Yes, that's a very good idea, to revitalise your flock and get a new generation going. Unless you're prepared to knock them in the head when they becom less productive, or to keep them just as pets who lay an occasional egg, it's good not to end up with a flock of pensioners. As a pensioner myself, I do have sympathy for the oldies who have given so much, (though they do get a one-way trip to the vet if and when they finally succumb to something that isn't going to resolve itself naturally.)
My oldest two are Marigold and Nutmeg, hatched Feb. 2011, which I've had from chicks because Buff Sussex and Cream Legbar can be sexed from hatch, so no unexpected crowing! The BS, Marigold, is a large and lovely bird, a bit dim even for a hen, but very decorative. However, she does go broody 3-4 times each summer, so I have a kit prepared to fence her off for a few days in a corner of the run. This reduces her laying as it takes her 3-4 weeks from onset of broodiness to returning to lay, and also her eggs are very small in proportion to her size, definitely a heavy girl. The Cream Legbar, Nutmeg, is a super little bird, still regularly lays lovely blue eggs and never goes broody. Very pretty, quite small so doesn't eat so much as Marigold and takes up very little room in the coop. Definitely very intelligent for a hen, as was evident when the two of them were chicks together and she took charge of Marigold. Has been top hen for some years now. I would definitely recommend CLBs as one of your choices. My other favourite is the Columbian Blacktail, lovely small, neat little golden brown birds with a jaunty upstanding black flag of tail feathers. The ones I've had have been outstanding layers of amazingly big eggs for their size, and never went broody. Not sure if they count as hybrids but are long lived and trouble free, in my experience.
Any time between now and the end of the year is good for introducing new POLs as he older hens will become less territorial once the breeding season slows and stops, and also purebreds are more likely to be available in the Autumn having been hatched in the Spring, unlike hybrids which are often hatched en masse for commercial purposes all year round. It will depend on what's available within a reasonable distance, and it would be good to get both at the same time and from the same breeder, for quarantine reasons - introducing new hens always carries the risk of cross-infection, and they will bond better during the quarantine period if they arrive together. Can you knock up a spare bit of run and a temporary coop for them for a couple of weeks settling in and quarantining? Doesn't have to be posh as they wont get cold if kept dry, and won't need to perch.
Whereabouts are you? Maybe someone can recommend a good breeder fairly nearby.
Have room for 2 more max (making 5 total) and was wondering what old breeds might get along well with my brown hybrids.
