Given the accumulated evidence of increasing new extremes of heat, it would seem that heat tolerance would be one of the leading traits for establishing a founder flock. I'd also select for traits including capacity for free range, a moderate likeliness of setting , and an alert and friendly disposition
A flock that thrives on free range needs large enough spaces to support the trait, and this involves some expense for land, but the sufficient habitat size can reduce expense of feeding the flock. Flock size of course makes a big diffeence either way.
Broodiness can go too far when selecting for egg production, but not go far enough when selecting for a self-perpetuating flock
