Hello from central Illinois.

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Cutandfit said:
Thanks all. We're primarily looking for good layers, good temperament, and ability to weather the winter.
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You're welcome. Based on your criteria, I would recommend Australorps. They are extremely hardy. I've raised them where winter temperatures have reached 30 F below zero, and where summer temperatures frequently reached 117-118 F (123 F once), and in both temperature extremes they came through like troopers. Australorps are also calm and gentle. My children, and now my granddaughter, made lap pets of ours. And they are the best layers of the standard brown egg laying breeds. An Australorp holds the brown egg laying record with 364 eggs in 365 days, and while none of mine have ever reached that kind of production (and likely never will), I have still had a few of them lay over 300 eggs in a year.
 
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I would personally recommend the Wyandotte chicken. Wyandottes are docile, hardy, and excellent layers (at least in my experience). They also come in many beautiful color varieties.
 
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Yup, Wyandottes are a great breed! Mine have been gentle, personable, pretty, and great layers!
 
Wow, thanks everyone. I will research the suggested breeds. I am also having a hard time getting myself in scale down mode, I was so comfortable with the 50 I had as well as working with thousands of them. We're still thinking 6-8 birds. One step at a time...
 
Not sure if you have seen them, but there are some nice chicken breed comparison charts you might like to check out http://www.sagehenfarmlodi.com/chooks/chooks.html and http://www.albc-usa.org/documents/chickenbreedcomparison.pdf and http://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/breed-list.aspx
when you have narrowed down your choices, don't forget to check the BYC Reviews section for member reviews on the different breeds. https://www.backyardchickens.com/products/category/chicken-breeds
You might also consider Easter Eggers, hatchery ones are usually quite good layers and the green eggs are fun.
6-8 birds will seem really easy to take care of after the numbers you have dealt with, am sure chicken math will eventually set in and you will wind up with a few more!
 

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