Looking for feedback on these breeds...

[Conan]

Sex links (at least mine) in both the black and red variety were awful birds. Aggressive, pushy and prone to many odd health related issues. Could've been the source, but I will never know seeing as they came with the house we bought.
We had an Easter Egger in the group as well and she was a doll, but the others picked on her pretty badly.
I love Brahmas, and mine was a great layer, but from what I have heard on here, that is unusual.
Americaunas are amazing. Love them. Such cool personalities, hardy, not the best layers.
I have a Welsummer that is my best layer, she's quiet and very hardy but I don't care for how skittish she is. She is my least favorite chicken for some reason.
I agree with all other folks on here - No such thing as a perfect bird, but it's pretty fun trying to find one!

 

[backyardfarmgirl]

Thanks all! I realize there's no perfect breed. Just trying to find the closest thing.

I'm pretty sure we'll get australorps. We had them last year and they were so calm and approachable, I really grew to love them. We also enjoyed our buff orpington but she went broody several times so that wasn't the greatest. The thing is, in the description of australorps it says THEY are broody too and ours never were. So I'm wondering if we should try a couple buff orpingtons again and hope they aren't too broody. I was quite sure we were going to also get Rhode Island Reds but now I'm nervous about it if they are mean to other breeds. :/ I'm for sure wanting more than one breed as I think they're just more interesting that way.

Have any others of you had a problem with RIR's picking on the other breeds?

It sounds like there's no guarantees with anything because there are the differences in the breeds but also the individual birds personalities to deal with and there's no way to predict that. This will be a good exercise for me (as a type "C" on the Disc profile) to practice letting go and not expecting perfection.

 

[Gray Farms]

Your correct, there is no "perfect" chicken. For starters everybody's idea of a perfect chicken is different. Some people want a bird that lays every day regardless of its demeanor. Some want a hen that will go broody and raise chicks. Some want a dual purpose bird for meat and eggs. And some people just want pretty yard birds and don't care if they every lay. In your situation I would recommend Australorps, Plymouth Rocks, or Sussex.

 

[AllenK RGV]

I do love the Livestock Conservancy's idea of writing a "job description" for your future fowl. Their link is here: https://livestockconservancy.org/index.php/heritage/internal/heritage-chicken-faq

I somehow gumped my way into trying to make the right decision, life would have been better had I read this first.

 

[backyardfarmgirl]

Thank you everyone for all your help! I especially appreciate all the reference charts! I love the idea of Rhode Island Reds because of their productivity with large eggs but it sounds like they wouldn't be a good fit for a mixed flock due to their aggressiveness with other birds.
So, I think I've decided on these breeds (these are also what is available through our local farm supply store:
Black Australorps (my favorite)
Buff Orpingtons
Silver Laced Wyandottes