You don't say where you are so I am not sure what you mean by Cold tolerant. Where I am, I mean can deal with a few days of sub zero, and it won't bother them that Dec and Jan average highs aren't even freezing, or that 5 months of the year the night time average lows are subfreezing.
I have 4 heavy ladies I picked for what I felt would be Montana winter hearty, good foragers, and good winter egg laying.
I have a Welsummer who stopped laying at 10.5 hour days and isn't always the nices to her fellow flock. Her comb and waddle are big. I should have thought about that little more. I love her terracotta eggs but don't know that I would do another welsummer.
My Chantelcer is the slowest maturing girl, and at 30 weeks she isn't laying. It may be that she just wasn't mature enough when the days started getting shorter and I may have to wait until next year. The jury is out on her.
My buff brahma is still laying about 4 eggs a week. I worry sometimes about feather feet and snow but so far no problems.
My barred plymouth rock is still laying about 6 eggs a week. Her waddle and comb are bigger than I probably should have allowed myself.
My coop is insulated and has no supplmental heat or light other than what the ladies make (NO electricity) I break out ice bowls in cold weather. They have free range and would much rather be outside that almost any day. They are people friendly, great foragers and would definately recommend the brahama and BPR, for my winters. The jury is still out on the chantecler, and would skip the Welsummer and pick another hopefully Montana winter hearty bird.
I think the folks here will share their insights, read all the old posts you can and then you just go with your best gut and it will be ok.
JERSEY GIANTS !!!!
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