Many of the cross breeds will lay better than standards. Our Black Sex-Links are our best cross breed layers. They lay 5 eggs a week each. If you like the red chickens then you could try a Production Red which will lay better than a RIR. We took and crossed our RIR roo with our New Hampshire girls and then took and crossed their babies with our Leghorn Roo and came up with a red chicken that lays great. Went 37 days straight before missing a day laying. Unfortunately we got rid of that line for the winter. (Working on a new line) We try to pay close attention to temperament though because we don't want a bunch of awnry birds. Most of what we have you can pick up and cuddle with, even the roo's.