Welcome, I am fairly new around here myself but I can say you will learn everything you need to know here. As far as breeds go we have Marans, Australorps, and buff orphingtons oh and the stray black sex link. My marans are the only ones laying yet but we love the temperment of them all.
WELCOME and CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!! I think if you are going to get your chickens at a local feed store or TSC you should start out with a production breed. Red sex link, black sex linked, golden comets. That way you can be certain they will be girls and they produce wonderful eggs and are surprising sweet and docile, especially the red sex link.