Newbie, on BYC and to chickens

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Glad to meet you. ISA Brown and other high egg production breeds start producing early and produce about an egg a day. But they are prone to diseases and defects of the reproductive tract because of the extreme production. Commercial production breeds tend to only live 2 -3 years, though well cared for hens with winters off may live up to 8 years.

If you decide to go with ISA Browns, or another production breed, you might want to buffer your flock with a slower maturing breed that lives and produces longer. Bresse certainly qualifies, but so do many other breeds, some of which can continue laying through winter without extra lighting, if that is something you care about. The link I have for Bresse notes that they don't do well in confinement, but I am not sure this is the best source.

Also consider how friendly or cuddly you want your chickens to be. While production breeds astonish me with their friendliness and approachability, Bresse apparently does not like to be picked up (well neither does my Buckeye or my Austra White). Look for breeds that are good starter breeds (that is easy for a beginning chicken keeper to care for adequately).
 

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