@Rainey Everyone has a different opinion on what's the best choice for birds. Right now I decided to go for something different and decided on a colorful egg basket. I have brownleghorns for white eggs and higher production, welsummers for dark brown spotted eggs and easter eggers, been getting green and olive eggs have at least one not laying yet praying for blue. I'm really happy with the EEgrs, laying the most eggs at subzero temps.I ordered white giants and black and blue langshans more for meat, but I guess they lay decent. And I have some fibro ayem cemani crosses coming also, mainly for meat birds. Blah blah, anyway I don't have them anymore and don't see myself getting them in the near future but Rhode Island Reds ( I probably had production ones) were by far the best laying chickens I have ever had, laid more than any sexlink or golden comet I've ever had. They laid everyday all yr round even straight through winter (had a light in the coop above their water to keep it thawed out). When they took a break and molted they took turns, I was still up to my ears in eggs. They also have a nice carcass and make a good enough dual purpose meat bird, the roosters can get quite large (usually mean though, but I've had some that wern't).