I'm just gonna name 5 I really like, since I'm no good at picking favorites. Especially not when there are so many outstanding breeds out there.
1. Dorkings. These are the friendliest chickens I have ever raised, they lay pretty well, make excellent mothers, and just have a lot of character. A very old breed.
2. Hamburgs. I think these are just as beautiful as Leghorns. They lay well and are flighty, which means they resist predators well.
3. Polish. I especially love the buff laced variety, without beards. I used to raise them and would really like to try my hand at it again, if I could find quality stock.
4. Icelandics. Excellent free rangers, and they are always mixed colors, so you get variety with them, as with Easter egger. These are really pretty birds and really good layers, too.
5. Langshans. They are big, but in quality birds, very sleek. Pretty good layers of brown eggs, too. The roosters have really long tails and are very striking in appearance.