We chose...
2 Buff Orpingtons
3 Buff Brahma (one rooster)
2 Rhode Island Red
2 White Leghorns
2 Golden Laced Wyandottes
2 Black Jersey Giants
2 Black Australorps
2 Barred Rocks
Of those, if I could only choose six ... considering our environment ... friendliness ... hands down Brahma's and Barred Rocks (then Buff Orpingtons). Leghorns are laying machines and pests to the others (peckers) and are flighty and skiddish which isn't a bad thing out on the farm because they watch things like a hawk and watch for the hawks and anything else.
All of my birds have proved winter hardy to -27*F with no frostbite and WITH wind protection.
We will be adding Silver Lakenvelders, Light Brahma's, more Barred Rocks, more R.I.R's., Speckled Sussex, Welsummer and Barnvelders, Blue Laced Red Wyandottes and a few of their white and black brothers and sisters, some green and blue egg layers...more roosters... some ducks...some lambs...some mule foot pigs...some upland birds...some ducks...err...umm...I'm getting carried away now.
Kidding aside, we really like having a mixed flock ... they keep each other warm too being a mixed flock ... that I am sure is why my Leghorns had no frost bite. Even if would do not add the other breeds mentioned ... at the least we'd like to increase the numbers of each hen per breed that we have, along with a few more roosters so we can be more sustainable rather than having to buy chicks all the time.
)
2 Salmon Faverolle, 1 Easter Egger. 
