Breed recommendation needed for first timer

[SurferchickinSB]

Thank you all for great input. To answer some of the questions asked,
- I live in northern California - so dry like 9 months and some rainy days during the winter, rarely goes under 40F, no snow.
- I heard that I can have up to 6 hens without permit according to the city ordinance, so I got greedy and was looking to start with six Planning to have coop/run for 6 anyway. Will think about it some more.

Slightly different question - for those who are raising hens for eggs, what do you do after they get old and stop laying eggs? Personally I can't imagine I butcher them for meat, but at the same time I am not sure I would be able to keep them as pets until they die naturally since I can only have up to 6.

Well, why don’t you start off with three and then in a few years add two or three more? The heritage breeds should lay really well for five or six years. I plan on keeping mine as pets, I don’t really eat that many eggs anyhow.