had last summer just fine, but we don't get 100+ almost ever, so I can't speak to how they'd deal with that.

My three girls are also pretty quiet, if that figures into your plan.