Welcome you might want to get just hens to keep the neighbors happy. Bantam's are great birds to own, the eggs are smaller.but great birds, How many you need will depend on size of family and your use of eggs, if your starting with chicks maybe 12. Silkies are another nice breed for you they do not get to big. You can get them in different colors, the skin is black even if the feathers are white. if their going to be in your yard loose you mat have a problem keep them looking white. Good luck. A few years ago at the homestead we had all kinds of different breeds the polish breeds, sultans creveoeurs, it was really quite comical now we just have laying and meat birds.