For eggs, and hardy friendly chickens, be sure to look into the 'sex links'. They are so named because after hatching, the coloration identifies the sex.
Often called 'egg laying machines' they are marvels. Because they are a hybrid, and not a breed per se, it is sometimes difficult to find them unless you look at hatchery pages. (see the link below)
Black sex-link or Black Star have a Rhode Island Red rooster paired with a Barred Plymouth Rock hen. These birds hatch solid black for females and solid black with a white dot on the top of the head for males.
Red sex links are also called Red Star, and they are ALSO called Gold Sex links, Golden Comets, Cinnamon Queen and a few other names. They have a Rhode Island Red Rooster and a Rhode Island White hen (or other white hen). Upon hatching the males are light colored and the females are buff colored. Different hatcheries may name these birds by different names.
Sex links were developed for egg laying, they have 'hybred vigor', and you have a better chance of not having a rooster in the mix. Sex links probably lay over 300 eggs per year. And they are smallish birds.
There is a hybrid called Production Red that pairs a Rhode Island Red with a New Hampshire Red. I don't believe it is a sex link, thus more difficult to tell the genders at hatching. It lays 200 to 300 eggs per year.
Here is a link with pictures and good information about them. Sometimes it is a little difficult to find information on Sex Links because they are a hybrid and not a breed.
http://www.efowl.com/Brown_Egg_Layers_s/71.htm
I heard that a Black Australorp laid 364 eggs in 365 days, and some of the leghorn and leghorn hybrids lay a daily egg, or have broken the record...but may not be quite as calm and friendly as the breeds listed above. The above breeds are brown egg layers. Leghorns are white egg layers.
I have a 'golden comet' and she has consistenly laid a huge brown egg every day for the last 46 days -- even in our TX heat. She is tame and docile and quiet. We have this pact -- for every egg a treat of meal worms. Be sure to check into the hybrids if you want good egg production.
