Please suggest me a breed!!

[Nellydog]

I live in illinois so the chickens need to be heat and cold tolerant there purpose is for their eggs but I don't really need and egg a day from each chicken I only want to start with 3 or 4 pullets or hens I've decided that chicks just won't work and I'm a first timer so please no unusual breeds, thanks!! Can't wait to hear suggestions

 

[BlackHackle]

I live in illinois so the chickens need to be heat and cold tolerant there purpose is for their eggs but I don't really need and egg a day from each chicken I only want to start with 3 or 4 pullets or hens I've decided that chicks just won't work and I'm a first timer so please no unusual breeds, thanks!! Can't wait to hear suggestions

Plymouth Rocks and Australorps

 

[MissChick@dee]

Sex links are great layers. Leghorns are to. I say that because I have them. Look at birds that tolerates confinement well. Breeds that do seem to have easy going temperaments. A all around favorite is the Orpington. There’s a lot of information about chickens by breed on this site. It is fun to learn about them see what fits your lifestyle. Good luck. Everyone has their favorites.

 

[4 ever Orpington]

I live in illinois so the chickens need to be heat and cold tolerant there purpose is for their eggs but I don't really need and egg a day from each chicken I only want to start with 3 or 4 pullets or hens I've decided that chicks just won't work and I'm a first timer so please no unusual breeds, thanks!! Can't wait to hear suggestions

Buff Orpington great layers and very friendly if you prefer that.

 

[LilJoe]

Wyandottes
They lay medium sized tan eggs. About 5 a week. They are supposed to be cold tolerant, but I found they are good in 100* + temps as well as below freezing

Leghorns
I had two leghorns before. One laid about 6 medium to large white eggs a week while the other about 4-5 a week. Depends on the line I guess... I reccomend getting rose comb leghorns as the rose comb is somewhat large, so helps with heat, but it can shrink in winter.

Cream Legbars
These guys lay 5-6 , blue to green blue, medium eggs a week. They are best on heat with their large combs, but do well in winter.

Orpingtons
lay 4-5 eggs a week. They are supposed to lay good sized medium tan eggs, but mine lay small eggs. They are best in heat but do well in the cold.

 

[GldnValleyHens]

I live in illinois so the chickens need to be heat and cold tolerant there purpose is for their eggs but I don't really need and egg a day from each chicken I only want to start with 3 or 4 pullets or hens I've decided that chicks just won't work and I'm a first timer so please no unusual breeds, thanks!! Can't wait to hear suggestions

I strongly suggest Wyandotte, Australorp, Orpington or Brahma.
I live in northeast Illinois, so I know how frigid it gets. My girls with single combs can get frostbite more easily than Wyandotte and brahmas. Another breed I love is the D Uccle, a tough, hardy little bantam. They are beautiful, cold hardy, and lay abou 4 eggs a week. I have 3, a Hen and Rooster and their son. The males are aggressive however, so I wouldn’t get a Duccle rooster unless you don’t mind it attacking you and clawing babies. My Napoleon is a real jerk, and might end up six feet under.