I have ao many questions!

[dekel18042]

So many things to consider.

If you're starting with only a few bantams and you don't want to risk rooster overload, My Pet Chicken sells sexed bantams so you can purchase just the breeds and sexes you want.
Silkies and cochins are usually pretty gentle. And Easter Eggers seem to be fairly hardy in both heat and cold. I had various bantams as a child, and we never had rooster problems. The hens raised their own chicks.
Good luck whatever you decide.

 

[Silkiehen]

Yeah, I personally wouldn't buy breeding stock from a big-name hatchery. They're in it for quantity, not quality. You want high quality for breeding stock.

Lots of BYCers sell hatching eggs and there are some good breeders here.

We have a few bantams but don't know much about them. We like the silkies. They are gentle though I don't know if I'd consider them docile. We have one barred bantam Cochin (not real sure of her breed) that is very docile, but I wonder if that has more to do with being the smallest bird of the flock.

Good luck!

Thank you! I have decided on Silkies and Mille Fleur D'uccles!