ordering my first chicks this week

I am glad you joined us! A great place to go to if your looking for the right chicken breed:
https://www.mypetchicken.com/chicken-breeds/which-breed-is-right-for-me.aspx

If you ever have any questions, don't hesitate to ask, or just hop over to the Learning Center:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/atype/1/Learning_Center

And if you want to chat with other chicken lovers near you, just check this forum out:
https://www.backyardchickens.com/f/26/where-am-i-where-are-you

I hope you enjoy BYC, best wishes!

 

You have some links already, so I'll just welcome you and hope you have a great time on BYC!

 

Welcome, there are many breeds who would fit your requirements. If you like colored eggs, Easter eggers can stand extremes of heat and mine are excellent layers. Buckeyes are good. They're sort of a RIR with a smaller comb. You want to stay away from breeds with bigger combs that can become frostbitten, most of the Mediterranean breeds.
Chanteclers are excellent cold weather birds but we had some die when it got hot and humid and they did have shade.
If you go to www.mypetchicken and answer a short questionnaire they will suggest some breeds for your locale and what you want.

 

Greeting from Kansas and ! Happy you joined our flock! Good luck to you and your chicken selection!

 

Hello from Tennessee. My wife and I are trying to narrow down our choices on our first chickens. Good luck to you!

 

Almost any common hatchery bird would be a fine choice. There is no one "best breed." Rocks, Wyandottes, Easter Eggers, Production Reds, Sussex, Delaware, Orpingtons... all good choices and so are the other two or three dozen typical backyard birds I didn't mention just now. My only thought would be to avoid large combed breeds (e.g. Leghorns) as I know Maine is quite cold. Other than that, just pick what catches your eye.

 

G’Day from down under was a city girl Welcome!

As you have already received some good advice and links to some great starting points, I will just wish you all the best.

I hope you enjoy being a BYC member. There are lots of friendly and very helpful folks here so not only is it overflowing with useful information it is also a great place to make friends and have some fun.

If you would like to share pictures and stories of your flock when they arrive, you have come to the right place. BYC’ers never tire of these and do not back away slowly or commence eye rolling when the photo album or home videos come out