as for hardy chickens, I love Black Sexlinks. I live in Spokane Washington and we can get some very cold and ugly winters. I have Black Sexlinks that are cold tolerant and lay eggs year round. I also have Wynedott (spelling?). They are also cold hardy. I have a very large chicken coop and keep them in the coop all winter and keep wood shavings on the floor which stays dry and help keep heat in the coop. I only use one small heat lamp in the coop and it seems to be enough.
Hens go broody when you don’t want them to… and won’t go broody when you do.