Well, they don't have to be show quality, and I would prefer maybe pullets since we may not have time and space for chicks. Plus, we CANNOT have a rooster, and it would break my heart giving it away. I am leaning towards breeds like brahmas, orpingtons, or silkies. Non-flighty docile breeds.
Silkies are "special needs" chickens and don't lay very well at all (but are excellent if you want a broody hen). I love silkies but they are not for everyone. They are the lap dogs of the chicken world, ornamental pets only. With proper care and housing (separate from large breeds), they are close to an ideal pet bird, especially around kids. Another drawback is that they are generally not sexable as chicks, or even young birds. Many a young silkie has broken the hearts of it's owners by crowing (quite loudly for such a small bird). Even the roos are (usually) quite docile, which makes parting with them to an uncertain future even harder.
In my experience, almost every breed becomes non-flighty and docile when they start laying, or if they are socialized with people from a young age. I do see a few differences in the breeds I raise, but when I think about it, the calm breeds are the ones that are my favorites for other reasons -- perhaps I'm giving them more attention than the "production only" breeds? For example, other than the silkied breeds, I would rate the Jill Reese Legbars as the most calm. Coincidentally, they were my most "high value" birds last winter when they started laying. They got the best of everything. Their chicks are extraordinarily easy to handle also, I can grab any random pullet and hold her without her struggling at all.
I'm biased for sure, because I don't have brahmas or orps, but here are my favorites:
high egg production - California Greys and the Blue Egg Sexlinks I create from them
best free ranging - Welsummers and sexlinks, and probably the Cali Greys
calmest - Legbars and Welbars
cutest chicks - Ameracaunas and the Blue Egg Sexlinks (these are also the most intelligent and favorites of my customers when hand raised to be tame, but otherwise go through a wild stage where they are very flighty)
best for small family flock - Legbars, Welbars, Blue Egg Sexlinks
All of these, except the Ameraucanas, are easily sexed as chicks. My personal favorites are the Jill Reese Legbars, Welbars, and various colors of Ameraucanas (which I know are not ideal for you because you want to avoid roos).
I would encourage you to consider starting with chicks. The time and space requirements are minimal, especially this time of year, when you can move them outside without any heat at about 3 or 4 weeks of age. If you have children, that is all the more reason to get chicks and let them socialize them while young.
Sorry you have to deal with all that. 
