I just want to check if you know, breeding projects are pretty expensive and take space. It adds up over time, once you've raised a lot of batches of chicks. And you do have to hatch a lot to get the birds you want.
For my sorta-crazy project, 2 years in now, I hatched most months of both...
Feathered legs are not preferred for cold winters because the feathers get damp and frozen. Look at Chanteclers for a breed with strong cold hardiness genes.
A Pea Comb does help, but so does light color to improve Vitamin D production during low light winters. General health and hardiness...