I just got some new chix, RIR and Ameraucaunas, then also some Barred Rocks. But my last chicken lived to be 9 yrs old (died in her last moult) and laid eggs almost all that time. She was Aurucana, a single pet hen. The thing that kept her laying was a few sips of coffee with cream and sugar in the mornings! I'm expecting my new hens will lay well, and when they trail off, they'll get coffee as well!
We had two BOs, one died. The other is like the neighborhood pet, everyone knows and loves her! She is a great egg layer, we have gotten one per day and theyre a decent size. But, she has been broody many times (and isn't even a year old yet!!) and stops laying when that happens. She just spent the last month or so sitting on the other chicken's eggs and not laying, she got quite skinny. She's a great girl!
I am completely BO biased! I started my flock last year with 8 BO's and 8 Silver Laced Wyandottes. The SLW's are lovely, and funny - they really tend to stick together as a flock. But the BO's are so friendly. They are all named Ethel, with the exception of Gojira (the biggest one), and are all quite fond of sitting in our laps at every opportunity. They follow me everywhere. Love them, love them, love them!!