Advice on breeds please. Raising chicks for the first time in Utah!

[cmom]

You have a good list to start with. Down the road you can always try another breed if you desire. I don't know what your goal is. Maybe just for the eggs and pets.

 

[psycache]

You have a good list to start with. Down the road you can always try another breed if you desire. I don't know what your goal is. Maybe just for the eggs and pets.

Great! Thank you for your insights. My goal is raise some happy chickens that can roam sometimes. Also a low maintenance activity for my toddler to engage in as she grows up. Providing some backyard entertainment, and some eggs would also be a plus, but not the main focus.

 

[topochico225]

I appreciate everyone's input. So far I am choosing from this updated list (aiming for 4 hens at the end).
1x Speckled Sussex
1x Delaware
1x Mottled Java
1x Barred Rock
1x Silver Lakenvelder
1x Black Australorp
1x Blue Copper Maran
1x Dominque

If I were you, I'd get the BCM, Barred Rock, Australorp, and Lakenvelder, ut that's just me

 

[psycache]

If I were you, I'd get the BCM, Barred Rock, Australorp, and Lakenvelder, ut that's just me

What would be your 5th and 6th choices? I will probably buy 5 or 6, because some pullets will turn out to be cockerels, right?

 

[humblehillsfarm]

I’d for sure get a barred rock. They are excellent layers! I’d get a blue copper Maran too because that’s the only one on the list that lays a beautiful chocolate brown egg, and they are pretty birds too. All others on the list are pretty and good layers as well, but my vote is definitely get a barred rock and a Maran.

 

[topochico225]

What would be your 5th and 6th choices? I will probably buy 5 or 6, because some pullets will turn out to be cockerels, right?

Yeah, I'd probably get Sussex and Dominique.

 

[cmom]

What would be your 5th and 6th choices? I will probably buy 5 or 6, because some pullets will turn out to be cockerels, right?

Most chicks are sexed so you could get a male but probably not. I'm assuming you are buying the chicks from a store such as TSC. Most hatcheries have a 90% guarantee that the chicks will be females but you could get a male but again probably not. It would be my luck though.

 

[psycache]

Most chicks are sexed so you could get a male but probably not. I'm assuming you are buying the chicks from a store such as TSC. Most hatcheries have a 90% guarantee that the chicks will be females but you could get a male but again probably not. It would be my luck though.

Yea, I figured if I buy 6, I will end up with 4 pullets to be safe, if I get 5 pullets, I can make that work too.

 

[Parront]

EDITED based on a summary of advices so far, so hard to narrow down (aim for 6 pullets, and 4 hens eventually):
1x Speckled Sussex
1x Delaware
1x Mottled Java
1x Barred Rock
1x Silver Lakenvelder
1x Black Australorp
1x Blue Copper Maran
1x Dominque


So I have taken care of chickens before, both grandparents' when I was little, and landlord's when they were gone, but this will be first time raising my own!
My city has a permit approval process, which I am scheduled to go through next Tuesday.

In the mean time, I went to the local feed store (IFA), and here are all the available pullets:
Speckled Sussex
Delaware
Mottled Java
Barred Rock
Sex Links (Black, Red, Golden)
Silver Lakenvelder
Rhode Island Red
Buckeye
California Gray
Leghorn (Brown, White)
Golden Laced Wyandotte
Jersey Giant
Production Red
Black Australorp
Blue Copper Maran
Dominque

I am hoping to buy 5-6 and eventually end up with 4 hens. I like to have some colors and varieties in my flock, and moderate egg production would be great. I hope to just let them free range during the day with my toddler while I watch in the yard. Here are what I am thinking:
2x Speckled Sussex
1x Mottled Java
1x Rhode Island Red
2x Dominque

What do people think? Any recommendations on chicks that get along better as a flock and growing up with a toddler?

That is a lot of breeds to be able to choose from for a store. I read your comments, and maybe you do not have space to keep all 6? I know all of us are crazy about chickens here, I am right in there wanting rare and exotic breeds! But for my neighbor with a 7 year old, I got her 5 from the hatchery order I put in last spring. 3 were sex-links, Red, Brown and Black, to be sure she did not get a rooster for at least 3. Sexing mistakes are difficult to make with the sex-links and they are nice to kids. The other 2 were a Marans and a Welsummer for the pretty colors of their eggs. My neighbor girl loves the red sex-link the best, she still can hold that chicken -- named it "Princess Lay-ah" from Star Wars. Just saying, for a low probability of a youngster falling in love with the rooster chick, and not having to raise extras, consider sex-links. Then, after you get your feet wet, and wnat to up grade (Chicken Math is real), the more exotic, special or heritage breeds could be next year's chicks. (Every spring I need more chicks, you know)!

 

[VeryHappyHens]

I appreciate everyone's input. So far I am choosing from this updated list (aiming for 4 hens at the end).
1x Speckled Sussex
1x Delaware
1x Mottled Java
1x Barred Rock
1x Silver Lakenvelder
1x Black Australorp
1x Blue Copper Maran
1x Dominque

Delwares and Austrlopes , are probably the sweetest If your looking for a docile breed that is cold and hardy . But the blue copper maran definitely get them they lay really dark eggs. Very doclile.! Silver lakvelnders are cool if your looking for an alert chicken that is protective.