I'd stay away from RIRs in cold areas. I've noticed with that ours are NOT included in the group that lays through the winter. Thanks to a new security camera we keep on the nests our best winter layers are Black Star, EE, Barred Rock and a Welsummer just started laying as well as an old brown leghorn. We have around 80 chickens and those are the only ones that would lay at all! My chanteclers and any of my 'red' chickens (RIR, Red Stars, New Hampshire Red) just ate all winter long.
