Welcome to BYC!
I lived in Southborough for 13 years not sure about their rules for chickens but definitely check the rules before you buy. When I lived there it was more rural, still had a bunch of farms with cows and such but its not like that anymore, one of the reasons I left. Anyway, Im getting off topic. Make sure you get chickens that can handle the cold. Nice heritage breeds like Rocks. I have three varieties of Rocks, (Barred, Buff and Silver Penciled). They are a great starter chicken. They produce lots of brown eggs and mine are super friendly. They are relatively easy to find and cheap. I prefer to buy local but all the hatcheries will sell rocks. There are many nice breeds of chickens out there but its also fun to have some colored egg layers in your flock so you might consider easter eggers, which are not a true "breed" but will lay mostly blue but sometimes minty blue, pink or brown. If you want a bird that is a good forager and not a big fat hen, that doesnt eat you out of house and home crested cream legbars are a really cool bird. I love mine. They lay blue eggs although mine have a slight minty coloration to them. They arent super big girls but they are cold hardy. They will probably be a little more expensive but they are autosexing (you can tell the females from hatch by their color) Anyway, the breeds I currently have are:Rock (barred, buff and silver penciled) regular brown eggs but good layers and cheap and plentiful to find, friendly lap chicken
French black copper maran (dark brown egg layer) love these but pricey and difficult to find good stock, Big hen but only lays about 3 times a week, not lap chicken but nice
Crested Cream Legar Blue eggs, good layer in warm months lays almosts every day but quits in about oct and starts up again late Feb, Friendly lap chicken
Orpington: I have buff but many varieties, regular brown eggs, plentiful to find and not expensive generally. Everyone seems to love this breed but for me they're just ok. They are big hens, mine isnt that friendly and she has the hardest peck of all my birds.
Specked Sussex I love these, I think they are so pretty. regular brown eggs and friendly. Mine like to wander a little
Cochin: I love my cochins but they get picked on a little because they are so docile. Big fluffy chickens with "pants" (featherered legs) Not great layers but they sure are cute. I have white but there are many varieties
Easter egger mixed breed mine is not that friendly but people claim they usually are. mine was raised by a broody hen so I didnt handle it much as a chick so...
Also have a plan for your roosters if you get any. Its the biggest hassle to try to find homes for them. I hate to cull a gorgeous rooster just because I cant keep them.
I live about 10-15 minute from you if you ever want to come check out my set up its no problem. I built my own coop and I never even picked up a hammer before. I love talking chickens just send me a message. And I would be remiss if I didn't warn you how addictive chicken keeping is. Every spring I say Im not getting any chicks this year and so far I have never kept that promise. Chick fever is real...
