cherrynberry
🍒❤️🐓🐐🐕🐖🐈
I have only had two leghorns. Both are not mean. I also have a leghorn mix who is not agressive either. I believe it depends on individuals.I had 2 Salmon Faverolles. They didn't lay in the winter (as they are claimed to do), were not great layers of eggs that barely got into USDA Medium, broody several times a year. One was really good as an "Auntie" to assist another hen that was raising the next set of hatchery chicks though. She would stick with them for several months even though the surrogate Mom would blow them off at 6 - 8 weeks.
Leghorns are cheap to feed and good layers but can be aggressive with others in the flock.
Welsummers, I have 2 hens. They can not be sexed when young by feather pattern or the "V" (or lack thereof) on their heads as some claim. They are good layers of Large to XL, darker brown eggs and not skittish.
Barred Rocks, I have 2. They are very good layers of Large to XL and not skittish.
Love my Easter Eggers (the ones with beards, muffs, green legs; no experience with the "newer" crosses that don't have these features). They have been pretty good layers. I have 5 now in a flock of 25 hens. They are aged 2 (2), 4, 6 and 9 years old.
Black Australorps - I like them, I have 2 that are 6 years old, and 2 that are 5 months old. My all time very favorite hen was a BA from 2012.
My best layers are 2 Austra Whites. They are specific to Meyer Hatchery, a cross between Black Australorp and White Leghorn. They are more Leghorn size and shape but with the BA temperament and lay USDA Large to XL. I got them in 2019, one of them started laying in November that year and hasn't stopped (though she MIGHT be now, she needs a rest!) and I don't light the coop.
White Rocks are also good layers as are my Columbian Wyandottes (though these are USDA Medium layers).
I would not again get Anconas (very aggressive to other birds but good layers), Exchequer Leghorns (don't lay well and rarely lay eggs as large as UDSA Medium) or Salmon Faverolles (too broody, not very productive). Keep in mind that while I like to look at the birds (thus the wide range of breeds I have, I do want them laying. This may not be as important to some people.
I can't talk about the Gold and Silver Laced Wyandottes since mine aren't old enough to lay yet.
But I have had 6 Welsummers. Currently I have 5. I was talking about their plumage color which is e+ or duckwing. Males feather in black on their chests. There have been odd birds which can be because of hatchery stock being poor quality.