You can't go wrong with the buff orpingtons, I love mine! Black astrolorps are good large brown laying hens too! Actually they are supposed to be the very best layers! I only have 3 of them and want more, cookoo marans are good too!, I have 3 of those, they lay a very dark brown egg! Good luck hope you enjoy the new chickens! I love mine, and I go on another thread called fuzzys farm think you might really enjoy everyone on there. Very helpful. They are mostly all from up north but very nice bunch, I enjoy that thread very much!