What's the best breed for laying + natural foraging instincts + motherly instincts?

[fisher39]

I have a flock of 20 banties, but unfortunately I can't free range them since hawks always pick them up. I want to experiment with some full sized chickens and let them free range all day, and see if they won't be picked up. Here are the characteristics I'm looking for:

1. Main priority is a layer. We don't eat meat, so the lighter the better since they'll need less food.
2. Should be a good forager, and hopefully be able to feed mostly off of the grass and bugs outside.
3. Should still have some motherly/setting instincts, so that they can multiply on their own without having to buy new chickens. I guess that would exclude dumb birds like leghorns and black sexed links. Of course I wouldn't want every single hen to go broody every year, so it should have its limits =)
4. Would preferably not be a rare breed of bird so that I can easily find it and purchase it =)

Anyone have any recommendations?

 

[lawilliamson]

Love the Rhode Island reds. Not the "best" sitters but my banties are so I just let the banties do my incubating and hatching. works great for us. As far as broody "common" hens I would chose the buff .

 

[splashnw]

I have two white leghorns and one Rhode Island Red. I bought all of them because they are supposed to be excellent layers. I don't know about motherly instincts, but so far all three are excellent foragers. I let them free range in my back yard and they do very well. I love watching them hunt worms and insects. We have a nice variety of grassy areas and dirt areas, as well as lots of good cover for them to hide and play in. They seem to like it very much. The leghorns are already starting to lay beautiful teen-sized eggs at 20 weeks.

 

[fisher39]

Love the Rhode Island reds. Not the "best" sitters but my banties are so I just let the banties do my incubating and hatching. works great for us. As far as broody "common" hens I would chose the buff .

By buff, do you mean Buff Orpingtons?